PAGE 1> How to lower an AWD
PAGE 2> Freshly lowered
PAGE 3> Around the yard
Page 4> Damage
Page 5> New Rubber
Page 6> Interior, New fogs

This is how you lower an AWD astro, first locate the torsion bar adjustment bolts (one on each side)

if you take this bolt all the way out it will lower the van about an inch, but i wouldnt recomend driving with out the bolt in place, and if an inch is not enough for you as it was with me follow along and i will show you what to do. if you study the area you will see that this bolt screws into a metal plate and then goes on to push and hold up the torsion bar key, by turning this bolt it will raise or lower the van by twisting the torsion bar. first lets list the tools needed.

you will need an 18mm socket for the bolts
a grinder with a cut off disk
a sawzall with a narrow blade
and maby some p[liers and a flat screw driver

note the narrow tip on the blade

it would also make life easier to modify a floor jack by removing the cup and replacing it with a stud or bolt like this.

Jack up the vehicle ( i supported the front frame under the rad with two jack stands ) so that both front wheels are hanging. next completly remove the torsion bar bolt from one side of the vehicle, you will notice that next to the plate, there is another notch in the torsion bar key this is where you place the jack with the stud, jack it up till the van starts to lift just a little off of the jack stand, this way all of the the weight is on this torsion bar key pushing it up.

once the pressure is off of the plate you can pull it out.

you will se that this leaves a hole 1 inch down by 1"1/2 across.
measure from the top down 1"1/2 and score a line with your grinder on the same angle as the top

next take the sawzall and cut down on both sides to your cut across the bottom. and then repeat on the front side of the crossmember so you end up with a whole like this

if you look at the plate you will notice that it has curved grooves in it for th original whole so you will have to notch them a little with a grinder so they will lock back in like they originally did

next put the plate back in reinstall the bolt and let the jack down, and repeat on the other side, at first i would recommend putting the bolt most of the way in and after you get it all done park somewhere level and lower to the point you like

this is how it looked fresh out of the garage, with a 3" flip kit in the back and the bolts most of the way in upfront, i have since dropped the front about another inch

I will update with more pictures soon let me know what you think or have any questions.

tristanpaterson@rogers.com