I get that, I was talking plain old scale weight. Practically speaking, it's much harder to stop more weight and there are more concerns that just stopping when dealing with total weight.
I get that, I was talking plain old scale weight. Practically speaking, it's much harder to stop more weight and there are more concerns that just stopping when dealing with total weight.
You're absolutely right, I should have noted the braking difference.
Putting a Dana 44 in the rear and a Jeep 2.5L engine up front will really cut down your weight as well.
Seriously though, the old springs took road irregularities so poorly that the question of overall weight never entered my mind. Plus if you look at it the other way, 60lbs added to 12K is only 0.5%. While it does all add up, I don't think half a percent extra is going to be the factor between stopping and not stopping on any given occasion.
Agreed, I’m just flabbergasted by the weight of these things. Heck the cabinetry probably weighs as much or more than the added springs. I'm not to concern about safety vs. weight, just the unnecessary overall weight.
Just took the plunge and ordered up the whole kit with Deaver (Jeff). Getting new springs all around and Bilsteins to go with them in about a week or so.
I've got my fingers crossed that I will have a great experience with the new setup and based on everything I've heard it should be awesome and I get to keep the fillings in my teeth.
He said it depended on exactly what spring pack he ends up using but said it would fall between $3,500 and $4,000 INSTALLED. I don't have the necessary skilz (or tools) to do the install so I'm going to take it to them and they will remove/install everything.
Got the new Deavers installed last week and took the van out for the first post-Deaver trip this weekend.
Man, I fear NO road now. I used to grimace at the thought of just going a few miles of washboard on the old set-up. Now, it's much more civilized. The new suspension seems to just take the hard edges off of everything. On the highway, off the higway, everywhere.
It seems like the old suspension was just taking years off the life of the inside of the van with all the rattling and shaking. Now stuff barely falls off the counters when we are going down the dirt road.
Very nice. I think over time this is a much better way to fly.