rough ride

[temmorg]

i just got a 98 explorer sport and was wondering if the ride should be so stiff [you really feel every bump] or if i need new shocks thanks in advance

 

[Flash]

Ride is very subjective.
People say Bilsteins give a rough ride but I don't think mine do.
Personally I prefer the ride of Koni shocks.

If the shocks are factory issue then they definitely need to be replaced by now.

Is your ride hard or bouncy?

 

[temmorg]

its a hard ride, i dident get a chance to look to see what kind they are or if there stock just to many hours at work to look

 

[Mounty99]

Bilsteins. Koni.

Both great choices. I ended up going with the KYB gas-a-just and have been happy. Also, KYB often runs a 4 for $40 rebate offer. I ended up with all four shocks for around $100. Hard to beat...

 

[Flash]

its a hard ride, i dident get a chance to look to see what kind they are or if there stock just to many hours at work to look

It's probably your shocks.

I replaced my original equipment air ride shocks with Bilsteins, until then every bump was a punch in the kidneys.

Actually it's Billies in the front and some jerry rigged Billies from an M5 BMW in the back until I get some Konis for the back.

 

[jayss]

I would never buy kyb they suck hard, no offence but that is what they put on my ml 320 Mercedes and replaced them with bilsteins they are great and should last a lone time. my ford explorer has bilsteins and are going strong after 70,000 miles, but i have multi vehicles and dont drive one all the time

 

[lobo411]

It's normal to feel the road more in older Explorers because they're basically Ford Ranger pickup trucks with a permanent camper shell strapped on. And they're high profile so you get thrown around more (I have to take my car to buy apples and cantaloupes, unless I want to make fruit salad!). And the Sport has a shorter wheelbase so you're going to get tossed around more going over humps etc...

 

[toypaseo]

What tires are you running?

When I switched from dismal Goodyear Wrangler RT/S to Michelin LTX M/S, my ride improved A LOT.

When the Michelins were eight years and showing slight cracking from vibrations, driving, weather, etc, they were replaced with Firestone Destination LE2. Ratings on Tirerack were very close to the original Michelin LTX M/S.

 

[JusTheUsual]

I really like my ranchos and I got the cheaper 5000 series not the 9000's

 

[Flash]

Also, it's a common belief that running lower tyre pressures will soften the ride.
While that may be true in some cases if your tyres are firmer they will transfer the work to the suspension where it should be, and if you've got decent suspension your ok.

Slightly different but my 1 tonner drove smoother with 60lbs in the 184R 14C tyres than it did with 40lbs.

 

[beach]

What tires are you running?

When I switched from dismal Goodyear Wrangler RT/S to Michelin LTX M/S, my ride improved A LOT.

When the Michelins were eight years and showing slight cracking from vibrations, driving, weather, etc, they were replaced with Firestone Destination LE2. Ratings on Tirerack were very close to the original Michelin LTX M/S.

RTS are the worst tires of any vehicle, had them, as a shop one day getting tires didn't have AT that fit (I had Mich LTX AT). These were awful, rode worse, almost no wet weather traction, worn poorly, noisy. I remember finally getting fed up with them, sure enough checked reviews online and these tires are beyond awful.

Just remember though, these are body on frame trucks with a live axle in the rear and old school tech/setup, really no matter what their going to ride rough. You can put all new shocks on, bushings, joints etc still going to ride like a 90s truck. I redid everything about 5 years ago and installed Monroe Reflex in the front and Monroe Max Airs in the rear, drove much better then before but still not even remotely as nice as the 11' F150 I had.

 

[temmorg]

well if the shocks arent bad i can take the rough ride and as far as tires on it theres 4 different brands on it so i just ordered 4 new ones, i cant even remember the name but they were cheap

 

[Ram50Ron]

My "$500 Toy" '96 Mazda B3000 (Ranger Clone) had the original shocks on still after 230K miles and the ride was horrible to say the least... I searched high and low, was able to find 4 Edelbrock IAS shocks from two different sources that fit (even though Edelbrock quit having them produced quite some time ago). Huge Difference!