Limited air ride system
JJ,
My wife's truck is a 95 limited with air ride. At around 80,000 miles, BOTH of the stock rear air shocks froze up. I got sticker shock from the Ford price on these shocks so I went to Advanced Auto Parts (any auto store can get them) and bought a pair of standard air shocks for the rear. I put them in, ran the air lines to the air nozzle which I mounted on the bottom of the rear bumper and turned off the air ride switch. Unfortunately this disables the front stock air shocks by turning off the pump (due to turning off the air ride switch). I said the heck with it and pulled the front air shocks and replaced them with stock shocks. I had to crank up the torsion bars a little for ride height (since the stock air shocks also provide lift) and drove like that. You HAVE to have air shocks on the rear of the Limited to provide lift because the Limited does not have as many leafs in the rear leaf spring pack as a regular Explorer.
The stock front shocks I put in were a little shorter than the factory air shocks so I fabbed in a spacer under the front aftermarket shocks. Drives just fine now.
The information computer in the center console of the Limited says "Air ride switch off", but it beats having it say "Check air ride" all the time with a leaking factory air ride system.
As for the factory electrical connectors on the factory air shocks, after I unhooked them I zip tied them (and the factory air lines) to the frame. Having the electrical connectors unhooked won't affect the computer as long as the air ride switch is left in the off position. If you turn on the air ride switch, it will say "check air ride"
I was unable to find anyplace that makes air shocks which will fit the front of the limited. If you hear of anyplace let me know.
I am not suggesting you do what I did, only if you want to. I just wanted to let you know I had the same problem and this is what I decided to do. Let me know how it turns out for you and good luck!
