Monroe Sensatrac

[evoq007]

does anyone have any experience with Monroe Sensatrac shocks on there Explorer. Im thinking of getting two to do the front. Is it hard to install. Im 17 and pretty mechanically inclined.

Thx
Scott

 

[gbosin]

I put some on my 98. The fronts were easy. You should replace all 4 since the shocks compared to the factory are totally different. When you remove the old shock compress with your hand, then try the new sensatrac. Big difference. The rears are harder because the top nuts are hard to get a wrench on.
The end result was a much firmer ride without harshness on the big bumps.

 

[evoq007]

How long do you think it will take two people to replace them? What do i have to remove for the fronts. Im just assuming the wheels. Any extra explanation would be great

Thanks a bunch guys

Scott

 

[gbosin]

I would guess 1 to 2 hrs, depends on your tools. I have the fortune of a compressor and some pnuematic tools. You do need to remove the front wheels and the fender skirts inside the wheel well can be partially removed. Careful with the fastners. I took advantage of the wheels being off to clean the brake dust out off the backside of the wheel. You also should look at you rotors and brake pads. The rest is easy.
On the rears you don't need to remove the wheels but I reccomend a ratcheting end wrench so you don't have to keep trying to find the nut. There isn't enough room for a socket.

I hope this helps. Good luck

 

[jersha]

I am changing mine out now.

I have a 96 Sport 4wd and I am changing out the stock shocks after 125k miles on them. Front right had finally had it. One thing to think about if you live north in the snow and (more importantly) salted roads, you will definitely have rust to deal with, or at least I do in a big way. So some PB Blaster or something like that will be needed and it wouldn't hurt to put that on a day or so before you are going to do the work, as I have found out the hard way. I am putting on Monroe Sensa-Tracs because I am on the highway 98% of the time. Everyone I talked to here said that for the money and the type of driving and limited towing I do, those would fit the bill nicely. So I am hoping to get them installed tomorrow night.

My question is to anyone that might know what is mounted towards the back drivers side shock mount that makes it difficult to get to the drivers side shock nuts? I am wondering if I can pull that down, or if that would not be a good idea. It does have two hoses running in and out of it. Any idea what that is? Is there anyway to get to those top nuts easily without pulling it down?

Thanks

 

[udmsvt]

i dont have any experience installing them, but i have them all aound on my sport and DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM! my truck rides like crap, i know its a truck but it rode better on my old blown out ones. i almost got rancho 5000s instead but was tols they would be even stiffer....as if! i wish i wouldve gotten the ranchos. we have them on the 91 and i havens felt a better SUV ever! BTW, i had the shocks done long before my lift so i know its not related to that.

dont get the sensatracs, they arent made for SUVs...get ranchos.

 

[X~FACTOR]

The hardest part for me when changing the shocks up front is taking those heavy tires off. The rear gets a little tricky because of the top bolts are on top of the frame. There's very little room to unbolt them, especially the driver side.

 

[Robb]

Dead Link Removed

 

[Badabing]

FYI, I just purchased the Sensa tracks all around from Sears based on the recommendations on this board. Cost was $40 each and Sears installed them for free. Also got a free alignment. Both were specials which, I understand, Sears runs regularly.

FWIW, they had a tough time with one bolt due to rust but they finally got it off without breaking it.

I can tell the difference over the stocks which had 113k miles on them but it's too early to tell much else.

 

[Tat2dExploder]

i installed monroe reflex gas shocks when my stock shocks were blown... and so far i love em on and off road....

 

[udmsvt]

i looked at the reflex and the dude at murray's said that the ranchos are for offroad only, the reflex are for on road only so if i wanted a happpy medium to go with the sensatracs...man was that guy wrong! the reflex is, from what i hear, one of the best on/off road shocks, and the rancho is too...its just stiffer.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Originally posted by Badabing
Cost was $40 each and Sears installed them for free.

Is that right, $40 each installed?!? I wonder how much the shock itself is if Sears could afford to sell them with free installation...

 

[dougiu]

I bought 2 Sensatracs for the front of my '94 from NAPA for $30 each.

 

[alphabets13]

i put sensa-tracs on my X about a month ago and they are great. in the last year i have replaced 4 kyb's, then 4 edelbrocks. do you know how much money that was? they were too damn rough and i couldn't take it anymore. i heard good stuff about monroe, so i got the sensa-tracs and they rule. so much softer and still handle great. i don't go off-roading so i don't know about that, but i'm sure they would hold their own for temporary off-roading. i've also heard good things about reflex's, but they are more expensive than sensa-tracs, and probably not much different.

 

[udmsvt]

Originally posted by alphabets13
i put sensa-tracs on my X about a month ago and they are great. in the last year i have replaced 4 kyb's, then 4 edelbrocks. do you know how much money that was? they were too damn rough and i couldn't take it anymore. i heard good stuff about monroe, so i got the sensa-tracs and they rule. so much softer and still handle great. i don't go off-roading so i don't know about that, but i'm sure they would hold their own for temporary off-roading. i've also heard good things about reflex's, but they are more expensive than sensa-tracs, and probably not much different.

give it 5k, you may not like those monroe's as much. every time i drive my ex, i kick myself for not getting rancho

 

[alphabets13]

give it 5k, you may not like those monroe's as much. every time i drive my ex, i kick myself for not getting rancho

they do have a lifetime warranty though. i don't exactly know the specifics of it, but i'm sure that if in 5k these are falling apart, i'll get new ones or a refund one way or another, trust me, i'll tear sears up if they give me any crap. but, like i said before, so far, best shock i've had to date.

 

[udmsvt]

Originally posted by alphabets13
they do have a lifetime warranty though. i don't exactly know the specifics of it, but i'm sure that if in 5k these are falling apart, i'll get new ones or a refund one way or another, trust me, i'll tear sears up if they give me any crap. but, like i said before, so far, best shock i've had to date.

they will replace them if defective..... which they wont be. its like teh break in and they suck once they do. mine have warranty too but its not worth me leaving my truck all day once every few months, so when i take it in next, its getting ranchos. shouldve got them in teh first place.

 

[jake the snake]

are the sensa tracs better than gabriel vst?

 

[alphabets13]

are the sensa tracs better than gabriel vst?

from all the research i did, yes. i did all this before i purchased my sensatracs. gabriels seem to be a real good shock for the price, but monroes gives a better ride. not sure about off-road, but monroes are a little bit more $$$ than the gabriels, and usually you get what you pay for.

 

[gixir]

i just took the oem's off after 55k on my 92. 4 door. i wanted the reflexes but changed my mind and went with the rancho 5000's. there great but wish they were the 9000's