Monroe Load Adjusting Shock Install & Results | 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- My dad always put booster shocks on his towing vehicles. I was surprised when I discovered that they were available for my non-towing-package 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan. And since I needed new shocks anyway, I decided to give them a try. This is the install and results.
I bought the Monroe Load Levelers here: amzn.to/3ypavTr
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email: michael@clickthruvt.com
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One tip/warning (particularly to truck owners.) The total travel of these shocks are quite a bit less than OEM's. You'll notice that these monroe's have their own 'bump stop' on the shaft itself (you can see it in this video too.. it's that rubber part on top of the shock body.) If you're an offroader like me, and was hoping to use these for both towing and (very mild) rock crawling (I know, wishful thinking) then you are going to lose out on a lot of articulation. Not only is their compression distance shorter (due to that bump-stop) but their extension length is shorter too. In my case total travel was about 2" less than OEM (2014 F150,) which is pretty significant.
Probably doesn't affect most users, but thought I'd point it out.
yoster77 not a problem on this minivan 👍
yoster77 Did you go OEM shock with a helper spring instead, to improve the total travel?
@@valueduser2746 Because they're so easy to swap out, I use both. I keep the monroe's on for everyday driving and towing a 30' travel trailer. When I go on a 4x4 trip, I swap them out for Bilstein 5100's - I picked up a pair with about 1.5" additional travel over the motorcraft stock ones. It's a bit annoying to need to swap them, but I don't go rock crawling that often - maybe a few times a year, so they're easy enough to swap out.
I'll note that for my 2001 dodge dakota 4x4, the travel distance is only 3/4 of an inch less than oem
@@annasajerk That's not bad! I wish mine were like that. Mine are about 2" shy on full extension, and then on full compression, it's the opposite, about 1" taller due to that bump stop. So about 3" total suspension travel reduction. Not something I notice 99% of the time - only when I go wheeling.
I’m thinking about replacing my own shocks since my father doesn’t want to fix my car anymore. 🤷🏽♀️ looks pretty easy! I have the 2013 van
It’s not too bad!! You can do it. Just make sure you secure it when it’s jacked up in the air. Use good jack stands.
Wish I would have found you & this video last year before I changed my shocks & springs on my Dodge 2006 Grand Caravan. Bought some Gabrielles and even though my old shocks looked like a rust bucket with holes in them, and pushing them down manually they barely rose back up but they made the car ride smoother than the hard ride my new shocks are giving me ... what's up with that? Damn !!!!
I bought some front struts that did that once. Monroe! They seemed to be ok for a day or two then felt like they got stiffer and stiffer. Terrible ride! I don't know why that happens. Brand name shocks too!
My FSM (Full Service Manual) says to torque the shock bolts with the weight on the suspension with the tires on the ground.
MrShuzaam Monroe doesn’t mention it in their install instructions. I wonder if it’s because these new gas charges shocks are under so much pressure? They seat themselves quite well unlike shocks of old. I’ve never done that and have not experienced any problems. 👍
My wife has a 2012 i just put a Cooper at3 tire on it. They are great
Those are amazing! They look perfect when combined with the lift kit. I really like the load range too. The tire weight is really high compared to the lame standard issue tires. It's tempting since I am looking for higher load range but I think I need a lighter more daily driver friendly tire.... I bookmarked this one too ;)
4 yrs later do u still feel this way 6:55
PROS: They are still working perfectly and still ride great. CONS: they are tough on their own bushings and will clunk on the mounting brackets once the bushings get tired. Poly bushings give better support and I recommend a little grinder work to give them a little clearance from the mounting bracket. WOULD I BUY THEM AGAIN KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW? No. I would instead buy slightly stiffer rear coil springs that Rockauto now offers. And would not buy the air support bags at all (junk) I would buy a good weight distribution hitch for towing (which is what I did later) and tow with much more confidence and comfort 💪 Ultimately though - I bought a new truck and I don't use the van for towing anymore. But heck, like I said first, those shocks are still working and still ride great 👍
Did you realize that the Hanes were popping out?!
I thought that was cool now? No? 😆
I put them on my 03 caravan with a constant full load of stuff for about a year then sold the van. They worked good i would have liked a lil stiffer shocks but they worked ok, no noise either
welcome to reality awesome 👍 mine have been flawless! So happy with them.
Question, I have a truck with leaf springs with shock absorbers front and rear, and was thinking about adding these shocks front and rear, do you think it would make the ride smoother or too harsh
I’ve only seen them added to the rear of vehicles. And no they actually aren’t too stiff. They get progressively tighter as you compress them 👍
Upgrade your rear coil springs to Xd coil springs as well as those shocks will save you money in long run I have 2016 with those shocks second pair but now with xd coils springs to compliment them
I didn’t know there was a coil spring option!!! I will google it! Thanks for the heads up 👍💪
Made the installation for a Ford Ranger XLT 1999 with these Monroe 58608 shocks and with this video help and there is a great difference in my old air shocks and these new ones. They exceed for much the great ride. Now to test the shocks with my boat trailer. Thanks for the video help...
So glad it was helpful! I'm sure you'll notice some progressive assist when you put a load on them. Enjoy! Mine are still going strong. I'd buy them again.
Hey Michael, I've been enjoying your videos a lot, thank you! I recently purchased a 2019 Forest River Flagstaff Classic and I'm towing it with a 2015 Honda Odyssey. I noticed you did both Lift Air Bags as well as these shock upgrades. Did you feel like the air bags did not perform quite the way you wanted them to so you needed to upgrade the shocks or did you just want even more support because, well why not?
After 1 winter in VT.... the hoses failed and the bags failed. They sent me new ones... a year later the new ones did the same. The air baf dried out and cracked. So I am now using a proper weight distribution hitch and its the perfect solution for my 2400 lb camper. Here's the air bag 1 year update video :) ruclips.net/video/cjrm1emdkIA/видео.html
@@sstressfl Thanks for getting back to me. I have the distribution hitch coming on Monday, just in time for a 2 week trip, excited to see how it performs. Thanks for sharing that airbag update video also!
@@pjmckeage as long as your camper has a boxed frame it should work perfectly!! You won’t regret it 💪😎
Thanks for the vid, about to order a set of these for my 2015 DGC then this video came up. I too tow a travel trailer but just a bit bigger than yours, around 3000lbs. Using weight distribution with the trailer, the rear sags about 1.5-2" so I'm hoping to lessen that with these shocks. BTW, BFG KO2 A/T tires are awesome on these vans, had them now 2 seasons and love them on and off road. Also helps with the heavy trailer load.
Sorry I missed your comment somehow! I use these but have also added a load distribution hitch. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! My van feels like a truck!! Level. Easy to drive. Stable on the hwy. And zero sag! It's the right solution. I did a video! ruclips.net/video/0tzg0ldhtY0/видео.html
looks like motorcycle shocks
Same concept :) This style of shock has been available for many years, going back decades. Was a popular fix for older cars with sagging leaf springs.
I’m sold going to buy today
Hi Michael, I had Monroe air lift shocks on a 2005 Caravan a they were ( are) great. I'm now driving a 2012 but no one makes the air shocks for them. I'm concerned the air lift bags are durable enough and have been looking at the Monroe spring assist. I appreciate you sharing your experience with both. Do I understand you are having trouble with durability with the air lift bags?
Hey Peter. I dumped the air bags after my second set. They failed for me after 1 year in the Vermont environment. Some folks down south have said that theirs lasted much longer in the warmer air. The other option is rockauto sells a set of beefier coil springs for the grand caravan! That might be the better way to go. I'm using the monroes and a weght distribution hitch. I'm very happy with the way the hitch solved my problem :)
the look like they be to stiff but they look good. i have a full size hi top dodge ram 1500 conversion van.i am getting bad body roll in front. i am going to put these in all 4 s..thanks for video ..
The ride slightly stiffer than stock but surprisingly nice. They get progressively stiffer as you add weight. But even then its only a 1000 lb boost! I like 'em! Thanks for the feedback!!
Good video I'm looking at these for my 1983 dodge D250 she's a 8 lug 3/4 ton says it adds 1200lbs support because with my lawn care trailer loaded I get a fair amount of rear end sag and I mean everything but the leaf springs and brake drum size are the exact same on the one ton D350 so should be interesting to swap them in this lawn care season
I would be tempted to buy a new set of leaf springs for your d250! They get tired over time. The shocks help but not as well as a fresh suspension. I had a ‘79 aspen wagon back in the 90s and a set of new leaf springs with an added leaf made a HUGE difference in ride quality. I know there are also places that can re-arch leaf springs but I think labor today would make that more expensive vs buying new. Anyway, just a suggestion 👍
I too am looking for minivan solutions. I have a 2018 Dodge Grand caravan. Was looking at the Timbren suspension enhancement looks like good review. Do you think these shocks were worth the money. Any idea how they would work with the Timbren. Right now tow a 1,900 lb boat all is good but looking to reduce some rear sag. Love the van for traveling just need to beef it up a lil. Thinking about a pop up soon also.
My factory shocks were completely shot and I replaced them with these. I would buy them again even if I didn't tow! They give a little lift when not towing and they stiffen up when you add some weight. They ride confident but not harsh even when the van is empty. I personally think the best combo for a 1900 lb boat would be a load leveling hitch. It would allow your van to tow level without adding extra suspension components. I added one to mine and I'll never go back to air bags. ruclips.net/video/0tzg0ldhtY0/видео.html
No grease on rubber use silicone grease for rubber gaskets and parts like that bushings
Agreed. I used grease to repel water from the rusting bolt and steel sleeve not on the rubber part 👍
2011 Grand Caravan put in the Mon-37290 shocks in 2018. Less than three years later and 22,770 Km had to replace in 2021. Less than a year later and only 7,970 Km the shock is leaking. Heaviest load would be the kids or groceries. Not impressed with this product
I've had great performance from this shock. Installed in Aug 2019. Still going strong!
Hmmm, I think the grand Caravan takes Monroe #58648. Are you sure you're talking about the same coil over shock??
These improve the performance a lot. Get some high flow fittings on your compressor and hose. Makes a huge difference.
These shocks are very good but they don’t use air! Just a booster shock that gives a little lift.
what lube do you use on those bolts? What pacifically should I buy? ;-)
To keep them from corroding you can smother them in antiseize amzn.to/3Weij5I or if you have a tub of automotive grease laying around like this one amzn.to/3TNjmbc
Michael, just wanted to see if you have an update on these shocks. I’m considering installing them on my van but there are tons of reviews saying they fail quickly and are very noisy.
Mine started clunking 1 year out. The bushings were too soft and allowing the shock to touch the frame slightly. So I replaced the bushings with poly bushings. No problems. These shocks make the van ride more confidently. If they ever fail I’ll buy them again. Love these things.
@@sstressfl Thanks for the update. Do you have part number for the poly bushings. I use my van for work and pull a trailer with up to 3k lbs.
I saw a Pic of these shocks with silver end point down
I just followed the instructions from the manufacturer. And every pic I see the silver end is up.
I had the same setup on my 2010 Grand Caravan and they worked great together. I didn’t have any issues with rattling noise. I have a 2017 with 50,000 miles and the rear springs are getting soft so debating on airbags or just going with the Monroe’s. I have out Airlift airbags on my o3 and 13 Altima with good results
vinceleto I really like these shocks. I’ve now replaced my front struts so the entire suspension is like new. Rides wonderfully smooth with no noise and the towing is much improved. I’m going to buy a load leveling hitch in the spring. It’ll take a lot of weight off that rear axle and send some of it up front. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Didn’t you try an air lift 1000? What happened to that ?
I did! In fact I ran both the bags and the shocks together for one trip. But the bags ended up being high maintenance, high failure rate for me (leaks, cracks) and I gave up on them. I still have the shocks and they are wonderful! But I added a weight distribution hitch and it is the ultimate solution for towing this big popup. Here's the video! ruclips.net/video/0tzg0ldhtY0/видео.html
Those chrome sockets can explode when put on an impact gun
Indeed... but in 51 years, I've never had one break. Perhaps its because I only use cheap $39 impact guns.
How about an update on those shocks???
I added new poly bushings! But still going strong 💪
Bout to put them on mine next week they'll be here. How they holding up.
They are awesome! No problems. And I like that the van sits a little higher. Makes it look stronger.
Awesome. I kept scraping on speed bumps so I got a 2 inch lift by putting bigger tires. Of course my speedometer is off by 4 mph but definitely looks better.
Real world Cichlids and more probably rides a little smoother and gets better traction too 👍
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@@sstressfl cc. Xxxxx. x xxx. X xxxx x xxxxxxxxxx. Cc xxx xx Ccx x0p
Hi and thank you for your video. I will install on my nova 1971 next week...
Obscure Daniel booster shocks are great 👍 especially to help lift or firm up the rear of an older car 😎 Enjoy!
MK 3:28
Just seeing what side was " up " thanks man
Appreciate the feedback 👍
Hi Michael I am wondering what are you pulling with your van what's the weight?
I am so maxed out. I am towing a 2019 Forest River Rockwood 2280bhesp popup. 2460 lbs dry weight. My wife and I, 3 kids, kayaks or bicycles (depends on the destination), luggage, portable AC, a small freezer, and misc stuff. I'm at or slightly over the grand caravan's tow limit. I just added a weight distribution hitch and used it for the first time this weekend. It was amazing. Felt like a truck... speaking of trucks, I suspect the next vehicle we buy after the van will be a truck.
Any update on these shocks? How are they holding up? Want to add some to my 2018 caravan.
Colin Jenson I was a little worried about some of the reviews that said they squeaked. But I’m sold and I’ll buy them again if I ever need to. Quiet. They ride smooth. Two thumbs up!
Michael Byrne awesome thank you! I have ordered now! I also purchased the same trans cooler. I will be installing that as well. Do you think these shocks will be plenty without the air bags? I only pull a small pop up, around 1,700 pounds full.
Colin Jenson I really think the shocks will be enough for that kind of weight. That’s pretty light! The shocks will make the back feel tighter, better control, more confident towing 👍
Michael Byrne you rock, thanks for your videos! Can’t wait to see what else you do with your caravan!
Colin Jenson thank you! I appreciate your kind words my friend!
Use Anti-Seize compound, (not grease) on bolts.
Let's see it bouncing on some bumpy roads.
I think the max air pressure on those red bags is 55psi.
I didn’t have any antisieze, but yes a better solution but the grease is better than nothing. Been using it for years. It actually rides gloriously even on bouncy roads. It tightens under load. Not stiff. Rides more confident without being harsh. I tossed the air bags. They turned hard & brittle after 1 winter season in Vermont.
Hi Michael. I have a 2014 GC and will be occasionally towing a 5x9 trailer with a John Deere lawn tractor weighing around 600lbs. I'm thinking these would be a good way to stiffen up the ride when doing this. What's your opinion? Thanks!
I think its a perfect solution for this application. The springs are progressive so you'll have a pretty normal ride when unloaded (slightly more firm, but in a really good way!). But when you load up the tractor, the springs get compressed and get more firm. They advertise that they give a 1000 lb help/lift. I think you'll like 'em a lot.
@@sstressfl Perfect. That's exactly what I was thinking. I'll enjoy the slightly stiffer ride when unloaded too because I don't necessarily drive it like a minivan all the time. :). It'll also help when I've got the wife, 3 kids and all our stuff loaded for the road.
Adam Erb absolutely! Especially if your current shocks are tired, you’ll appreciate the mild boost. It feels so much more confident on the road.
@@sstressfl I would guess they are at least a little tired. 112,000. I'm going to start soaking the bolts with penetrant now.
Adam Erb whoa!! Yes I would say they should be done 🤗 Good time for a change 💪
I got every seat filled in my T&C, wonder if this is a good investment as my 5 kids keep getting heavier as they get older
So after I did this, Rockauto started carrying different rear leafsprings!! Thats the right way to do it. They have a Dorman that is 35% over original rating! Oh if I had known! I believe that would be the way to go. Much better than the shocks. www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/dodge,2015,grand+caravan,3.6l+v6,3309782,suspension,coil+spring,7512
@sstressfl I never did consider springs. I did new rear brakes, my TC had the 330mm rear disc, expensive, and noticed my shocks are much worse off than yours. But now idk if they're nivomat.
@nicholasdonin1465 nivomats are big, maybe the double the width of a standard shock. Hopefully you don’t need new ones cuz they’re expensive and you cannot put in normal sized shocks. Too short. They’ll make the van sag in the bag. I hope you can find a good and affordable solution 🙏🙏
@@sstressfl I only glanced during the brake change. I'm praying they're not nivomats. The van gets sold before I do those.
@@nicholasdonin1465 I dont blame you!
"Never trust an air hammer, always use a torque wrench". My philosophy is torque wrench or not, never tighten lugs with more torque than you can apply with the jack handle on the side of the road. Also oil or antiseize on lugs is your friend. Rust shouldn't be what holds lug nuts on.
I tighten to oem spec and I have replaced a wheel on the side of the highway with OEM tire tools. No problem. None of my lugs have rust. I take my wheels off every fall and spring. I detail my brakes and undercarriage, clean everything. And I use grease where grease is needed. I have to! I live in Vermont ;)
Have u thought about putting the journeys 3" lift on ur van?
Man that is SO COOL! Wow! First I've seen of it. I would so do it, but my wife is 5' tall. I don't think she would enjoy the increased step up height. I bookmarked their website though. Thanks for sharing!
#cvshake
Good. But NEVER put grease on bolts unless its antiseize. You'll have to do a wet torque. Also its not a air hammer its a air impact gun
Miguel S About a 30% diff in wet vs dry torque. A huge rusty vulnerable bolt like this one is the perfect application for grease to dispel moisture. Same if I used anti seize. It was a common solution in bike shops where rust was a problem. I use grease frequently here in the rust belt. It has saved me from pain many times. I’ve never used a torque wrench on shocks, just my own mechanical feel. And yes I’ve used air hammers before and i keep calling the impact wrench the wrong thing. Thank you for pointing it out. In another video I actually referenced my “electric air hammer”.... uhhhg. I’m working on it 👍
What is the part #
I left a link in the description below the vid!
What is the difference between load adjustment and load-adjusting shocks? Please answer quickly I need to put some immediately on my 2015 regal.
There shouldnt be a difference... these are shocks with a progressive spring that gets tighter as you add more weight. Usually gives you another 1000 lbs of lift. However, there are self leveling shocks/strust that will actually raise the vehicle to keep it level depsning on the weight added. I hope that helps.
@@sstressfl So, the adjust shocks would be perfect, then. Thanks
I have a question, did these shocks raise the rear of the van? I want a stiffer suspension without changing the ride hight
Graeme Pawson I think it looks a touch higher but I think all it did was restore where it was at when it was new. You’d never think it was lifted. It looks completely stock. Also the shock springs are progressive. It rides confident but smooth around town but stiffens up tighter as more pressure is applied. They’re not stiff. Just feels balanced.
@@sstressfl thank you for the advice, I have the Air Lift 1000 arriving this weekend and was going to install them, do you think that I should give them a miss or go ahead and install them, did they fail after you replaced them?
@@graemepawson in our Vermont winters, the bags get brittle after 1 winter and fail. But I got a note from a guy in Hawaii who says his are two years old and doing great, but he had to run the air lines through the bottom. I always suspected that if I lived in a more temperate climate they would survive better. I really liked the ability to adjust the pressure in the bags. But for me, I am walking away and using the monroe's. They are working great. I also bought a proper weight distribution hitch for towing our camper. Hope that helps you make the decision!
@@sstressfl Yeah, I live in CA, I don't tow but we use it as a camper the roof has a lot of load with 2 kayaks and 2 bicycles, it drops the back about 3 inches and leans on the windy mountain roads.
@@sstressfl Thank you! I'm in CT and was thinking about the Air Lift bags for my Volvo wagon. I'll give them a pass. This car originally came with very expensive auto-self-leveling shocks which I was hoping not to return to, but maybe that's the best way.
are these adjustable??
They are not but man that would be so awesome if they were!
Brother is this ok i dont really tow but i want a reliable cheaper alternative. I dont wanna buy nivomat mopar or something to expensive . Hows the ride ? Is it harsh to hard?
From what I've read, if you have Nivomat's these will be too short and your van will squat.
@@sstressfl what if I change my fronts to monroe oespectrum and my rear to this? I dont tow. Will it last?
@@sstressfl can you provide the link for the spring
@@MrRGM10 I put a link to the Monroe's in the description under the video :) But here's the link! I bought the Monroe Load Levelers here: amzn.to/3ypavTr
@sstressfl thanks man. Which is the best front shock partner for that ?
So you don’t have to loosen or adjust them to soften up the ride?
Progressive spring rate! They ride wonderfully even empty 👍 but a few months later had to replace the bushings with poly to keep them from knocking.
Where was the jack placed to stop the part from dropping
do you mean where i placed the jack to raise the rear axle assembly?
Just jack the entire vehicle up by the trailer hitch, both wheels off the ground and safe
My jack doesn’t get high enough to lift it by the hitch 👍
@@sstressfl a block of wood
Its called a Impact Gun first of all and second “don’t trust an impact” man impacts the shock bolts instead of torquing them.
Front_Yard_Mechanic yep 👍 I blew it. Thanks for your help my friend 🤗🙏
Michael Byrne ayyy no problem man
Question...would these Work as nivomat shock replacement on a Grand Caravan 2003?
Hector Casarrubias maybe, but I seem to remember reading that they might be a different length and/or the mounting holes are diff sizes? I know the nivomats are expensive so it’s tempting to try. I wonder if you could order them from amazon, compare them side by side and send them back if they don’t fit?
@@sstressfl if they wont fit I can't send them back....that is the risk...FYI Im not in the US so nivomats here are over 1k US Dollars.
Hector Casarrubias ouch!! Perhaps you can call the shock manufacturer or find specs online. I do remover reading that vans with nivomat shocks have a different coil spring rate. I wish I knew more about it my friend. Let me know where you land!
think they be bad ass . they hold up the rear end more I think
They tioghten up the handling. Nice and flat around turns :)
@@sstressfl that's so cool I want some for my car lol don't think they sell them for Honda fit lifted
@@MyIronman8 A little welding/custom work perhaps :)
Its ME.
Hi Me!
Michael, I am thinking to replace the rear shocks with the ones in the video as we tow a small Runaway trailer that empty dry weight is only 700 pounds and loaded maybe 1100. The trailer tongue weight isn't supposed to be more than 100 pounds and I do not think I am at that limit. Hopefully this will make the trailer weight easier on the rear axle. I have a 2015 Grand Caravan with the 3.6 V6 which has no problem pulling the trailer but at just over 90,000 miles I am starting to notice a slight shimmy in the front end above 60 miles an hour and wonder if it might be stabilizer bushings as I have Cooper touring tires with only about 12,000 miles on them and they seem to be ok, any thoughts on that?
That’s a very light trailer! For ideal handling you want to make sure the nose of the van isn’t pointing upward and the nose of the camper isn’t down. The shocks should help lift the rear end of the van to some degree. The wobble issue could be a number of things. I would first check wheel/tire balance. Go to a reputable tire shop. Not Walmart! If tires are ok, do a full suspension inspection. Also could be rotors especially if you can feel it when braking. Hope that helps 👍 Enjoy that camper!!
@@sstressfl thanks for the tips and I have the van and trailer pretty level after experimenting with different hitch heights.
I checked this morning and my 2015 Grand Caravan in the rear has shocks inside of springs and does not have the diagonal mount shocks, was that an upgrade that year?
I do now see the shocks and I watched your other video on the clunking as well.
@@stevenarndt8072 Your shocks are self leveling. They are called nivomats and they are very expensive :)
Glad to hear you need the ninvomat shocks in the end still. I'll skip your two mods and go straight for them. Thanks!
gotalf I don’t! I need load leveling bars to balance the weight across the entire van, onto the front wheels. I didn’t think nivomats worked on a a non-ninovat spec van?
Michael Byrne I’m hoping they do, that was my plan. They’re just shocks, not sure why they wouldn’t.
Doing good
Thank you :)
How did you decide to go with the Monroe instead of the Nivomat option that is included in the tow package?
My van is a base van and I have added towing features :) My understanding is that the Nivomats have a different configuration, the coil springs have a different spring rate. Plus Nivomats are wildly expensive. Plus I'm using a weight distribution hitch now and it negates the need for extra boost. But, I will always buy this kind of shock due to its incredible ride quality even when the van isn't towing.
@@sstressfl I have the base also. Looking to do a similar upgrade for towing a travel trailer. I've read about just swapping in the nivomat without changing the springs and it being a very capable towing set-up. But I imagine the ride comfort will change. You found that just by putting in the Monroe that you get netter towing stability along with comfort when unloaded? I'm just trying to decide what is the best idea regardless of money...
Dan Bohman it’s better towing stability but not a fix for heavy loads. My camper is 2400 lbs. it needed a lot of help. I truly found the towing solution to be a weight distribution hitch. You can tighten up the rear suspension but it’s not the right way to do it. It puts too much load focused on the rear suspension/bearings/tires. The Monroes make for a better ride but they won’t compensate for a very heavy load. Even nivomats, while they might level out the rear end, will not properly distribute the heavy load. I hope that makes sense 👍
Where did you place jack stands here? thanks
Richard Loach I believe right where the rear trailing arm meets the mounting point. Where the mount bolts to the frame.
Great Video. I am going to order some today!!
Thank you for the feedback! I ended up replacing the upper bushings with poly. But the shocks are still solid. Van rides with more confidence.
Put the Monroe Load Adjusting Shock on the 18 Grand caravan crew and they started squeaking.. Put the silicon spray to the middle rubber of the shocks and the ends.. Took a few times but it cleared the noise up.. Traded in the 18 for a 20 Grand caravan GT and will be getting these again.. Noticeable improvement in the drive with these.. Constantly have my little girls 400 lb power wheelchair in the back.. Keeps the lift up in the back and just drives better..
I agree! I will buy them again if needed. Truly enjoy the better handling and more secure feeling ride.
That air tool sounds weak. Get an aircat.
I’ve already replaced it with a 1000 ft lb electric impact wrench 👍💪
Paint them when new. Their paint-job is terrible.
Also, the bushing rubber is JUNK, might as well press in new bushings before installing.
Ask how I know
I don't know how I missed your comment! Just saw it. Some clunking just started in the rear and could be the shock bushings! Still, I really like the way they ride though. Easy fix :) Thanks for the feedback bro!
Any link to better bushing rubber or should I just go to a Lordco and ask for replacement bushings for shocks?
And I may have installed the load balancing system incorrectly but I am still sagging quite a bit in the rear of a 2016 caravan. While I got the tire off to add these shocks in, should I get the Timbren DVRRT suspension enhancement system or think shocks upgrade will be enough?
@@viccycling7862 the shocks are good for firming up the back of the van a little bit but when your wdh is adjusted correctly it will level out the van and trailer all on its own :) These were the only bushings I could find locally and they have worked flawlessly so far. www.autozone.com/suspension-steering-tire-and-wheel/shock-eye-bushing-set/p/energy-suspension-black-shock-eye-bushing-set/354883_0_0
@@sstressfl thanks. Maybe I'll watch your Weight distribution video again and try tinkering with mine again before I spend money on shocks. Looked at the reviews of the Moenro shocks and the KYB ones recommended and seems like quite a few negative reviews on amazon. almost tempted to spend a bit more and go with something like this:
partsavatar.ca/sachs-rear-shock-absorber-444-240
@@viccycling7862 the sachs look amazing. But pricey! The shocks will help with the normal ride of the van but once you install a WDH, you could have the stock shocks and will have the same performance. If you slow down and consider what you're dong with a WDH... it'll make more sense. The angle of the wdh effects it's forward force on the front suspension AND rear lift on the van, as well as lifting the nose of the trailer and placing force back onto the trailers wheels. It's pretty amazing. And when you get that angle right and the chains (if you're using a chain style) tight enough, you'll find an amazing easy and safe towing experience. And again, the stiffness of the rear shocks will have little to no impact.