dodge rt shocks

[RT-NY]

I don't think they ever used those on stock vans. Those are commonly used to add capacity and height to compensate for weak springs. I think it is more common to see leaf additions to rear springs, new higher rate springs, or air bags to do that extra capacity now days. Those use to be very common in the "good old days" of muscle cars to lift the rear to improve appearance (perceived) or clear bigger tires.

So, I am wondering now if it would be better/safer to replace them with the same type rather than with the Bilsteins (the Bilsteins were recommended by several forum members here). What do you think?

 

[booster]

So, I am wondering now if it would be better/safer to replace them with the same type rather than with the Bilsteins (the Bilsteins were recommended by several forum members here). What do you think?

If you replace with something else, it is likely that you will need to do some other way to increase the capacity of the rear springs like airbags or spring changes of some sort.

If you have the part numbers for the current shocks it would be a good idea to look them up to try to determine how much load they were picking up. That would make doing another change instead easier as you would know about how much capacity you would need to put back in.

 

[RT-NY]

If you replace with something else, it is likely that you will need to do some other way to increase the capacity of the rear springs like airbags or spring changes of some sort.

If you have the part numbers for the current shocks it would be a good idea to look them up to try to determine how much load they were picking up. That would make doing another change instead easier as you would know about how much capacity you would need to put back in.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding how these shocks are rated -- my impression was that the Bilstein shocks recommended here were much heavier capacity. The shocks on there now may be the Monroe shocks that I posted the picture of, though I am not certain, but those mention a 1,200 lb capacity. Is the idea that the coil spring on the shocks adds an additonal 1,200 lbs capacity above the capacity of the rear springs? Is it really possible that the Bilstein shocks would be insufficient for the vehicle?

 

[booster]

Perhaps I am misunderstanding how these shocks are rated -- my impression was that the Bilstein shocks recommended here were much heavier capacity. The shocks on there now may be the Monroe shocks that I posted the picture of, though I am not certain, but those mention a 1,200 lb capacity. Is the idea that the coil spring on the shocks adds an additonal 1,200 lbs capacity above the capacity of the rear springs? Is it really possible that the Bilstein shocks would have insufficient capacity to support the vehicle?

The misunderstanding is in what shocks do. They aren't springs, they are dampers. Springs hold stuff up like a van, and shocks resist motion of the van in relation to the axle so when you hit a dip in the road the vehicle doesn't porpoise down the road for a long ways.

Springs are rated in # per inch of travel in the normal callout, but in vehicle you would normally see just a weight which is what the manufacture feels is where the spring works the best (simplified).

Shocks are normally rated for damping rate or just soft, firm, strong, or maybe an application like offroad or highway. They are related to the weight of the vehicle though, by axle. Bilsteins have been shown to handle the Doges and Chevies just fine with any or all of the different styles of spring improvements.

 

[RT-NY]

The misunderstanding is in what shocks do. They aren't springs, they are dampers. Springs hold stuff up like a van, and shocks resist motion of the van in relation to the axle so when you hit a dip in the road the vehicle doesn't porpoise down the road for a long ways.

Well, that I knew, to be sure -- it is after all, pretty basic information. What I am misunderstanding is these Monroe shocks, which seem do both (dampen and support), at least to some extent. I suppose I would have to know why they were put on in the first place to be sure if replacing them with something else would be a problem -- from what I see online people do use them, not uncommonly, on these Dodge vans without any specificly expressed intention to make up for weak springs.

 

[booster]

Well, that I knew, to be sure -- it is after all, pretty basic information. What I am misunderstanding is these Monroe shocks, which seem do both (dampen and support), at least to some extent. I suppose I would have to know why they were put on in the first place to be sure if replacing them with something else would be a problem -- from what I see online people do use them, not uncommonly, on these Dodge vans without any specificly expressed intention to make up for weak springs.

Nothing odd at all about doing both support and damping in one assembly, but it is now done as an OEM in every strut based vehicle produced, including the Promaster RVs. Coilover suspension in race cars, street rods, and other modification vehicles have been use for decades. But the addon for extra capacity is just that, an addon to be be able to handle more weight or raise the rear.

If you were doing a coilover front suspension for your street rod or race car you would be selecting the spring rate and damping rate separately based on the axle weight and the intended use. You normally don't get that choice in the addon ones like you have, but you do often get a small amount of spring force adjustment with them.