I have a '99 GC ES (It has become a pain since it's now that age where lots of things start dying)
Of late the rear end has been bouncing around quite frighteningly so I pulled the rear shocks and there was no dampening whatsoever (After a huge fight with the passenger side lower mounting bolt!)
I had been to our local famous parts place and bought a pair of Monroe Sensatrac shocks, opened the boxes and realized "WAIT A MINUTE! ... no way these can be the right ones" These were skinny like normal shocks and the ones I took off were huge in diameter by comparison. I checked, double checked and triple checked and they were supposed to be correct.
So, went to put the new ones on, and found of course that the old shock bolts were miles (or is that km) too long for the new shocks. So, off to the dealer and buy some shock bolts for a '95 Caravan (since they are 10.9 hardness, nowhere else stocked the M12 bolts needed)
OK, we're in business. The ride is much better now ... but ...
(There's always a but, isn't there!)
Loaded up the van with 3 kids in the back and about 120 lbs of tools "just in case" and back out of a driveway to this "crunch" as the tailpipe hits the ground! Ooops ... low ride height.
So, I do lots of research and discover that I have Nivomat shocks that they supposedly didn't use back then. BUT I find lots of conflicting info ...
"It shouldn't affect ride height"
"It will affect ride height"
"You need multileaf springs"
"You need a different monoleaf spring"
"Your NIVOMAT shocks were guaranteed for life"
"New NIVOMAT shocks are over $250 EACH :eekkkk: for your caravan"
So, I don't know what to do ... I've already spent about $45 each on the Sensatracs and $30 on new bolts ... and lots of pain getting that frozen bolt out!
I am reluctant to spend $500 on a pair of NIVOMATs especially if they are warranted for life. I could add a set of towing "helper" springs for under $100.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
:help_wsig
Of late the rear end has been bouncing around quite frighteningly so I pulled the rear shocks and there was no dampening whatsoever (After a huge fight with the passenger side lower mounting bolt!)
I had been to our local famous parts place and bought a pair of Monroe Sensatrac shocks, opened the boxes and realized "WAIT A MINUTE! ... no way these can be the right ones" These were skinny like normal shocks and the ones I took off were huge in diameter by comparison. I checked, double checked and triple checked and they were supposed to be correct.
So, went to put the new ones on, and found of course that the old shock bolts were miles (or is that km) too long for the new shocks. So, off to the dealer and buy some shock bolts for a '95 Caravan (since they are 10.9 hardness, nowhere else stocked the M12 bolts needed)
OK, we're in business. The ride is much better now ... but ...
(There's always a but, isn't there!)
Loaded up the van with 3 kids in the back and about 120 lbs of tools "just in case" and back out of a driveway to this "crunch" as the tailpipe hits the ground! Ooops ... low ride height.
So, I do lots of research and discover that I have Nivomat shocks that they supposedly didn't use back then. BUT I find lots of conflicting info ...
"It shouldn't affect ride height"
"It will affect ride height"
"You need multileaf springs"
"You need a different monoleaf spring"
"Your NIVOMAT shocks were guaranteed for life"
"New NIVOMAT shocks are over $250 EACH :eekkkk: for your caravan"
So, I don't know what to do ... I've already spent about $45 each on the Sensatracs and $30 on new bolts ... and lots of pain getting that frozen bolt out!
I am reluctant to spend $500 on a pair of NIVOMATs especially if they are warranted for life. I could add a set of towing "helper" springs for under $100.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
:help_wsig