Lifted AWD Express and Savana 1500 driveability question

[Deshet]

Do you notice any drive train wander after the lift?
Do you have to constantly adjust the steering?
Does it track as well as it did before the lift?

Mine will be driven by a young new driver and I don't want to create an unsafe situation. I have never driven an AWD lifted vehicle but all of my 4x4 lift vehicles took more effort to drive after they were lifted.

Thanks

 

[boardrider247]

I have noticed no real difference in driving characteristics after a 3" lift. Honestly my van drives better then any of the stock coil spring/solid axle vehicles I have owned.

The high top did add a little bit of trouble when driving in high winds but that is to be expected

 

[wjeeper]

Do you notice any drive train wander after the lift? Very minimal
Do you have to constantly adjust the steering? Not any more than stock
Does it track as well as it did before the lift? Mine will follow big gaps in the pavement slightly more than before.

Mine will be driven by a young new driver and I don't want to create an unsafe situation. I have let my family borrow my van on a few occasions and I wouldnt hesitate putting my grandmother behind the wheel
I have never driven an AWD lifted vehicle but all of my 4x4 lift vehicles took more effort to drive after they were lifted.

Thanks

.

 

[Teamoatmealpie]

I have a 1998 Chev 3500 15 passenger, with solid axle swap up front- running on 275's. Its solid, like 1 finger on the steering wheel at 80mph with no problems. Not quite the same as cranking the torsion bars up, but in effect still a lifted van. Mine has less body roll and is easy to drive.

 

[Deshet]

Thanks for all of rephelp

I guess the constantly moving drive wheels help to keep everything true.

 

[macexpress]

I have a 2 inch lift with new torsion keys up front and mine drives great. On a trip from Wisconsin to Alabama in February we averaged 75-80 mph on the freeways and the van drove awesome

 

[riNR]

Since I lifted mine, added new Bilstein shocks, and new tires......drives awesome! It drives better than my older extended 3/4 ton two wheel drive did, and I thought the longer wheel base would yield a better ride than the current 1/2 ton AWD.

 

[86cj]

My van actually rides and handles better than stock, it shows no signs of bumpsteer or wandering. I cant believe how rock solid it is on the open road windy or not, you just don't saw at the wheel. The mountain twisties are almost fun with the new rear sway bar, really! in a camper van! It is the easiest vehicle we have to drive and the worse the weather the better it feels...............

Did we really lift our vans though? We are at stock height for a 3/4-1 ton van in the rear and can only go so high in the front or the upper control arms hit the droop stop in the front, the tie rods and CV joint angles are fine. I feel like we just set the ride height and gave it an alignment, the tire size we use comes stock on the similar 1500 truck and suv chassis. I am seeing excellent tire wear to at 50,000 my BFG's have alot of tread, I expect great long term reliability from this set up, just like the rest of the trouble free GM AWD 1500 VAN.....

 

[DarinT]

My van actually rides and handles better than stock, it shows no signs of bumpsteer or wandering. I cant believe how rock solid it is on the open road windy or not, you just don't saw at the wheel. The mountain twisties are almost fun with the new rear sway bar, really! in a camper van! It is the easiest vehicle we have to drive and the worse the weather the better it feels...............

Did we really lift our vans though? We are at stock height for a 3/4-1 ton van in the rear and can only go so high in the front or the upper control arms hit the droop stop in the front, the tie rods and CV joint angles are fine. I feel like we just set the ride height and gave it an alignment, the tire size we use comes stock on the similar 1500 truck and suv chassis. I am seeing excellent tire wear to at 50,000 my BFG's have alot of tread, I expect great long term reliability from this set up, just like the rest of the trouble free GM AWD 1500 VAN.....

Does anyone know the best economic way to lift 2005 GMC Savanna AWD?

 

[Willsfree]

Does anyone know the best economic way to lift 2005 GMC Savanna AWD?

See my post for details for 3+ inch lift in GM fullsize AWD Van Info thread