Been waiting for someone to post this upgrade. been considering doing it on my rig for a while. Thanks for the explainer. Curious - How are you lifting the van on top the jacks. I know for my model the rear axle cannot be jacked at all. Have seen shops jack the rear shock - p[ace on jack, depress jack and then jack under the axle to sup[port it being weightless? Would love some more info. Nice work!
Thanks I appreciate it, so for jacking for the suspension changes, if you look at the rear leaf spring hanger closest to the bumper there is a large structure that forms the spring pocket, i took a length of 4x4 and a floor jack on each side and jacked the van up that way the placed jackstands on the hitch to support the weight of the van and stabilize it because there is quite a bit of side loading when messing with the springs then took a floor jack under the axle being super careful of the diff cover and used the jack to support the axle while doing the lead spring work. Hope that helps you some
Thanks for sharing Dan. I ordered AO RIP kit for my 170 RWD. Saw your earlier DIY install. Not sure if I can do it myself. You're installing a different setup this time?
Excellent you will be happy with it, it makes a huge difference and if you have the tools, the install really isnt that bad. As for the new van, just adding some add a leafs in the short term, before i make a complete suspension choice i want to get it built out and see how it handles and that will direct my choices, with a 170 extended my offroading is going to be limited to forrest roads but where the true eval is on highway with winds and to see how it handles in the curvy mtn roads, but like I said i want it weighted first, the rip kit is where I am leaning probably with the add-on of the aux shock up front
Been waiting for someone to post this upgrade. been considering doing it on my rig for a while. Thanks for the explainer. Curious - How are you lifting the van on top the jacks. I know for my model the rear axle cannot be jacked at all. Have seen shops jack the rear shock - p[ace on jack, depress jack and then jack under the axle to sup[port it being weightless? Would love some more info. Nice work!
Thanks I appreciate it, so for jacking for the suspension changes, if you look at the rear leaf spring hanger closest to the bumper there is a large structure that forms the spring pocket, i took a length of 4x4 and a floor jack on each side and jacked the van up that way the placed jackstands on the hitch to support the weight of the van and stabilize it because there is quite a bit of side loading when messing with the springs then took a floor jack under the axle being super careful of the diff cover and used the jack to support the axle while doing the lead spring work. Hope that helps you some
Thanks for sharing Dan.
I ordered AO RIP kit for my 170 RWD. Saw your earlier DIY install. Not sure if I can do it myself. You're installing a different setup this time?
Excellent you will be happy with it, it makes a huge difference and if you have the tools, the install really isnt that bad. As for the new van, just adding some add a leafs in the short term, before i make a complete suspension choice i want to get it built out and see how it handles and that will direct my choices, with a 170 extended my offroading is going to be limited to forrest roads but where the true eval is on highway with winds and to see how it handles in the curvy mtn roads, but like I said i want it weighted first, the rip kit is where I am leaning probably with the add-on of the aux shock up front