1999 Limited replacement shocks?

[dmb10]

Has anyone out there replaced the factory air shocks with an aftermarket shock- and disconnected the ARC sucessfully?

 

[CDW6212R]

I have added the rear ARC system to my 99 Limited. You can likely still find a seller in Canada who had hundreds of extra rear shocks, $25 each.

I believe that if you disconnect the ARC module(to the right of the radio, two connectors), the system will cease. Good luck,

 

[dmb10]

Is it a smoother ride with the new shocks? That is what Im after. I inherited the truck w/ origninal shocks at 65k, so I was wondering if I just replace or go a different route bilstien etc... opinion?

 

[CDW6212R]

Usually people keep the ARC as long as it functions. The ARC Explorers generally came with softer springs to begin with. My 99 isn't a good barometer because I built it for mail delivery. The front shocks are Reflex, which are a stiffer shock, but will last longer for me. My back end has stiffer springs because it wasn't an ARC truck, and is a 4WD. So it is stiffer than my Mountaineer, which got softer OEM springs.

I do believe that the ARC shocks are a good riding shock, but i have only ridden in one OEM ARC truck, and that was a 95 Explorer with 22,000 miles. It was a very nice riding 4WD truck, my friend and I test drove it in 1998.

If you have no leaks back there I would try to buy new ARC shocks. I don't know how to find that special eBay seller, but surely they are out there still. Ford sells them new for about $95 each, I bought my first pair there. Good luck,

 

[Bucmaster]

Sorry to hijack, but do all 99 Limited's have this system?

 

[CDW6212R]

No, 95-98 had the ARC(4 shock) as standard on all Limited's and Eddie Bauer models. From 99-01 it was not standard on any model, and became a 2 shock system, rear only. It was an option on all 4dr's, all trim levels. That's why it is so rare in 99-01, it took me a while to find the 99-01 control module.