02 Explorer broken rear coil springs?

[charbojoseph]

replaced my broken rear coil springs yesterday

I had some time yesterday so I decide to replace both broken rear coil springs in my 02 XLT 4.0. It wasn't too bad of a job. The hardest part was getting at the 3 studs on top of the shock/spring mount. I ended up removing the spare tire from underneath and accessing them from there. Both springs were worse than I thought. They were broken in numerous places. In my opinion they were probably not heat treated correctly and ende up too brittle. Anyway it's back together and rides like new. Springs were $85 each at the dealer.

 

[34Ford]

Thought I would post these pics of the springs I found broke yesterday.
.

 

[34Ford]

Well the Ebay springs came and they was well worth the $97.

The job would have been so much easier with a spring compressor though. But I got them on.

Now to get that camber fixed on the right rear.

 

[xlsaspen]

Mine too. The right rear spring broke at 76k and the stealership replaced both, for about $350 ($210 parts).

 

[pb3]

add me to the list. '03 (12/02 build date) with 110k miles. driver's side rear at the top of the coil.

anyone know if eibach or another aftermarket spring company makes a set for us gen3 x?

 

[rrgone]

People with broken springs should post up the Spring Codes so that others with the same codes will know to keep an eye on their springs. The Spring Codes are on the Vehicle Label right under 'SPR'. The first letter is the front springs and the second is for the rears. It would be useful to find out if all the broken springs have the same code.

 

[pb3]

that's a great idea rr. my '03 says DB on the SPR code. the lime green sticker on the coil says 1l24-5534-bd / 236-2

'03 4x4 v8 110k miles, 12/02 build.

 

[tristyclark]

I had both coild break off in my 2002 XLT V6 explorer a year ogo. It btoke two coils down on both sides. Coil springs ended up being a dealer part!!! Cost me $240/ea CAD. And once I had the coils out it was just as well to replace the struts as well - after the lengthy labour it took to get at the springs. This is definitely a reoccurring probelm

 

[ashton011]

When this happens how does it affect the feel of driving the Explorer? I'm wondering if this is the problem with mine. The back end feels "loose" to me.

 

[fsmt]

looking for a good deal on rear springs

hi, i need to replace the rear springs on my'02

Does any one have a source for replacements?
I'd like to replace the shock/sripng assemblies some one on here scored a set for $100 but I can't find a deal like that. So i might just do the springs.
Thanks in advance

 

[rgerber2]

Coil springs

I just got mine from www.rockauto.com for 112 shipped. The brand is moog. For a few bucks more they have spicer ones but theres a 16 day wait since they dont stock them.

 

[seeyalater]

Take a look here http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=200639
this is what alot of guys with the 3rd gens are doing.

 

[f2racer]

I just got mine from www.rockauto.com for 112 shipped. The brand is moog. For a few bucks more they have spicer ones but theres a 16 day wait since they dont stock them.

How did the Moog springs work out? I recently found out that the rear springs on my 02 XLT (AWD) are also broken. I had a '94 Mustang GT that had the same thing happen to the front springs. I was able to swap out most of the suspension components (Ford sells '01 Bullit Mustang suspension kit which includes the springs, struts, shocks, and sway bars which were a drop in replacement for under $500), without too much hassle myself. I'm no mechanic, but suspension and brakes ain't rocket science. I'll probably do the rear shocks while I'm doing the springs. Does anybody know the OEM part # for the rear shocks?

Thanks!

 

[carguy828]

I had both of mine broken for I don't know how long and didn't even know it...Merlin's found it during a free brake inspection...both were broken about 1 coil down.

 

[EricM]

Found my right rear broken yesterday. Wish I'd checked here before I replaced it with OE, but I thought it was just some freak thing. I guess when the other one breaks I'll swap them both for something aftermarket.

 

[97awdx]

I have an 02 XLS V6, drives side rear coil is cracked. Also have a friend with an 02 and both of his rears springs are cracked. Apparently this is a very common problem with the early IRS explorers, so says my dealer. I also got my springs for $125 (each) from them, not the $1000's as stated earlier in this thread.

 

[doug1105]

Both rear springs on my wife's '02 XLT were broken.

This thing is never off-roaded. My mechanic says he does tons of these.

He says the metal in the springs are garbage from the factory.

I'm seeing a lot of this crap metal in rotors and aftermarket parts.
The steel is just junk.

 

[f2racer]

I replaced the rear springs and struts in my wife's Explorer yesterday. Took me around 6 hours. The engineer that design the IRS must have been a real ****** or Ford must never had intended the rear suspension to be serviced as most of the time was spent removing the 3 bolts (per side) at the top of the strut mount. There's very little room up there so you're relegated to removing them by hand using a small 13mm wrench a quarter turn at a time max. And those nuts here both rusted on as well as whatever thread lock Ford used to install them meant lots of muscled required - my hands hurt a lot today.

Here's the original spring and strut:

I was astounded when I removed the top strut mount, the spring had broken into 4 pieces:

Talk about a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[evo]

I just bought my 2002 2wd XLS last week, and had tires put on. When I took it for an alignment this morning we found the right rear spring broken 1 coil up from the bottom. Looks like I am going to go an aftermarket route for my replacement set also. Will get pictures tomorrow, I was too mad to do it today.

 

[FordLover]

Pretty old post, but I was currious if these tend to be on vehicles with the Tow package or not (heavier duty rear springs with the Tow package)

These also seem to all be happening in the 'rust belt' or north. I can't find a spot of rust under my '02, which is making me feel better, but I do tow a travel trailer with ~550 lbs. of tongue weight on the rear.