Crappy ride... Or am I too picky?

[aklmfreak]

Switching from half worn Goodyear Wrangler RT/S to new Michelin LTX M/S improved my ride ALOT.

my dad's 98 XLT and my bro's 01 Sport Trac both have Wrangler RT/S's on them and they both ride like crap

when i bought my 00 Sport it had Wrangler Radials on it, and they were slightly better, but my ride got MUCH better after switching to a highway tire instead of those All Terrains

 

[IZwack]

Thats a good point - tires play a big role.

My mom's Subaru just switched to Yokohama TRZ's and the ride is like night and day.

 

[Sbyrne97]

Michelins are the way to go for the explorer...my dad told me the original goodyears were too rough and the michelins were like night and day...my experience was great with them...I actually have a set of 4 for sale...about a year old...just took them off a day ago to put on my 33" Mud Terrains...if you want them just name a price..as for shocks...monroe might be cheap but they lasted a while I think they were the reflex ones...my new rancho's are awesome though....It just depends on the type of ride your looking for....it's still a truck after all...although the right shocks and tires will make a world of difference

 

[ExplorerXLT95]

Switching from half worn Goodyear Wrangler RT/S to new Michelin LTX M/S improved my ride ALOT.

my dad's 98 XLT and my bro's 01 Sport Trac both have Wrangler RT/S's on them and they both ride like crap

when i bought my 00 Sport it had Wrangler Radials on it, and they were slightly better, but my ride got MUCH better after switching to a highway tire instead of those All Terrains

Thats a good point - tires play a big role.

My mom's Subaru just switched to Yokohama TRZ's and the ride is like night and day.

Michelins are the way to go for the explorer...my dad told me the original goodyears were too rough and the michelins were like night and day...my experience was great with them...I actually have a set of 4 for sale...about a year old...just took them off a day ago to put on my 33" Mud Terrains...if you want them just name a price..as for shocks...monroe might be cheap but they lasted a while I think they were the reflex ones...my new rancho's are awesome though....It just depends on the type of ride your looking for....it's still a truck after all...although the right shocks and tires will make a world of difference

Well, I decided to examine the tires today. First of all, they are Goodyear Fortera SilentArmor. I loved them when they were brand new. Seemed to make the whole car feel nicer.

HOWEVER, I just noticed that the insides of both of my front tires appear to be wearing quicker than the middle or outsides. The middle and outsides are about even, but the insides are pretty nasty.

Still though, that would affect handling, not comfort... Right?

Tomorrow before I head to work, I am going to lower the tire pressure to 32psi all around and see how that works.

 

[aklmfreak]

Well, I decided to examine the tires today. First of all, they are Goodyear Fortera SilentArmor. I loved them when they were brand new. Seemed to make the whole car feel nicer.

HOWEVER, I just noticed that the insides of both of my front tires appear to be wearing quicker than the middle or outsides. The middle and outsides are about even, but the insides are pretty nasty.

Still though, that would affect handling, not comfort... Right?

Tomorrow before I head to work, I am going to lower the tire pressure to 32psi all around and see how that works.

the Fortera Silent Armor looks a little less aggressive than the Wrangler RT/S but i dont have any experience with that particular tire...

as far as your front tires go, that sounds like an alignment issue, which can cause vibration, uneven treadwear, and reduce ride quality to a degree (mostly through vibration and affecting handling/steering if it's bad enough off)

if your front tires are still usable i would recommend getting a front end alignment (~$40 at most shops around my area) and rotating your tires (free if you have a jack, your factory tire iron and some elbow grease ) to try and even things out

 

[ThePhoenix]

The repairs don't necessitate you to adjust the torsion bars. However, if the had been adjusted by a previous owner it is possible this could contribute to the ride problem. 38 PSI seems somewhat high. 30-32 I would think would be enough.

this was my fopah...the PO must have adjust the TB and my whole frame was ****eyed for the first year!

I went and adjusted it myself. I got rid of the pimp lean and my front wheel stopped shaking

 

[aklmfreak]

this was my fopah...the PO must have adjust the TB and my whole frame was ****eyed for the first year!

I went and adjusted it myself. I got rid of the pimp lean and my front wheel stopped shaking

haha! pimp lean.....

... speaking of which my front end bounces like a pimp-mobile when i go over bumps. i have new Edelbrock Performer IAS's in the back (which are firm) and what appear to be the ORIGINAL FACTORY shocks up front so the front end bounces like crazy while the back end barely moves
....i will be resolving this come next payday.....

EDIT: and i'll create a how-to thread when i do so

 

[ThePhoenix]

just enter in some car hopping competitions...

and yes, pimp lean is an actual term here on EF's.com... search for it

 

[aklmfreak]

just enter in some car hopping competitions...

and yes, pimp lean is an actual term here on EF's.com... search for it

haha, i can do pretty good just alternating gas-brake-gas-brake-gas-brake now i'm tempted to take a video and post it maybe i'll use it as a "before" and "after" when i get my Performer IAS's for the front