New Deaver Springs

[warholic]

well this sucks ... my 2010 van just had 4x4 conversion done ........ didn't hear a peep out of SMB folks about new upgrade to their standard.

[EMrider]

Originally Posted by warholic

well this sucks ... my 2010 van just had 4x4 conversion done ........ didn't hear a peep out of SMB folks about new upgrade to their standard.

Not totally sure, but I think what I have now is the new SMB standard. My van is an 06. This setup is an 'upgrade' from what I had originally.
R

[Rustywolf]

Can anyone discuss the spring/shocks setup and/or their level of satisfaction with either their Salem-Kroger or Quadvan 4x4 build? Thanks.

[Stumpalump]

Mine is a Salem Kroger and I like the way it rides. It's leaf springs on all 4's. The previouse owner put Rancho RS9000's on them and I keep them adjusted to max or just a click under to compensate for the weight. The thing was built great and the welds and components are good. It drives perfect. Mine does not flex well at all because of the thick sway bars. That makes it drive great on the road but off road it's limited. I think the leafs on front are perfect. You can really beat it and be confident in this syle of leaf setup over coils. Coils may ride better on some vehicles but this thing is a 1 ton truck and it needs leafs in my opinion. I'm not sure what you need to know but from all I have seen the Spotsmobile conversion is the king and well worth the few extra bucks it costs. Now that they and I'm sure others can use a proven Deaver Spring/Bilstein shock combo then do that for sure. I'm more than happy with the springs Salem used on mine and will keep them but my experiance and use of Deaver springs and Bilstein shocks on other rigs was not short of amazing. I think automatic sway bar disconects that come on the newer Dodge Powerwagon pick-ups would be the way to go if you do a custom conversion. The manual ones are a big PITA. Sway bar disconects are the only way to have safe on the road control and flexy suspension for off road. Period. Leaving your sway bars conected off road transmits way to much strain to the rest of the vehicle not to mention severly limiting it's capabilitys.

[warholic]

Stumpy -

i'm confused now. The vans come stock with coil springs up front and leaf in the rear. I thought S&K, like Quadvan, leave coils in the front and leafs in the rear. That's one of their major points - stock ford parts - and the front end is the F-350 4x4 which is coil.

??

warholic

[Ford_6L_E350]

I don't know what year stump's van is, but the first Salem-Kroger coil spring conversion on the road was ours in 2004.

Mike

[patrick51]

Has anyone needed to do front end alignment work after Deaver springs or is that toe in/camber left untouched. ?

[scatter]

I had mine checked afterwards and it was fine.