Help with rear shocks

[EskimoEddie]

Hello All!!

I'm planning on replacing my rear shock on my Ex, and hope that I will NOT have the same issue as I did when I replaced my fronts. I broke off the lower stud!! D'OH!!

NAPA came to the rescue with a replacement lower shock mount kit. Had to saws-all off the stud on the radius arm and drill out a 1/2" hole in the radius arm for the new lower mount.

But what a difference, I'm the 3rd (4th?) owner of my '94 Ex and the old shock were prob. original!! Now I don't go bouncing all over the highway when I hit expansion joints.

Has anyone else used the NAPA replacement lower mounts? Any issues I should be worried about, i.e. not strong enough, failures, etc? I don't go off road, just 'round town and little highway miles for me, I'm a home-body.

Anyone have any tips for replacing the rears? Thanks for any tips!!

-Greg

 

[Currency]

Hello All!!

I'm planning on replacing my rear shock on my Ex, and hope that I will NOT have the same issue as I did when I replaced my fronts. I broke off the lower stud!! D'OH!!

NAPA came to the rescue with a replacement lower shock mount kit. Had to saws-all off the stud on the radius arm and drill out a 1/2" hole in the radius arm for the new lower mount.

But what a difference, I'm the 3rd (4th?) owner of my '94 Ex and the old shock were prob. original!! Now I don't go bouncing all over the highway when I hit expansion joints.

Has anyone else used the NAPA replacement lower mounts? Any issues I should be worried about, i.e. not strong enough, failures, etc? I don't go off road, just 'round town and little highway miles for me, I'm a home-body.

Anyone have any tips for replacing the rears? Thanks for any tips!!

-Greg

This may help you a little bit.

http://www.explorerforum.com/Singleton/web/pages/shocks.html

I couldn't find any how to's on this subject.

I broke one off my passenger side, I just used a torch and a grade 8 bolt with a washer and nut. Then for good measure I welded it back on. No problems yet, No cracks in the weld.

My shocks need replaced also. Interesting tidbit. When I was pulling my seats to replace my vacuum modulator from the inside. I found a sales ticket under the center console from auto zone. Showed four shocks purchased in 1997. Mine have been replaced... a long time ago, It's past time to change them again.

Do you prefer a certain brand of shocks?

I'm thinking of getting monroe shocks for now because I plan on lifting my explorer some time next year and I think it would be a waste to get high end shocks just to replace them with lift shocks within a years time.

 

[Currency]

I shouldn't have said anything about welding that bolt on. I checked it today and I somehow managed to break it clean off again. So until tomorrow my lower passenger side shock will be sliding around every time I hit a bump

 

[$1Explorer]

I shouldn't have said anything about welding that bolt on. I checked it today and I somehow managed to break it clean off again. So until tomorrow my lower passenger side shock will be sliding around every time I hit a bump

This is one of those strange times when "better" things are actually worse. A grade 8 bolt has a higher tensile strength which offers a higher clamping force; but they are also more brittle, offering much less strength in shear (such as when you're using it for a stud). Grade 5 is a better choice for this, and make sure you use a bolt that is not threaded in the area that will support the shock. The threads will just act as stress risers.

Cheers!

John

 

[lsbdaddy]

how long should the bolts be?