Hey, i know the AWD Express/Savana came with the 3.42/3.73 Front gear ratio. My rear end has a factory sticker on it, that says it's ratio is 4.11. I have the 03 Savana AWD. Is it possible for me to have a 4.11 rear end with the front gear ratio being so much different? I haven't looked at the parts sticker to see the code, but i'm assuming the axle is original. But from what i understand about gear ratios matching, this can't truly be possible. Or can it? The AWD works great, had a big snow storm here not too long ago, and the van drove just as good as a 4X4.
The RPO code for a 4:10 axle is GT-5, GT-4 is 3:73 and GU-6 is 3:42.. I would like to see a pic of the tag on the axle, I am a little skeptical as GM is very consistent to a fault most of the time....the 4:10 was listed for a 2500 van but possibly not an AWD 5.3 2500?
Hi all,
Bump stop / Jounce question. New poster here so sorry if this belongs somewhere else - just let me know. I have a 2013 AWD Savana that I lifted 2" key lift (front) and 2" block lift (rear). Not completely satisfied with ride quality. My front and rear bump stop/jounce bumpers have not been adjusted down to match approximate distances as on the stock suspension (i.e. my suspension ranges up farther before it contacts the bump stop/jounce bumpers). For example, my front lower control arm (LCA) bump stop rides approximately 3/4" off the LCA. I think the factory setting is closer to 1/4". On the back, my bump stop/jounce bumper is riding at least 2" higher off the mating surface on the axle than factory. While new to GM vehicles I believe this all negatively affects ride quality per what I understand from this site:
http://www.gmfullsize.com/tech/torsion401.html
Anyone know of any replacement parts or shims or something to get these important suspension parts closer to their factory clearances?
If you are running your stock shocks they are topping out now and making the van feel harsh in the front, and if you have longer front shocks you are hitting the droop stop with the upper control arm and making the van feel harsh, this happens close to 3", at about 2-2 1/2" it is less harsh. That is really the only issue that could be better, getting some more travel up front helped a lot on big bumps and made me think torsion bars aint' all bad.
Most lifts with bigger tires use lower bumpstops to keep the tires off the fenders and keep the longer shocks from compressing closed, it is proper but so far nobody here has lowered them. Our vans fit the 265-70-17's at stock height so tire rubbing is a non issue and the shocks we run are not much longer under compression, "don't use 2" front shock spacers they will compress your shocks" tried it. Timbren makes some bigger bumpstops they ad spring rate for carrying a plow, I have not seen or used them but have thought about it. Trailready used to make some 1" longer polyurethane ones for a Hummer H-3 that might work in the front, I put some Z-71 factory bumpstops in the front of my van they are a little better. I added a rear sway bar because it did seem like it leaned over onto the front bumpstop when the wind had a strong quick gusts, not a big deal but the rear sway bar stopped it. It used to do the same thing when stock and empty, it would lean over on the rear bumpstop in the same wind conditions, when loaded even a little the rear bumpstop would touch the lower pad and firm the handling right up. Most stock 1500 vans have soft rear springs and almost no rear up travel because they ride on the big bumpstop alot, that is why no sway bar was needed, mine handled good with a little load but big bumps were harsh. The 2" lower rear bumpstop pad will give your rear springs more abuse flexing further, you dont have a thick bottom leaf to fight back. I suspect that is also what you don't like the feel of, the 2900lb rear springs some of us use ride great and the bottom leaf should stop to much compression, and cure any wheel hop................
