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YACT: The Explorer is "bouncy"...time for new shocks?
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Pliablemoose
Lifer
KYB (Kayaba) or Tokiko.
Personally, if it's a POS car you're not going to keep, buy the cheapest gas charged shocks you can find, otherwise buy KYB or Tokiko.
Personally, if it's a POS car you're not going to keep, buy the cheapest gas charged shocks you can find, otherwise buy KYB or Tokiko.
Pliablemoose
Lifer
Doggone it, used google to spell check it & everything...
Anyway I've put on lots of OEM & some higher end stuff, I really like the handling improvement from a little stiffer shock during "emergency maneuvers". With an Explorer, I prob would lower it with shorter springs too, just to reduce the ride height (unless you're into off roading)
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
WTF are you talking about? Ride height offsets a stiffer shock? Care to explain this?
A stiffer shock will change the overall ride. It will make it less bouncy/floaty, it will handle a bit better but you will feel more bumps.
I would recommend either the Monroe truck shock or the sensa-trac shocks.
The sens a trac shocks are ok on a small pu or car, but I think they're a bit soft for the Explorer. The best shock I've ever had were a set sold by Napa called Grande 60, about $35 each. These things kept my loaded (800 lb.) Mitsubishi pu on the ground in the rain. No hydroplaning, which I consider a true test of a shock. The bouncing test will only tell you when the shocks are completely shot. I don't think Napa stills sells this brand, but they were made by Gabriel, which is available everywhere. The heavyduty, nitro filled, truck shocks go for about $25 apeice.
Installation is straight forward, but places like sears, which I don't personally recommend, will install them for about $5 each.
I agree with the poster about the kybs. I've got them on the front of my current truck and they're a bit soft. Another year and I'm going to the Gabriels.
The sens a trac shocks are ok on a small pu or car, but I think they're a bit soft for the Explorer. The best shock I've ever had were a set sold by Napa called Grande 60, about $35 each. These things kept my loaded (800 lb.) Mitsubishi pu on the ground in the rain. No hydroplaning, which I consider a true test of a shock. The bouncing test will only tell you when the shocks are completely shot. I don't think Napa stills sells this brand, but they were made by Gabriel, which is available everywhere. The heavyduty, nitro filled, truck shocks go for about $25 apeice.
Installation is straight forward, but places like sears, which I don't personally recommend, will install them for about $5 each.
I agree with the poster about the kybs. I've got them on the front of my current truck and they're a bit soft. Another year and I'm going to the Gabriels.
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
The reason the ride in his Volvo was terrible was probably due to the combination of the lowering springs and the stiffer shocks. Not the ride height. The springs made the difference there as they were probably progressive rate springs and since the suspension had less travel due to being lowered the stiff shocks in combination with the springs is what made the ride worse. Obviously, the lower you go, the stiffer your springs must be to keep the suspension from bottoming out. 2" is quite a big difference from stock-especially on a well engineered vehicle like a Volva. I'm not surprised the ride was terrible.
If you take a vehicle like the Exploder and just change out shocks you can improve the ride and/or handling characteristics. Especially if your old shocks are bad.
There are kits that work well in combination for lowering and improving handling but whenever you start trying to improve handling characteristics you generally sacrifice ride comfort. Which is why we don't all drive around every day in a racing car. Almost nobody would want to do that.
The OP didn't want to change the ride height of his SUV though he only wanted to improve the ride qualities and you can do this with shocks.
Pliablemoose
Lifer
It's an Explorer, it was built with too high a center of gravity in the first place, & it's too narrow...
I'm not much for suspension modding, but, if I owned an Explorer particularly an older one, I'd lower it, especially if my family was riding in it.
I'm not much for suspension modding, but, if I owned an Explorer particularly an older one, I'd lower it, especially if my family was riding in it.
slag
Lifer
I've owned FIVE 1st gen explorers and never had a single problem with any of them in regards to ride height and center of gravity.
Just remember you are driving an SUV, not a sports car, and handle turns accordingly. The 1st gen explorers shared the frame with the rangers. The wheelbase really wasnt an issue as it was on the Bronco 2 and suzuki samarai.
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