replacing shocks

[madvette74]

doing some maintence on the truck, I bought 4 monroe sensatrac shocks.
is the upper bolts a pain removing? do I need to remove the spare?
I know there is one rear shock leaking so the other is probaly shot also, if the shocks are bad enough in the rear, would it cause it to sag a little bit? could I expect to see it return to level after replacing them?

 

[rogersjz]

i recently did the shocks on my 99xlt. the rear were the easiest. i removed the spare tire and jacked the car up on stands to get some manuvering room underneath the car. there are two bolts for each of the rear shocks. and in the front you have to pull back the cover on the wheel well. it is held on by the annoying snap plugs.

 

[madvette74]

finished all for shocks.. I found the front to be real quick, it's the rear, espeacially the drivers side rear...

 

[spta97]

Regarding your sagging, the shocks will not help with that. I got Warrior Shackles that evened out my ride pretty well. I beleive they were about $70 shipped. Other people prefer to get new springs or replace the mono-spring on the sport model with the 4 leaf of the 4-door. I had the 4-door and only about 35k on the odo. I didn't want to get new springs so I went the cheap route and am happy:

Before: - Lens fogged up

After:

Basically they change the rear mounting point of the leafs lower (a few inches) so it pushes the rear end up. Very easy install and no impact on ride quality other than I don't feel like I am going up hill everywhere

 

[madvette74]

where can I get them??????

Regarding your sagging, the shocks will not help with that. I got Warrior Shackles that evened out my ride pretty well. I beleive they were about $70 shipped. Other people prefer to get new springs or replace the mono-spring on the sport model with the 4 leaf of the 4-door. I had the 4-door and only about 35k on the odo. I didn't want to get new springs so I went the cheap route and am happy:

Before: - Lens fogged up

After:

Basically they change the rear mounting point of the leafs lower (a few inches) so it pushes the rear end up. Very easy install and no impact on ride quality other than I don't feel like I am going up hill everywhere

 

['97 V8]

4wheelparts.com, give them a call they will set you up with some.

 

[spta97]

I got mine from http://www.desertrat.com/. Give them a call if you want them, I don't think the part was listed on the site:

Warrior Shackles (WAR-153)
Cost = $58.99
Shipping = $12 (to 11758 - NY)
Total = $70.99


1-866-444-5337

 

[madvette74]

thanks guys for the info, going to order a set..

 

[spta97]

One note on the installation, the nuts that hold on the warrior shackles are slighly out of round so it feels like you are not threaded properly. The reason they do this is so they do not come off.

Also, you should not put them on too tight and deform the "H" shape. People say to use about 30ft/lbs (if memory serves me right) but when I put mine on, the force to turn the out of round nuts was more than 30 ft/lbs. I just put them snug and made sure not to deform the "H" shape.

 

[madvette74]

do you have a before and after pic of your truck???

I got mine from http://www.desertrat.com/. Give them a call if you want them, I don't think the part was listed on the site:

Warrior Shackles (WAR-153)
Cost = $58.99
Shipping = $12 (to 11758 - NY)
Total = $70.99


1-866-444-5337

 

[spta97]

do you have a before and after pic of your truck???

That's my truck in post #4.

 

[madvette74]

SPTA97... thanks

 

[whoathere]

is that the shackle itself that you can see by the exhaust pipe?

 

[spta97]

Yes. The shackle it's self is a nice granite like color, but the bolts are shiney and stick out. The reason they stick out so much is the whole bottom of the truck is rust (typical for Explorers). I was going to paint the bolt but after a while I just didn't care.

Here is a close-up