I have an 03 Astro that i never intended to lift but i had an original rear leaf break (the long one of course) inside the clamp so when i hit the gas it would separate about an inch and when i hit the brakes it would go back together. It passed inspection like that because the break was hidden inside the clamp LMAO. I had no idea what the strange noise was until i went over a big ass bump and the broken leaf came out of the middle clamp and pierced the refrigerant line to the rear AC. I couldn't believe how expensive the replacement springs were and i was ready to get some from a salvage yard but this guy at St Louis Spring Co said they could make me a set with 4 leaves and add add 500lbs capacity/side for $380. Needless to say, i jumped on that and "accidentally" lifted my Van about 3" in the back and with the front torsions set about 90% all the way up the van looks cool AF in my opinion. I'm seriously thinking about getting a 4WD transfer case and properly raising the front. I'm glad common folk are doing vids on this kind of stuff, so informative. Thanks a lot!
I have the 03 Astro van and had the lift in the front but didn't get the springs, but I had the Monroe load adjuster coil springs in the back that lifted it up along with helper springs
I talk to you yesterday I have a 2000 GMC all-wheel-drive I converted it over to four-wheel-drive I bought the ZR2 factory rear springs and a 2 inch heavy added leaf used my stock shackles and that give me 6 inches in the rear I bought the transfer case shifter from Journeys the 3 inch body lift put all new GM parts across the front of it. I crank the torsion bars up and mine drives and handles as good as my daughter’s new GMC Denali you can take your hands off of the steering wheel at 75mph. Mine is a long wheelbase I bought it two years ago with 60,000 miles I have 90,000 on it now not any problems at all but like you said all AC Delco parts thanks for all your information
I have a 94 astrovan. The two bars that bolt on from under the front bumper about a foot and a half long, carrier arms? Drain rails? . It looks to me like they would be easy to change out the bolt on both sides. My buddy says it’s a big job on the parts are very expensive. I figured it would be about $40 at the junkyard for those two arms of bars, rectangular things they have like little slots continental, but someone cut bigger holes and they look a little rotted. I wanted to change them. Can you tell me anything about these? Are they hard to change and what is the real name of the part? I’m gonna try and send a picture of it.
I have a 2000 but I believe our leaf springs are interchangeable. My question is what year s10 can I buy for load and lift improvements? Also do you know the part number for a good shock to accommodate the added lift? I use this van for work so I need it to haul 2000lb cargo anytime to anywhere. I like the mild 2/3 lift idea. Thank you
@@AstroVanTribe perfect. I will look this up and most likely be doing it within the month. I’m pretty excited for all the activities this van can accommodate. Thank you
I had heard of Journey's before your channel. I had purchased and was working on my van when I found your channel. I am digging all of your work! Van, wood working(which I suck at), and the bikes! I am a big cycling fan! If it's on two wheels than I'm down. How are your motor mounts doing this round? I am looking at my options.....
I'm assuming you've seen my videos on what I ended up doing, the polyurethane bushing kit with the riser plates - So far so good, I anticipate zero issues and believe this system will never need to be swapped out again Thanks for the kind words, BTW
When you suggest that a 2”-3” lift would be better accomplished by s-10 leaf springs and a 2” body puck kit, etc: what s-10 leaf do you suggest (3+1 or 4+1); also, are the torsion keys and a torsion bar adjustment ALL you need to balance the lift front/rear at that point? I’ve got a 2002, btw
my s10 leaf springs came off a '98 s10 - they are the 3+1 and lifted the van around 3-1/2" in the rear.... If you're only looking for a 2"-3" lift you may not need the larger torsion keys but I think they're a good idea so you're not maxing out the torsion key bolt. To answer your question, yes, after the rear leaf spring swap and the lift kit body spacers you then lift the front with the torsion key adjustment bolts. If you go higher you may run into the issue of camber with the front wheels, particularly the passenger side, in which case you'll want to do the "ball joint flip" which is really just mounting the upper front ball joints to the underside of the upper control arm instead of how they come originally mounted to the top of the upper control arm - Feel free to check out more of my videos, while I misspeak frequently you should get the drift :)
Just installed : tune up , wires , dist . Cured all misfire codes . Most front end parts are replaced . The guy that put new shocks on it before me either didn't tighten the top bolts on the front shocks ... ? Or the bushings are gone . Don't drink and wrench ! I'm installing the 2/3 body lift myself next weekend . Thanks for the new torsion* key tip ! 96 GMC AWD conversion . It's heavy AF . The S10 springs and height might be too much . I'll see how it sets after the lift is installed , the helper kit might be good enough . I know they stabilized old ranger right up . Hey man , how's your astro doing ?
My Van is OK, I have to look at my front passenger brake caliper, I'm hearing a clank when I apply or release the pedal intermittently - I think I know what it is and it's not serious... Don't know if you got to your lift yet - I think, for a mild lift 2"-3" you should try the s10 springs and re-indexed torsion keys first - If you need more height up front then play with the body spacers. If you want to go higher at that point the rear shackles and the rest of the stuff needed for the higher lift is also needed - Just now seeing this question...
@@AstroVanTribe I chickened out lol . I had a shop that lowers and chops cars put my lift on. Journeys kit ,went 3 inches and stiffer shocks . . I like it so far . I need to turn the torsion bars down 1 turn maybe 2 . I adjusted them pre lift kit . Then it aligned. . I'm so busy with additions and decks , I have $ but no time . Not complaining really , it's just slowing down the time frame for completion . I picked up a blue driver OBD2 reader for 115$ . It's Bluetooth and easy to use . It even identified the right o2 sensor out of 5 I need to replace . I just got the same clank , left front wheel today . It could be a rotten bushing on the upper A arm too . Fixing that when it's aligned ... Soon . Thanks for the time . Tribe !
@@AstroVanTribe stock springs seem ok . Replaced front shocks and put regular on the back . Old ones where air shocks . I tow my old Honda 78 cb750 . I didn't need them and the ride was bouncy
@@Prostyletruck I think the '04 has "fiberglass" springs - I don't know everything about these things but I know the rear springs are garbage - You can give that a shot and let me know how it turns out
I originally maxed my torsion bars (with original keys) to get as much ground clearance as possible, got the 5" shackle lift in the rear and got 30" tires. But then I realized my cv joints were ripped. When I replaced them I learned that pushing the torsion bars too far changes the angle of and extends the cv joints to the point where they may rip. I originally had gained 4.5" of clearance under the oil pan, but now I lowered the torsion bars just to have the minimum space necessary for the bigger tires (I did cut the wheel wells). I'm unsure if the torsion bars lift is what ripped the cv joints or if they were ripped before. Do you know anything about that? And why is having thicker torsion keys is better, why is is it bad to max out the keys screw?
I noticed "weird" handling with the stock torsion keys and maxed out adjustment screws - Everything worked out fine after I went with the larger keys and I now have adjustment thread left on the screws... The big thing was doing the "ball joint flip" which is really just remounting the upper ball joints to the underside of the upper control arm (look at yours, they are mounted to the top and poke through the loop) that got all the angles correct and allowed my alignment guy to get the front end to factory spec... I did a video on that: studio.ruclips.net/user/videoJrOnGO-ZYbk/edit Most likely your cv boots were already ripped - Mine were as well, before I even did the lift - Good thing is CV axles are inexpensive and I swapped mine out myself
I have a 98 S-10 with a Journey lift kit , and I have a 2000 AWD Astro with the Overland Vans lift kit . In my opinion the Overland Vans lift kit is much better than Journey.
my s10 leaf springs came off a '98 s10 - they are the 3+1 and lifted the van around 3-1/2" in the rear.... I can only speak to what I'm doing on my 2004 AWD - I don't know anything about your '93 but I suspect they're pretty similar - The measurements where they bolt in don't have to be an exact match (as I was told - there was a 2" difference but they still worked out fine)
watch my other videos that show them - Three leaf + one fat piece of steel under them - If you take the time to research leaf springs for sale via the internet you'll see images of leaf spring where you can clearly see them and then understand what is meant by 3+1 or 4+1
Thank You' I understand 'All businesses have thier goof ups now and then. Cept' I'll try to do the work Myself'😶 btw' What year S10'? Does it matter? Thanks Again, Such Useful Time and Money and Maybe Life Saving Great Information! 98: 257k, So Greatful She's Still Doing Great' (minus the war wounds)⛅ 🇺🇸👍
Anyone who owns a service shop should #1; be concerned about giving the customer a quality job to build/keep a good name and keep customers coming back and recommending them to others. #2; don't give customers a choice of doing a job cheaper. When they have a problem with it, YOU will be blamed, loose a customer and anyone they talk to. #3; if you have too much work, don't shortcut jobs to fit everyone in. It will cost quality and possibly lives. How is that going to keep your business going? If you're not ready to expand, recommend another good shop, they can do the same for you. Work out different specialties with local shops if there's enough work to go around.
You are the man! Appreciate you and what you are doing in these videos!
Love my '04 !!!
Old school i made one of them alluminum foot peddles in metal shop the good old days
I have an 03 Astro that i never intended to lift but i had an original rear leaf break (the long one of course) inside the clamp so when i hit the gas it would separate about an inch and when i hit the brakes it would go back together. It passed inspection like that because the break was hidden inside the clamp LMAO. I had no idea what the strange noise was until i went over a big ass bump and the broken leaf came out of the middle clamp and pierced the refrigerant line to the rear AC. I couldn't believe how expensive the replacement springs were and i was ready to get some from a salvage yard but this guy at St Louis Spring Co said they could make me a set with 4 leaves and add add 500lbs capacity/side for $380. Needless to say, i jumped on that and "accidentally" lifted my Van about 3" in the back and with the front torsions set about 90% all the way up the van looks cool AF in my opinion. I'm seriously thinking about getting a 4WD transfer case and properly raising the front.
I'm glad common folk are doing vids on this kind of stuff, so informative. Thanks a lot!
Thanks Mike, lovin the Astro content. i am working on a 2001 AWD Astro myself.
I have the 03 Astro van and had the lift in the front but didn't get the springs, but I had the Monroe load adjuster coil springs in the back that lifted it up along with helper springs
My mechanic found a set of used s10 springs out of a '98 s10 - $89 each
Great video! May of saved a few vanners lives.
I talk to you yesterday I have a 2000 GMC all-wheel-drive I converted it over to four-wheel-drive I bought the ZR2 factory rear springs and a 2 inch heavy added leaf used my stock shackles and that give me 6 inches in the rear I bought the transfer case shifter from Journeys the 3 inch body lift put all new GM parts across the front of it. I crank the torsion bars up and mine drives and handles as good as my daughter’s new GMC Denali you can take your hands off of the steering wheel at 75mph. Mine is a long wheelbase I bought it two years ago with 60,000 miles I have 90,000 on it now not any problems at all but like you said all AC Delco parts thanks for all your information
Sounds awesome - ASTRO VAN TRIBE....!!!!
ACDelco always. Excellent advice
Thanks man!
That foots gonna make your van heavier but they add about 10hp so it’s worth it. 😂
I have a 94 astrovan. The two bars that bolt on from under the front bumper about a foot and a half long, carrier arms? Drain rails? . It looks to me like they would be easy to change out the bolt on both sides. My buddy says it’s a big job on the parts are very expensive. I figured it would be about $40 at the junkyard for those two arms of bars, rectangular things they have like little slots continental, but someone cut bigger holes and they look a little rotted. I wanted to change them. Can you tell me anything about these? Are they hard to change and what is the real name of the part? I’m gonna try and send a picture of it.
I don't know - if it's 2wd I know nothing about that
I have a 2000 but I believe our leaf springs are interchangeable. My question is what year s10 can I buy for load and lift improvements?
Also do you know the part number for a good shock to accommodate the added lift?
I use this van for work so I need it to haul 2000lb cargo anytime to anywhere.
I like the mild 2/3 lift idea.
Thank you
My leafs came off a '98 s10 - I have Rancho 9000 shocks
@@AstroVanTribe perfect. I will look this up and most likely be doing it within the month.
I’m pretty excited for all the activities this van can accommodate.
Thank you
I had heard of Journey's before your channel. I had purchased and was working on my van when I found your channel. I am digging all of your work! Van, wood working(which I suck at), and the bikes! I am a big cycling fan! If it's on two wheels than I'm down.
How are your motor mounts doing this round? I am looking at my options.....
I'm assuming you've seen my videos on what I ended up doing, the polyurethane bushing kit with the riser plates - So far so good, I anticipate zero issues and believe this system will never need to be swapped out again
Thanks for the kind words, BTW
👌
S-10 Leaf Springs: 5-&-1 Or 3-&-1 ??? Or Custom Build?
3+1 but I do plan to have a custom set of springs made soon-ish (this video is several years old, now)
When you suggest that a 2”-3” lift would be better accomplished by s-10 leaf springs and a 2” body puck kit, etc: what s-10 leaf do you suggest (3+1 or 4+1); also, are the torsion keys and a torsion bar adjustment ALL you need to balance the lift front/rear at that point? I’ve got a 2002, btw
my s10 leaf springs came off a '98 s10 - they are the 3+1 and lifted the van around 3-1/2" in the rear.... If you're only looking for a 2"-3" lift you may not need the larger torsion keys but I think they're a good idea so you're not maxing out the torsion key bolt. To answer your question, yes, after the rear leaf spring swap and the lift kit body spacers you then lift the front with the torsion key adjustment bolts. If you go higher you may run into the issue of camber with the front wheels, particularly the passenger side, in which case you'll want to do the "ball joint flip" which is really just mounting the upper front ball joints to the underside of the upper control arm instead of how they come originally mounted to the top of the upper control arm - Feel free to check out more of my videos, while I misspeak frequently you should get the drift :)
Just installed : tune up , wires , dist . Cured all misfire codes . Most front end parts are replaced . The guy that put new shocks on it before me either didn't tighten the top bolts on the front shocks ... ? Or the bushings are gone . Don't drink and wrench ! I'm installing the 2/3 body lift myself next weekend . Thanks for the new torsion* key tip ! 96 GMC AWD conversion . It's heavy AF . The S10 springs and height might be too much . I'll see how it sets after the lift is installed , the helper kit might be good enough . I know they stabilized old ranger right up . Hey man , how's your astro doing ?
My Van is OK, I have to look at my front passenger brake caliper, I'm hearing a clank when I apply or release the pedal intermittently - I think I know what it is and it's not serious...
Don't know if you got to your lift yet - I think, for a mild lift 2"-3" you should try the s10 springs and re-indexed torsion keys first - If you need more height up front then play with the body spacers. If you want to go higher at that point the rear shackles and the rest of the stuff needed for the higher lift is also needed - Just now seeing this question...
@@AstroVanTribe I chickened out lol . I had a shop that lowers and chops cars put my lift on. Journeys kit ,went 3 inches and stiffer shocks . . I like it so far . I need to turn the torsion bars down 1 turn maybe 2 . I adjusted them pre lift kit . Then it aligned. . I'm so busy with additions and decks , I have $ but no time . Not complaining really , it's just slowing down the time frame for completion . I picked up a blue driver OBD2 reader for 115$ . It's Bluetooth and easy to use . It even identified the right o2 sensor out of 5 I need to replace . I just got the same clank , left front wheel today . It could be a rotten bushing on the upper A arm too . Fixing that when it's aligned ... Soon . Thanks for the time . Tribe !
@@AstroVanTribe stock springs seem ok . Replaced front shocks and put regular on the back . Old ones where air shocks . I tow my old Honda 78 cb750 . I didn't need them and the ride was bouncy
@@GrievenceCapitolist I've got all new bushings so I'm sure it's brakes on mine - I talk a lot about how important control arm bushings are
Hi mike. What kind of S10 leaf spring can I use on a 2004 awd astro? I already have the shackles from overland
mine came off a '98 S10
@@AstroVanTribe i was thinking of adding just one new heavy duty spring guess that might be ok
@@Prostyletruck I think the '04 has "fiberglass" springs - I don't know everything about these things but I know the rear springs are garbage - You can give that a shot and let me know how it turns out
I originally maxed my torsion bars (with original keys) to get as much ground clearance as possible, got the 5" shackle lift in the rear and got 30" tires. But then I realized my cv joints were ripped. When I replaced them I learned that pushing the torsion bars too far changes the angle of and extends the cv joints to the point where they may rip. I originally had gained 4.5" of clearance under the oil pan, but now I lowered the torsion bars just to have the minimum space necessary for the bigger tires (I did cut the wheel wells). I'm unsure if the torsion bars lift is what ripped the cv joints or if they were ripped before. Do you know anything about that? And why is having thicker torsion keys is better, why is is it bad to max out the keys screw?
I noticed "weird" handling with the stock torsion keys and maxed out adjustment screws - Everything worked out fine after I went with the larger keys and I now have adjustment thread left on the screws... The big thing was doing the "ball joint flip" which is really just remounting the upper ball joints to the underside of the upper control arm (look at yours, they are mounted to the top and poke through the loop) that got all the angles correct and allowed my alignment guy to get the front end to factory spec... I did a video on that:
studio.ruclips.net/user/videoJrOnGO-ZYbk/edit
Most likely your cv boots were already ripped - Mine were as well, before I even did the lift - Good thing is CV axles are inexpensive and I swapped mine out myself
I have a 98 S-10 with a Journey lift kit , and I have a 2000 AWD Astro with the Overland Vans lift kit . In my opinion the Overland Vans lift kit is much better than Journey.
Good to know, I've not looked at that kit
You dont mention what year s10 springs you are referring to. I have a 93 astro awd not a 2000 or newer years. Do I get springs from a 93 s10?
my s10 leaf springs came off a '98 s10 - they are the 3+1 and lifted the van around 3-1/2" in the rear.... I can only speak to what I'm doing on my 2004 AWD - I don't know anything about your '93 but I suspect they're pretty similar - The measurements where they bolt in don't have to be an exact match (as I was told - there was a 2" difference but they still worked out fine)
Not sure what you mean by 3+1 leaf springs?
watch my other videos that show them - Three leaf + one fat piece of steel under them - If you take the time to research leaf springs for sale via the internet you'll see images of leaf spring where you can clearly see them and then understand what is meant by 3+1 or 4+1
Thank You' I understand 'All businesses have thier goof ups now and then. Cept' I'll try to do the work Myself'😶 btw' What year S10'? Does it matter? Thanks Again, Such Useful Time and Money and Maybe Life Saving Great Information!
98: 257k, So Greatful She's Still Doing Great' (minus the war wounds)⛅
🇺🇸👍
My springs came off a '98 - not sure how many years work
Anyone who owns a service shop should #1; be concerned about giving the customer a quality job to build/keep a good name and keep customers coming back and recommending them to others. #2; don't give customers a choice of doing a job cheaper. When they have a problem with it, YOU will be blamed, loose a customer and anyone they talk to. #3; if you have too much work, don't shortcut jobs to fit everyone in. It will cost quality and possibly lives. How is that going to keep your business going? If you're not ready to expand, recommend another good shop, they can do the same for you. Work out different specialties with local shops if there's enough work to go around.
You said it, Brother...