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1988 Dodge B250 Suspension/tires
#770195 January 26th 2021 1:57 pm
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I have a 1988 Dodge B250 Hightop Conversion Van with 140k miles that I have converted into a camper with Queen bed, solar panels etc for my wife and I to travel the US in. I have a lot of upgrades in the suspension such as KYB Gas A Just shocks, ball joints, blue top steering box, tie rods, bushings, control arms, brand new tires etc already done. My current issue is that if I am stopped at a light in the left turn lane with cars driving past at 50mph, my van rocks pretty hard side to side. Same thing in a crosswind or passing a truck on the highway it rocks pretty bad and pushes me in the crosswind. These are the current things I was thinking about doing to improve the suspension, let me know your thoughts. Picture for to show current stance photo

1. Currently have brand new Cooper AT3 4S XL Load 109T 235/75R15 passenger tires, upgrade to Nokian Rotiiva AT LT 10 Ply Load E 235/75r15
2. Currently have brand new KYB Gas A Just, replace with Bilstein 4600
3. Replace rear leaf springs with stock or heavy duty
4. See if I can fabricate the Hellwig 7513 rear sway bar since I have the large gas tank, it says it wont work with large gas tank.
5. Front Coil springs with heavy duty

Any other ideas, I would love to hear them!

Attached Files MVIMG_20190713_113653.jpg
Last edited by petes67bird; January 26th 2021 2:20 pm.
Re: 1988 Dodge B250 Suspension/tires
petes67bird #770285 January 28th 2021 5:32 am
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Heavy duty suspension components will help some for sure with cross winds and leaning during turns, but it wont be an impressive difference from my experience. You will have better luck if you also fabricate a sway bar system. The difference will be significant with updated heavy duty suspension AND a sway bar set up. Sitting idle while traffic zips by is pretty much garaunteed to shake the van though, is what it is. Too bad its not just body mounts.. Hah!

Re: 1988 Dodge B250 Suspension/tires
Bsidebopper #770292 January 28th 2021 9:39 am
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Originally Posted by Bsidebopper
Heavy duty suspension components will help some for sure with cross winds and leaning during turns, but it wont be an impressive difference from my experience. You will have better luck if you also fabricate a sway bar system. The difference will be significant with updated heavy duty suspension AND a sway bar set up. Sitting idle while traffic zips by is pretty much garaunteed to shake the van though, is what it is. Too bad its not just body mounts.. Hah!
Thanks for your answer. If my springs are ok, will it help to just add a rear sway bar. There is a 1 1/8 and a 1" option for the rear.

Re: 1988 Dodge B250 Suspension/tires
petes67bird #770335 January 29th 2021 12:41 am
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Absolutely it will help, there should be less body roll.

The beefier the suspension components the better if youre trying to subdue the body roll issues. Youre not going to see a huge difference part by part but when you add everything up you are sure to notice a major improvement.

Re: 1988 Dodge B250 Suspension/tires
petes67bird #770567 February 01st 2021 5:53 am
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The reason the stock arrangement of rear sway bars don't work with the larger tank is that the slots for the end links to mount to the 'frame' are behind the tank, so the larger tank, which is wider, is in the way.

I've seen several variations on using the sway bars arranged to point forwards, or to clamp to the leaf springs.

Those 1-1/8" sway bars would be a great thing compared to the stock 1".

If you have front sway bars, make sure they haven't rusted away a lot of their diameter where they pass through the rubber bushings. That would make them quite sloppy.

Heavier leaf springs are probably a good thing, though they'll ride a bit harsher. You can almost bet your originals are the worst for the wear after decades of service.

Please note that new, heavier leaf springs may raise the tail of your van substantially - my B250 maxi van wouldn't fit in my garage after I replaced the rear leaf springs with the heaviest ones which would fit!

I got uprated leaf springs with bushings already installed for my B250 from ESPO Springs 'n Things. They're quite knowledgeable should you have any questions.

https://www.springsnthings.com/

You could also investigate Airlift Loadlifter air springs, or Timbren air springs. Timbrens don't require an air compressor.

Last edited by Ram4ever; February 01st 2021 6:10 am.

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