99 Dodge Caravan AWD rear stability

Is there any add on that will help stabilize the rear end for
99 Dodge Grand Caravan AWD.
Primarily interested in reducing side to side motion.

 

Proper wheel alignment, maybe? You shouldn't have side to side motion
unless something is out of whack with your suspension or tires.


Matt

 

Check cold tire pressure. Should be 35 psi. Different (stiffer) tires might
help.

Richard.

 

"Matthew S. Whiting" wrote

Thanks for the response, but...
No there is nothing mechanically wrong with it.
The tires are fine.
And the handeling characteristics have not changed since I bought it new.

I realize that it was never intended to be a sports car, but I want better
latteral support

 

"Richard" wrote

Thanks
I realize that it was never intended to be a sports car, but I want better
lateral support.

 

On our '98 GC Sport, we replaced the OEM 216/65-16 Michelin MX4s with
235/60-16 Dunlop SP Sport A2s. That made a significant difference in
ride quality, wet and dry handling, and stability.

 

You've answered your own question: trade the van for a can that handles
the way you want. You might be able to install wider wheels and tires
and lower the van, but you'd spend well over $1,000 for probably not a
lot of gain ... and you'd give up a lot of the ground clearance you need
to made AWD worth anything at all in the snow.


Matt

 

if you do anything with tires make sure all 4 tire's are all the same diameter
or it will damage the awd unit! what about some high quality nitrogen shocks

 

"Matthew S. Whiting" wrote

Yep, snow and mud season(which is way worse) + the need to haul
lotso stuff. There is a lot of cubic in a Caravan.

The problem is that deer dodging is also high on the list.
And I don't care for the way the rear snaps over and wants to
pop the rear axle free, if you don't have time to preload the turn.
The front holds reasonably well and overall I think it handles
better than other SUVs with no room in them.

I found some sway bar stuff on a web site that might help for
$300 or so, but they specifically excluded AWD version.

 

Never had a big problem with my Chrysler vans, but neither is AWD so
they sit lower and have a different rear suspension. They aren't sports
cars, but they handle pretty well for what they are, IMO.

Matt