Vannin' Home Forums General Discussion General Discussion Load adjusting shocks all the way around.. Thoughts?

I am looking at buying load adjusting shocks (the Monroe ones with the spring around them) for the rear of my 1985 G20. I will often be pulling a single car enclosed trailer, so they should help handle that load a little better, especially with the added weight of a full interior once I get that far.. Plus it's super bouncy now and I suspect that the old shocks are shot.

But I also noticed that O'Reillys offers them for the front. Would there be any sort of benefit to this? I do eventually want to install 2"-2.5" drop knuckles and could see the benefit of stiffer suspension/less body roll, but wasn't sure if these would help anything or just kill whatever ride quality there is.

Would they actually help anything up front, or would I just be better off with some higher end shocks up front to help the ride quality?

As I am not 100% sure which Coil Overs you are looking at for the front, I will say this. . . .

Coil over shocks are GENERALLY used to lighten the front end of a race care by eliminating some of the heavy front suspension parts with the lighter weight coil over package.

So that said, I would probably say PASS on the front coil overs and go with a QUALITY heavy duty shock.

That said, their are lots of great quality shocks, Monroe, Gabriel, KYB, Rancho, Pro Comp, ect. . . .and I can tell you, if you ask what one is better, you will get 100 different answers ! lol

I have Bilstiens all the way around both of my vans. I cant find any better for offroad or the street. Yes they are a little pricey but you get what you pay for..... I even jumped the van, came down on the ft driver tire the shock didnt give but the mount did. Bottomed out the shock & ripped the shock mount right off the van. I still have that same shock on the red van, didnt hurt the shock at all... Bilstiens are life time warranty if you can break one.

These are not a typical "coilover" conversion as you are thinking of. They just replace the shock absorber, but have a helper spring that goes around the shock. They are usually used on the back of trucks to help handle heavier loads.

Something like these:
http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts...ase&gclid=CILDiuSFncACFSyCMgodcS8AoA


usually they are only offered for the rear and seem to have pretty good reviews, just never seen them for the fronts before. Have not ruled out heavy duty shocks either and adding air bags in the rear as helpers..

Thanks frscke1. I was looking at the bilstiens also. I know they hold up well, but wasn't sure about extra load carrying capabilities vs smooth ride..

I'm not a fan of these coil over shocks being used to assist weak leaf or coil springs. I don't think the shock mounts are strong enough to deal with the loads an overconfident person might throw at such an equipped vehicle.

I went with Firestone Riderite airbag helper springs to assist my leafs, and up front I got thicker coil springs.

And I use KYB Gas A Just on all 4 corners and am impressed with the handling of such a top heavy van.

those ones you ound are rear only I put coil overs in a half ton Chevy many years ago it was killer . you have to get your wieght and spring load figured out for the right poundage .