how do you guys keep these front-ends aligned??

[S. Allen]

Ok, I have owned this 95 4x4 Explorer for four years now and after swapping the shocks for some stiffer Edelbrocks, changing the radius arm bushings and REALLY watching for potholes, I still cannot keep the front-end aligned for any considerable period of time.

My 1986 S-10 4x4 (which was a piece of you know what, otherwise) kept it's front end aligned for years and it saw MUCH more serious off-roading than this Explorer. I never had the front-end aligned and it never cupped a set of tires on the inside, like the 95 Explorer does right now. Whats up with this?

I am not running oversized tires (23575-R15 Michelin Cross Terrain SUVs) or off-roading it very much at all. An occaisinal jaunt through our hunting land every other month or so at low speeds (and almost never in 4WD), but I can't keep the front end aligned.

...any suggestions? ...how do you guys stand these front ends? ...is it just something you put up with on Ford trucks?

Thanks in advance for the advice,

-SA

 

[Jefe]

radius arm bushings on a 95?

The 91-94's have I-beam with radius arms, but the 95+ have IFS and no radius arms (unless the term refers to something different with IFS) right?

My 2000 had an allignment problem when I bought it w/ 19k on it. I got it aligned and now I have 33" tires and do serious off-roading, and only now is it starting to show signs of mis-alignment at 36k.

 

[Robert]

I hope you didn't pay someonene to change your radius arm bushings on your '95 since they haven't been used since '94 I have had no alignment problems on my '97 4x4 with stock tires, tt/shackle lift and larger tires. I have over 77K on it now an my tires wear straight all the way across without cupping. Could your Explorer have been in an accident before that might have screwed up the frame? Have you tried different places for the aligment or do you keep going back to the same place? Something is wrong with it or someone isn't doing something right. It shouldn't go out of alignment that often.

 

[mrboyle]

Now hold on guys, don't go telling him that his X isn't a '95 or that it doesn't have radius arms. I have seen 3 Explorers that are '91-'94 style, but built, titled and registered as '95's!
As far as cupping the inside of the tires, this can be reduced by rotating the tires more frequently. The reason the twin I-beam cups tires is due to the design of the suspension and the arc the tire travels through the suspension cycle. Its just one of thoes things you learn to deal with.