hard riding 94 4x4 4dr

[Bryan Hartman]

How can I soften the ride ? I have tried two kinds of shocks but really not much help. The current shocks are better but still rough. I get alot of side to side rock when going in and out of driveways or such. Any ideas ?

 

[FMExplorer]

Bryan,
Try new bushings - like Energy Suspension bushings. They should keep the rocking from happening as much, but you will still ride fairly stiff. The '94's are built more like a truck than a car, so don't expect sedan type rides...

Jon

 

[Bryan Hartman]

Thanks I will try anything to smooth out this thing as much as I can.

 

[Maniak]

If you have soft shocks (or the self adjusting kind.. like Monroe Sensatracs) you have softened the ride by chaning the shocks about as much as you can.. Your next step is to attack the springs..

Your stock front springs are not a progressive rate spring. If you replace it with progressive rate springs they will give easier than they do now for the first few inches.. then get progressivly harder. This should really help your ride up front..

Now for the rear.. Leaf springs aren't know as being the softest riding springs... but there are some things you can do.. If you replace them with a different set.. (custom made) you can have them made to be softer in the main leaves (top 2) and have stiffer leaves under that. That will give you a little softer ride but not take away all of your spring rate (it will sit lower with more weight in it than it does now).. When you have springs made (or if you find some to buy) they can have or should have teflon spacers between the leaves. This allows them to move easier against each other. Another thing to look at is the design of the ends of the springs.. If they are tapered (1.5" wide at the ends instead of 3" wide) the will normally ride smoother than those that are cut straight at the end.

Our Explorer with the James Duff 2.5" prorgressive rate front springs and OME-36 (Old man emu) 2.5" springs rides smoother than our stock springs did.