Monroe Max Air Shocks for rear end?

[TomCat_Ford]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to buy some air shocks for the rear of my 1998 Explorer Sport. It's 4wd. I was looking around and found some shocks from Monroe, but I haven't heard much about the company. Are these shocks any good? Will they hold up? If they are no good, what would be a set of air shocks for the rear of my Explorer?

Thanks!

 

[kert0307]

Out of curiosity, why are you looking for air shocks?

 

[TomCat_Ford]

I need new rear shocks for it (fronts too, but I don't want/need air shocks up front). I want air shocks out back so that I can adjust the ride height. You can pump those Monroe to 20-150psi, if I recall correctly. Currently, the rear end sags a bit... which looks wimpy!

 

[glfredrick]

To assist a little bit with load carrying and SLIGHT adjustment in ride height, they are OK. To jack up the rear on a permanent basis, look to an add-a-leaf. The BDS number is below.

114202

 

[gijoecam]

Monroe is a good company that makes an average product. Been around a long time and they make a lot of OEM equipment (as well as Rancho products).

As for using them to level the truck, no, I would not recommend them. They transfer the suspension loads that should be carried by the springs to the shock mounts... never a good idea IMHO.

-Joe

 

[Cobraguy]

Think about it for a minute. Look at the lower shock mounts on the rear. Then put all the weight of the body on those shocks by airing them up. All the body weight gets transferred to the lower mount points with every jar and bump in the road. I've seen lower mounts ripped clear out of the brackets. The way these shocks mount are designed to never carry weight...just dampen spring oscillations.

 

[TomCat_Ford]

That does make sense.

I was talking to my father the other day, and that's where I got the air shock recommendation. Back in the late 90's he installed a pair on the rear of his 1996 Bronco (bought it new in '96... custom ordered... friends used to call it the OJ mobile!) anyway, he really liked those shocks. He sold that truck in 2000 when he bought a 2000 Navigator, which had an air suspension from the factory that was computer controlled. If air shocks cause problems, why do they install them on vehicles from the factory? The Navigator seemed to be fine... even towing a 29' Formula Cigarette Boat with twin big blocks.

 

[Cobraguy]

The Navigator doesn't have the same type of air shock. It's an air suspension. Go look under your dad's Navvie and then your Explorer. You will see the difference. It's not even near the same thing. Pay particular attention to how they handle the weight load.

 

[TomCat_Ford]

I'd go over there look, but he sold it in 2002 (it was a lemon... the Ford dealer wanted to pull the body off to get the engine out... problems galore!) and bought an '02 F-150 Super Crew. Then in '04 he sold that and bought an '04 F-350 with a 6.0 Diesel. He still has that truck, as surprised as I am!

Anyway, I'll take your word for it. I'm looking to do a leaf spring swap with the 4D, so perhaps that will solve the squatting issues. Then I suppose I'll just go with some Rancho shocks or something. Both of my father's past to trucks had the FX4 kit installed, and those shocks seem to be great. Not sure when I'll be getting new shocks for it yet, as money is rather tight. This will just be a slow-going project until I get it all figured out. For the time being, I have an '04 Honda to drive daily that gets more than double the fuel mileage. Of course, it's just not the same as driving a second gen. Explorer.

 

[icepounder]

You're better off with the warrior shackles. I did the Monroe air shocks and all you get is a stiff ride. Also one of the seals blew after about two years. JMO

 

[wpurple]

I have used air shocks in the past, and they work very well.

I was going to go with air shocks when I was using my Mountaineer for towing but my complaint with the air shocks is that they have a tendancy to leak especially in cold temps, so I went with Monroe load handlers.

 

[TomCat_Ford]

What are "warrior shackles?" (Sorry if that's a dumb question.)

Leak in the cold, eh? Well it gets really cold here. Brr... (thank you heated garage!). So I guess these air shocks are out. Between the negative comments about what they do, the lower shock mounts, air leakage, going out in two years, etc., I'll find something better for my application. I'll see what I need to do after I preform a leaf spring swap this weekend (from a '96 4D to my '98 Sport).

Thanks!

 

[icepounder]

Do a search under " warrior shackles " .. a ton on info.