Check Air Ride System message

[Nitrous SSC]

FYI for anyone else that reads this thread: I have a trusted Ford mechanic who told me that the ARC shocks can be blown by lifting the vehicle by the frame, as in a car lift.

This is true. To prevent this from happening before raising your explorer take the rear drivers side door panel off in the back (where the jack is) and turn off the ARC. If you read the owners manual it will tell you before lifting ALWAYS turn it off.

I always turn it off myself before taking my truck in to get any tire work done. No one ever turns it off like they are supposed to. The one time I forgot to turn it off the compressor kicked on while the suspension was fully hung down. If this happends the system can actually require a manual bleed to get it back down to ride height. I got really lucky and after about 5 minutes of driving it started to lower back down. I don't have a 4x4 switch thou. Just an On-road and Off-road which basicly makes the air ride get-r-up!

Good luck in fixing this problem. Definatly post what the problem is incase others have similar issues. After the hell I've put mine through I'm surprised I don't have issues with it.

 

[CDW6212R]

Hello Matt, have you noticed that the shocks are stiffer when the offroad setting is used? How much stiffer is it? That is a wired in stiffening adjustment.

For did away with that on the 99-01 rear leveling system. The older shocks are $211 each, and the newer rear shocks are only $90 each(my price).

My previous post wasn't about the system functioning when service is being done. Turning off the system is just like the Lincolns air spring suspensions, it should be known by professionals.

My post was to help any owners of the ARC Explorers to save your ARC shocks, from a different damage. When those shocks are extended out completely, the internal seals can be ruined. The weight of the rearend being hung on the ARC shocks is enough to ruin them. Normal shocks don't have the same air seals, so they aren't affected like this.

So to be safe, and not risk killing over $200 apiece shocks, don't let the rearend hang from the shocks. The weight of the front suspension, beyond the full length of the shocks, is minimal. I doubt the fronts are in danger like the rears.
Good luck,
Don

 

[Nitrous SSC]

Its alot stiffer. On really bumpy gravely roads we take to get up to our wheeling area's I put it in off-road otherwise we bounce all over the place.

Technicly since I pull a rear wheel wheeling all the time I'm extending it as far as I can go and then some. Havn't had problems yet though. Mine get extended all the time.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yeah Matt, I think it's probably just a possible answer to an unknown problem. I am going to install one of the two systems in my 93/99 Explorer. I really only need the rear leveling system for it.

I would like to gauge the ride and handling of the older system, versus my Edelbrock shocks. My Mountaineer handles well, but it would be nice if it rode a little smoother over bumps. The older system would be much more expensive, and a little more work.
Don

 

[96limitedX]

the 95-98 system is very very nice over bumps. rides nicer then most anything out there..well stock it does..lol

 

[CDW6212R]

That's what I expect. I think that I'll need to ride in one, to see if the handling is on par with performance shocks. My problem will be finding one with a good rear anti-sway bar. With a stock rear bar, it's not a fair comparison. Thanks for the input,
Don

 

[96limitedX]

it handled dang good IMO stock(but i dont know what aftermarket shocks feel like. only stock ones on my dads 97 and they are shot). due to being alittle lower then stock EXs. and the fact the shocks adapt to drving conditions(or so they say?) i think im going to drop the t-bars back down and put the rear ARC sensor back to stock. once i get my body lift. so i can get the "riding on a cloud" feel back.