Shocks

[Haoleman]

I just bought a 94 B and it needs shocks. Any of you who solved the bounce and sway issues successfully please let me know what you did. Right now it rides like a 70's Lincoln (aka boat) . I want to improve the handling without making it ride like my 3/4 ton diesel 4X4.

Thanks
Terry

[Haoleman]

I just bought a pristine 94 190B. It has 45000 miles on it and it needs shocks. It rides like an old Lincoln (bob and pitch) and I would like to know if anyone made mods to their unit to improve handling and what shocks work great without making it ride like my diesel 4/4 pickup.

Thanks,
Terry

[Skater]

I've heard general reports that sway bars (both front and rear) help a LOT. I haven't heard of anyone replacing the shocks, but... geez, mine's 16 years old with over 100,000 miles - surely they're worn out! I'd get the heaviest duty shocks I could find.

[bobchevy89]

just put on oem shocks. get them from camper world or inland rv.also try the search button at the top.. welcome to the forums...
Bob

[Haoleman]

I just did more research and this is what I came up with. Bilstein shocks all the way around and the addition of front and rear Hellwig sway bars. Also a steering stabilizer if not already equipped. Should make it handle like a sports car!!!

[Skater]

Originally Posted by Haoleman

I just did more research and this is what I came up with. Bilstein shocks all the way around and the addition of front and rear Hellwig sway bars. Also a steering stabilizer if not already equipped. Should make it handle like a sports car!!!

...albeit a slow one.

[Astrodokk]

I replaced my front two shocks and steering stabilizer with on-sale Bilsteins at Camping World. It made quite a bit of difference in handling, and I'm sure on your smaller rig it will be quite noticeable.

[Wabbiteer]

I haven't used them on a true heavy truck chassis but do have them on my tow vehicle & can't resist to comment.

Bilstein shocks put their best performance in under stress, doing city streets w/ expansion joints and nuisance surface rougness isn't their strong point since they ride like teenagers romping on a waterbed; very frisky at low speeds. However hitting a cloverleaf exit ramp too fast and jabbing on the brakes Bilsteins will make a chassis ride like its on rails once their extra 'up' springyness is loaded - high speed across plowed field is no problem but going through town to the post office is wiggle and hop city...

[AZtraveler]

My 2006 Interstate drove like a boat when purchased so I upgraded to Koni shocks, a heavy duty sway bar and rear spring assists. Now it drives more like a sports car and is still very comfortable. The big advantage with Koni's is that they are adjustable to the load, so they can be fine tuned for each application.

Larry C. in AZ

[bobchevy89]

I put oem heavy duty shocks and front air bags and it rides real nice.no sway or roll.got the air bags from camper world.
Bob

[rickandsandi]

Originally Posted by Haoleman

I just did more research and this is what I came up with. Bilstein shocks all the way around and the addition of front and rear Hellwig sway bars. Also a steering stabilizer if not already equipped. Should make it handle like a sports car!!!

Look out! Can you get road rally numbers to add to the sides? Now you can have AIR #'s, WBCCI #'s and Airstream Road Rally #'s.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Wabbiteer

I haven't used them on a true heavy truck chassis but do have them on my tow vehicle & can't resist to comment.

Bilstein shocks put their best performance in under stress, doing city streets w/ expansion joints and nuisance surface rougness isn't their strong point since they ride like teenagers romping on a waterbed; very frisky at low speeds. However hitting a cloverleaf exit ramp too fast and jabbing on the brakes Bilsteins will make a chassis ride like its on rails once their extra 'up' springyness is loaded - high speed across plowed field is no problem but going through town to the post office is wiggle and hop city...

I agree. New Bilstein HD shocks made my 1/2 ton Suburban handle curvy roads very well, and freeway offramps are now actually fun. I can stick to the bumper of a Subaru WRX on a cloverleaf, scaring the daylights out of the driver...
However, unless the truck is loaded to the max, the shocks are unusually stiff. True definition of Love/Hate.
I imagine them to be near perfect for a heavy B-van, though.

[str8strm]

we also replaced all our shocks and steering stabilizer with Bilsteins