Rough ride lately

[cngizbleevng]

My wife's explorer has been riding rougher and rougher over the last several months. Not the engine, but the suspension.

We noticed it before switching from our summer tires to the snow tires, and I thought the old tires might be cupped, but the snow tires are no better.

You can feel alot of the road irregularities and the tire noise is loud. Otherwise, the SUV acts normally.

The vehicle has over 100k miles now.

Would worn out shocks do this, or some other suspension component?

 

[swetrid]

CK the shocks and springs. Rear springs break pretty often as well as leaky shocks.

 

[waskly]

are wheel bearings ok?

 

[imp]

My wife's explorer has been riding rougher and rougher over the last several months. With or without new noise of some kind? Leaky shocks just allow bouncing up and down to be more than usual, but no noise to speak of. Broken spring leaf(s) might allow bottom-out of suspension, this does make noise! Not the engine, but the suspension......QUOTE]

 

[cngizbleevng]

With or without new noise of some kind? Leaky shocks just allow bouncing up and down to be more than usual, but no noise to speak of. Broken spring leaf(s) might allow bottom-out of suspension, this does make noise!

There is a humming sound at highway speeds, and almost a rumbling sound at lower speeds.

No bouncing as would occur with worn shocks.

 

[muhl5443]

sounds like either wheel bearings or both sets of tires are bad.

 

[rdop02xlt]

I have just under 100K on my 02' ex. Rear springs and shocks were toast around 75K. Front lower ball joints were worn by 80K. I just replaced them and noticed a significant improvement in how the steering wheel feels over rough roads. More than likely you'll need to do the rear springs and struts as well as balljoints in the front. Lots of good posts on here about all those items.

 

[cngizbleevng]

Well, I ordered a set of front bearings and once I install them I'll let you know how it went. Thanks for your advice.

 

[stu05]

Was it the front bearings?