My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
I have lowered my van three times. I never liked dealing with the stock rear axle, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. Initially, I removed leaves to get the van low enough in the rear, then added air shocks to pump it back up. It was fine at 30 psi, but never handled wellas it just didn’t have enough spring under it after I took so much out.
I wanted bigger brakes in the front and better suspension all around. I contacted Rich Bryant and after a few email conversations we devised a plan to add a full set of BC Coilovers. After I received them I began to install. On the front I had to do a little strut tower modification. I did the BC’s in the front at the same time I added ’93 Caravan spindles and brakes. This gave me more rotor diameter, bolt-in hub, and the big bolt pattern. I ordered some cheap aluminum wheels from Summit (four 15 x 8’s for the front, two 15 x 4’s for the back, a set of M&H drag radials for the front, a set of M&H drag radials for the back, and two M&H slicks for the front).
In the rear, I removed the coil springs from the BC shocks. I never put the BC Coilovers (shocks) on the stock axle (which was already lowered). At first, I was going to add back the leaves I took out, add the BC’s in the back, and use the “drop plate” method to lower everything. But because the rear wheels stuck out too far once I put them on (I hadn’t even added the ½” plates yet which would have made the track another inch wider), I decided to junk the stock axle and build my own.
I used 2” x 3” x 3/16” square tubing with ½” plates for the spindles and 3/8” steel plate for the u-bolt flanges. I used 2” x 2” x 1/8” angle to make my shock mounts. There was a little trimming here and there on stock brackets, but I think it came out okay.
In the end I narrowed the stock rear track width by 2 ½”. The wheel/tire combo fits like it should now,plus I was able to lower it a bit without feeling like everything in the rear was too low. I refreshed the brakes in the back while I was at it.
Next up: fuel cell and nitrous.
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Interested in seeing those pics when they are up!
You using a PC or a phone/tablet? If you are using an Android and have Tapatalk, posting pics are easy.
If on a PC through a browser you have to use the Go Advanced when making a post and you should see Manage Attachments under your post editor pane.
You'll have to upload the attachments then post them inline, or as attachments to your post.
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
I have seen the pictures so i now feel privileged. :eyebrows:
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
sounds cool I look forward to pictures.
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
i edited your post.
you had URL tags for your links.
if you put [IMG] before and [/IMG] after the links, the pics will show up like above.
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Thanks, Aries! I always wondered how to do that.
Wheming, I'd like to see more pics of Gus's old van....do you have link?
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
You have a link to the wheels you're running on the front?
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/v...5b27/overview/
This is the link. I will have to verify my backspacing, though. You will also have to lightly grind on your caliper to make these fit.
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fastasleep
Thanks, Aries! I always wondered how to do that.
Wheming, I'd like to see more pics of Gus's old van....do you have link?
Got you one better, there are some videos on my channel if you want to browse.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...FXk9E9tmkIICBY
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
any idea of weight compared to the stocker?
or did you do this just for the filament?
I guess you gained some ground clearance since it doesn't Dive down behind the shackles to the ground.
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
masterjr, the weight savings looks to be about 18 lbs. over the stocker. I have not weighed it with the old wheels to give a definite number on just the axle (changed bolt pattern), so the new light-weight wheels are included.
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
I wonder how the handling is? Theoretically the roll stiffness is now way different.
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Reaper, I will probably never find out. I decided a little while ago that it was only going to drag race.
I am looking to move the fuel cell up front now, too.
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Is this the van that went 12's over the weekend? That rear hatch kinda looks familiar...
Re: My '90 Plymouth Voyager: suspension and brakes content
Yes. It has a LOT more in it, but I can't rev past 5000 RPM. Converter? Too much backpressure from small turbo?