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Vans & Minivans Chrysler/Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan Caravan/Voyager Suspension
88 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2008 at 1:41 PM
You are in the Chrysler/Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan Forum. Your Host is Karens
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Replying to: badgerfan (Apr 27, 2006 6:11 am) If you have them changed then you will feel the difference immediately. It restores the stifness and will help your tires last longer. It will feel like a new vehicle.
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Replying to: mrbizness1 (Apr 27, 2006 4:41 pm) Struts and shocks don't "get soft", basically they work until they spring an oil leak (or in the case of gas charged struts, a gas leak). Case in point, our 1998 DGC had nearly 80,000 miles on it when we bought our 2003 DGC. Both vans have the "Touring Suspension", and both had very similar driving characteristics when the 2003 was new. Now that the 2003 has 63,000 on the clock and the 1998 has 112,000 on the clock, they still have very similar driving characteristics. So much for "gradually getting soft". If someone replaces the struts before the old ones have worn out (i.e. sprung a leak), then the only thing they might "feel" is the difference between the valving of the OEM struts vs. the valving on the replacement struts (assuming that the new struts aren't OEM replacements). Best Regards, Shipo |
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Replying to: badgerfan (Apr 27, 2006 6:11 am) A good mechanic would put your vehicle on a lift and jerk them with his hand. If they are bad you'll hear them clunk. This is a common problem with Chryslers. Also, the part you purchase may have a grease fitting in it. Keep that in mind when buying.
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Replying to: mrbizness1 (Apr 27, 2006 4:41 pm) |
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Replying to: chuckg (Apr 28, 2006 4:08 am) The reason I suspect these rubber bushings may be at least part of the source of the clunking noise is that the clunking seems to go away once we have driven a few miles. My theory is the rubber is getting old and hard, but once the sway bar gets exercised a bit the bushings soften a bit and the clunks subside. |
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Replying to: shipo (Apr 27, 2006 5:10 am)
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Replying to: mrbizness1 (Apr 29, 2006 12:40 pm) Chances are extremely good that Sears doesn't make a shock with the exact same valving as your OEM shocks. Assuming that is the case, if you put in softer shocks, then the car will bounce more, if you put in stiffer shocks, your car will bounce less. Thinking about this a little further, even Chrysler didn't put the same shocks, struts, springs and anti-roll bars on all of their vans. The upgraded and higher end vans have what is (or at least was) referred to as the Touring Suspension (which we have on both of our vans). That suspension has stronger/stiffer components all of the way around when compared to the lower end vans, and as such, it will allow less bounce. Said another way, the only way for you to put our "Theory" to the test would be for you to have your dealer put in new OEM shocks of the same rating as the ones that you currently have in place. Best Regards, Shipo
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Replying to: shipo (Apr 29, 2006 1:03 pm) Shipo, the OEM shocks might be a little different then Monroe's but not by much. Any way FYI it costs $450 out the door with a alignment and I got a $50. mail in rebate. good luck
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Replying to: mrbizness1 (Apr 30, 2006 6:49 pm) You claim that the rear of your DGC Sport now rocks only one time with the new shocks but it rocked three times with the OEM units. Furthermore, you seem to be using said claim to support your assertion that shocks and struts "gradually get soft", contrary to the rather learned opinions of several folks here. With your various posts in mind, several comments come to my mind: 1) There is no way to compare the OEM shocks to the new ones unless you can come up with the specific specification for each (i.e. piston diameter, valving, oil reservoir and such). As such, the differences you've noted between your old and new shocks are irrelevant. 2) My suspicion is that your van has the softer base suspension (the Touring Suspension was a separate option from the “Sport” option, I know, I have a 1998 DGC Sport with the extra cost Touring Suspension). If that is the case, your observed differences between your old and new shocks are doubly irrelevant. 3) Last Thursday you wrote to badgerfan that he probably couldn't tell if any degradation had occurred in his van with 88,000 miles on it because the shocks go soft oh so gradually. However, today you claim that your van is now riding and handling as it did when it was new. Interesting. What makes your senses so special that you can tell the difference and badgerfan (and by extension the rest of us) cannot? 4) FWIW, my 1998 DGC Sport with the optional suspension has 112,000 on the clock (and on the OEM shocks and struts) and it doesn't even rock a full bounce at either end after vigorously rocking the van. I checked ten minutes ago. 5) You've not offered any evidence to support your assertion that shocks and struts gradually give out as they age. If you have any scientific evidence to support your theory, the rest of us would love to see it. Best Regards, Shipo
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Replying to: shipo (Apr 30, 2006 7:43 pm) I used the words "drive like new" as a figure of speech because I don't remember exactly how it drove when I first drove it in 12/97. The evidence I have that shocks and struts gradually wear is the way my car feels after they were replaced which is all the proof I need, and my wife's opinion. She drives it 95% of the time Don't take my word for it go to a dealer for a new car test drive. http://autos.yahoo.com/maintain/repairqa/steering_suspension/ques102_2.html
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