All four of our factory shocks were toast at 17k miles! Bilstein shocks have been on it since.
As mentioned, I’d start with a full review of the frontend as well as the spring bushings on the rear.

 

Do you know which Bilstein shocks you went with? Would the Fox 2.0 be overkill? I guess it just depends on what I want to put into it at 162K miles.

 

These are the front shocks I have. I still haven't done the rear but I don't tow or haul big loads.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...308860&pt=7556

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...308860&pt=7556

 

So I took my van to the Sam's Club tire....I have popped both bands on the rear tires after my long trips of 2+ hrs; one on each trip respectively. Does anyone have suggestions on what tires I should go with? I heard something about 12 or 14 ply? Is this a thing for Express vans? I am still planning on adding new shocks around.

 

Ply rating was for way back when with Bias Ply tires. You want load range E. Most people would agree that it's hard to get a better tire than Michelin.

 

This is going back some but anyone that has put the Hellwig rear sway bar on mind sharing the item number. And any input on their thoughts after install would be great. It looks like there are a couple options. Thanks

 

I installed a Hellwig rear bar on my 24 Savana. It wasn’t too bad a job. Maybe 2 hours working alone in my driveway in no particular hurry. The hardest part was drilling the 4 holes in the frame for the upper link brackets. I just started small and kept increasing the bit size until the holes were big enough. I used the smallest of the 3 bars Hellwig sells, #7623, a 1-1/8” diameter bar. I had to call Hellwig and talk to a tech to confirm it would fit, since it’s only listed as fitting the early 1500 models. They told me that all 3 Savana/Express kits use the exact same mounting hardware so I knew it would work for a 3500 even if not listed for it.
If I had it to do over, I probably would go with the #7635 1-3/8” bar. These big boxes lean hard in turns and I was a bit over conservative.