Help needed in replacing 2002 Rear shocks

[mhamric]

Take a look at www.rockauto.com I ordered some Monroe Struts for my Explorer there, thought they were pretty good prices. I think they were $68/strut. Shipping was very reasonable too.

Mark

 

[natedoggaz]

...yeah, someone had mentioned a shortage of struts in an earlier post.

If anyone is planning on ordering some - verify theat they are in stock and on-hand before you place the order...

Was anyone able to find the torque specs for the bolts on these?

Also, the manufacturer said that I could re-use the original bottom bolt on the new ones? If no damage is caused, can this be done??

Thanks!

 

[natedoggaz]

Thanks Mark,

I bought the complete assembly for $89 each shipped. It was mentioned that there was a good chance that the springs could be broken (or could easily break in the near future) so I went with the complete quick-strut assembly...

I will take pics and post when I get them in - should be here tomorrow...

 

[jimspinnin]

I finally got my money back and ordered from a new place today. Should be here Monday and my hubs and bearings should be here Tomorrow. I just don't know what to do, I think I may get my friend who has worked on a bunch of cars before to try and help me. Don't feel like spending a ton at a dealer.

 

[stuartr]

natezdogg where did you order the springs from?

STU

 

[rocco123]

Just a comment to add. LOTs of people have reported BROKEN springs, not just some people.

 

[natedoggaz]

I had posted the source earlier - but no worries...

http://www.primechoiceautoparts.com/p-5003-strut-assembly-cst100122-new-ready-to-install.aspx

They were delivered yesterday - and they are totally heavy duty!

I will try and post some pics tonight...

EDIT: Wow...looks like the price went up $8 per strut assembly....maybe the word got out that Monroe is on a supply constraint and cannot fulfill their orders... demand goes up - so does the $$$!
...and I just ordered these last week!!

 

[natedoggaz]

Here are the pictures I took:

Let me know what you guys think....

-ND

 

[natedoggaz]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212283&highlight=remove+strut

1 - remove tire
2 - disconnect the stabilizer bar link at the lower control arm
3 - remove the bolt from the lower control arm to the knuckle
4 - remove the 3 nuts at the top of the strut (not a lot of room but not bad)
5 - remove the bolt at the bottom of the strut
6 - push the lower control arm down as far as it will go
7 - remove the strut

Thanks to "tower" who posted this information I was able to change them out this weekend. Thew first one took quite a while - until I found this info posted above! Second one took about 30-45 minutes.

This could be a 2-man job, one to use a crowbar or whatever to push down the control arm and one to wrangle out the strut, but I did it myself.

You do not need spring compressors - they do nothing to compress the length. Trust me, I tried...

You NEED to remove BOTH the stabilizer bar link nut (step 2) AND the bolt from the lower control arm to the knuckle (step 3) or esle there will not be enough room to remove the strut. You do not need to remove the Toe Link bar.

There are some good diagrams on Autozone.com in the repair guides section.

Also - the springs did not appear to be broken at all... but the rear end sits much higher now and rides very nice!

ND

 

[roob]

Monroe Quick strut

ordered from Rock Auto on 3/27 145.79 ea. $311.05 total w/shipping and shipped 3/28 ten rec'd yesterday. Must admit, rock auto has always been #1

Just finished installing the "Quick Strut" they should call it the somewhat easier but not so quick strut, even with the coil spring being done for you its still a job and a half just wrestling the old one out and the new one in to place. Think it took me about 3 - 3.5 hours to do both. But I still recommend them,
Now if I can find a pair for the front

Roob

 

[roob]

Monroe Quick strut

Wanted to ask, were you able to get the jounce bumper back in at the top of the strut tower?, The only way to remove mine was to destroy in in the process. The nut was behind it with absolutely no access to unbolt. I reinstalled without it, but cant figure what its purpose is, it is mounted in a position with no movement between the body and the frame.

 

[natedoggaz]

What is the jounce bumper?

Is it that piece of rubber that is attached to the 2 bolts on top of the whole assembly?

If so, mine came off without an issue and I just put them back on. I guess I could reuse them?

I have no idea what they are for...maybe if you really bottomed out bad it would protect the top of the strut bolt somehow?

ND

 

[spedheded]

Hey anyone here had any ride height issues after installing these rear struts?

 

[jimspinnin]

ordered from Rock Auto on 3/27 145.79 ea. $311.05 total w/shipping and shipped 3/28 ten rec'd yesterday. Must admit, rock auto has always been #1

Just finished installing the "Quick Strut" they should call it the somewhat easier but not so quick strut, even with the coil spring being done for you its still a job and a half just wrestling the old one out and the new one in to place. Think it took me about 3 - 3.5 hours to do both. But I still recommend them,
Now if I can find a pair for the front

Roob

They have them here and the site says if you buy 2 before the end of May you get a $60 refund http://www.wundercarparts.com/item....&Sku=171321&mfr=MONROE SHOCKS/STRUTS&sup=WHD& I will be putting mine on this weekend.

 

[natedoggaz]

Hey anyone here had any ride height issues after installing these rear struts?

Mine seems a little bit higher in the rear end after the install....probably just takes a little bit until they settle down. The old springs were so worn that it was sagging.

Is yours consideribly higher?

 

[spedheded]

Mine seems a little bit higher in the rear end after the install....probably just takes a little bit until they settle down. The old springs were so worn that it was sagging.

Is yours consideribly higher?

It does seem considerably higher. Just measuring the wheel arches to the ground, I measure 36" at the rear, 32 1/4" at the front. Didn't get a "before" measurement. I tried to see if there was any info on what the height was when the vehicle was new, but couldn't find much.

My mechanic said the same thing, that it needed to settle down. But it sure looks weird right now. And unfortunately, Prime Choice won't have new fronts for it until mid-May, otherwise I would have done them all at the same time.

 

[jimspinnin]

I will measure mine when I do them tomorrow. I got under the truck to spray everything down with some PB blaster for tomorrow and noticed that my back passenger spring is now broke in at least 2 places, was only 1 last time I changed the brakes.

 

[roob]

What is the jounce bumper?

Is it that piece of rubber that is attached to the 2 bolts on top of the whole assembly?

If so, mine came off without an issue and I just put them back on. I guess I could reuse them?

I have no idea what they are for...maybe if you really bottomed out bad it would protect the top of the strut bolt somehow?

ND

Its the piece of rubber between the top of the tower and the body, and mine was only attached to one bolt, where the bolt is in the middle of it and behind it, sounds like you had the different style that has wings on each side that the nuts go over , much easier and makes sense.
also mine seems higher since install

 

[jimspinnin]

I just put on a set of Monroe quick struts on the back of mine. It was 32" before and 35" after, but there was a sticker right on the strut that said to give them time to settle.

 

[mjp3262]

Check this out ! Monroe Rear Quick Struts $119.15 each and there's a $60.00 rebate.

http://www.amazon.com/Monroe-171322..._1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1273193712&sr=8-1