Rear Load Leveling System v. ARC

[98EddieBauer]

Anyone know the difference between Ford's Automatic Rear Load Air Leveling Suspension System and Ford's Automatic Ride Control?

Thanks.

 

[ltd95]

Well, the ARC does both, adjust while your driving and raise when switched to 4x4, it also adjustes in the rear when weight is put on. I'm guessing the load levelling will only adjust in the rear with weight applied. not totally sure though. do you have load levelling?

 

[98EddieBauer]

My explorer has what is called an Air Suspension System, which is supposed to keep the vehicle height at a constant level by automatically adding or removing air from the suspension. I think this is the load leveling system.

When I switch the truck to 4X4 High or Low, it doesn't lift the body an inch. So I assume Eddie Bauers have only the load leveling while the Limiteds have both load leveling and ARC.

The only other thing I know is that I've got a cut-off switch on the drivers side behind a panel in the cargo area of the trunk.

The EBs have a switch on the dash that has three options: Auto, 4 High and 4 Low. Does your Limited have a seperate switch on the dash just to raise body height? Because I thought Limiteds didn't have a 4X4 switch on the dash at all because they were AWD all the time.

Thanks.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Rear load leveling is just what it is...there is a sensor located at the rear axle. If it sensed that the rear has dropped because of the weight, then the suspension will do its work when you're driving (it'll take a couple of miles in order to get it leveled).

ARC is Air Ride Control. It's a 4-corner air suspension system. It has ride sensors and it can adjust the height. The ride sensors is computerized so it can basically sense the road and adjust how firm the suspension should be. There isn't a switch for height adjustment. The 4WD switch is the switch that will adjust the height of your rig. Read your owner's manual and it'll tell you everything. When you switch to 4WD Low, it should raise 2" (I think), all four corners.

Limiteds and Eddie Bauers are the same, both are either 2WD or 4WD and standard ARC on Limiteds for '95 and '96, optional from '97 and '95-'98 Eddie Bauers. The only models that have AWD is XLT V8, Eddie Bauer V8, and Limited V8 models. ARC is optional on the V6 and V8 Limited and Eddie Bauer models up til '98 model year. In '99, Ford switched to rear load levelers.

 

[98EddieBauer]

Thanks for the info. So I guess Ford decided to drop the Automatic Ride Control altogether after the '98 model year. Too bad because it's a system I'd wish I had. Rear Load Levelers help with towing or loading but it's the controllable clearance that's useful - 2'' up for 4-wheelin' and 2'' down for streets.