bumpy ride

[flipdru712]

i have a 2001 explorer sport which has a bumpy ride. i was wondering if that is normal because i know that explorer sports have the same suspension as explorers. i bought the car with 20,000 miles. should i just lubricate the shocks or buy new one? i am also hearing clicking and grinding noises when i turn my steering wheel all the way.

 

[X~FACTOR]

After only 2 years and 20,000 miles I doubt that your stock shocks are shot already but LA roads aren't the smoothest roads either. You could change them to Monroe Sensatracs for a little softer ride.

Clicking and grinding noises is probably normal depending how loud the noise is. I remember this same noises when my Explorer was only a year or 2 years old. I ignored it and it went away. Hah!

Also, does it buckle while making the turn? This happened to me but a good alignment fixed it.

 

[flipdru712]

thanks for your reply. it does buckle, and i'm about to get the wheels alligned. i just talked with my friend who's a mechanic and he said that the shocks might have stiffened up because 20,000 miles for a 2001 is little and the car might have not been used a lot.

 

[Majisto]

Same suspension, yes, but the wheelbase is shorter so the ride is choppier. Go ride in a 2-door Blazer and you're Explorer will feel like a Benz.

The clicking and grinding may be normal, but if it is really loud, it may be a wheel bearing or just a dirty power steering system, although I have gone about 110K miles without any of those breaking. Yes, 20K on a 2001 is low, but 110K on a 2000 is a lot.