MINI-SHOCK

[renner99]

i RECENTLY LOOKED UNDER MY WIFE'S 96 XLT AND NOTICED 2 MOUNTS (RIGHT REAR, FRAME RAILE TO DIFFERENTIAL) THAT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING WAS MISSING.
I LOOKED UNDER ANOTHER 96 XLT AND NOTICED THAT THERE IS A SMALL SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTED BETWEEN THE FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS MINI SHOCK DOES AND WHAT WOULD MAKE SOMEONE REMOVE IT?

 

[scott]

The shock is there to reduce the side to side rocking we all hate. As for someone removing it, I'm clueless. Can you tell that there definitely was one mounted in the brackets or are they just there? How do the brackets attach? I have seen these but didn't have the time to examine the setup to see if I can get a "kit" to mount it on my '91. My dad has a '99 XLT AWD w/205 hp V6 but I hardly get to see him to check it out.

 

[renner99]

These mounts are factory. Normal flange/hole set-up. I thought it may have something to do with the All-Wheel Drive set-up, but who knows.

 

[SpikeMan]

Hey, The bar is there to get rid of the vibration problems that plaques all explorer but specifically the 91-94 explorers. At speeds of 60 on up these year Fords prduced a vibration problem that shakes you to death. I have a 91 and am having a terrible time with the shakes. Ford egineered a "fix" that included new motor mounts and the rear mini shock. This fix was included on all explorer to this day. It's much cheaper to do this than redesign the entire chassis on the best selling sport ute. Someone has removed the shock for some reason. They come on all explorers now. On some models however, this fix didn't do any good so Fored stopped offering the kit for 19-94's. Go to the junk yard and get a shock. Cost- 10 20 bucks.

 

[FordMan]

That shock is also designed to reduce axlewrap, which as I understand it, happens when you are off-roading and your back end is hopping while climbing something steep, etc. The shock helps reduce that and thus keep your traction on the ground where it belongs. I called about a sensa-trak shock for it and Napa told me it was a dealer item, but I found out that Bilstein also makes them, and they are about $80. Hope this helps.

 

[renner99]

Thanks for all the input.
I thought that maybe the high right rear corner might have something to do with that shock not being there.
The previous owner put Edelbrocks on and maybe the vendor removed the mini-shock to enhance the performance of the Eddys - who knows, eh?