Rough ride

[J_C]

New shocks won't make you feel every bump in the road less, but they will make the vehicle stop reacting in the opposite direction after the initial reaction to the bump in the road, less. That is assuming that the last set of shocks put on, weren't a lot stiffer than the OEM shocks. What shocks are on it and how many miles on those?

Why am I asking this, this far into the topic?

Can you list all things suspension related that have been done to it and how many miles ago in a single post so we can assess them all together, including details about the tires?

 

[jmvb]

What exactly does this mean? What tire make and model are on it?

If you put aggressive tread off-road tires on, sure, it's going to be a lot less smooth ride, especially if they're larger and you inflate them to the max inflation on the sidewall which is probably double what is needed for a vehicle the weight of what's riding on them.

I must be misunderstanding because it's seeming like you are saying that you put on tires that are better for off-road use then are observing that they aren't as good for road use, which is a given.

I mean, when I had normal 235/75r15, I had also rough ride

Now, I have Procom AT 31x10.50R15, and you have a point, I been using 35psi. But Im not sure if deflating to, maybe 30psi, it make a big change, btw ill try it

 

[jmvb]

New shocks won't make you feel every bump in the road less, but they will make the vehicle stop reacting in the opposite direction after the initial reaction to the bump in the road, less. That is assuming that the last set of shocks put on, weren't a lot stiffer than the OEM shocks. What shocks are on it and how many miles on those?

Why am I asking this, this far into the topic?

Can you list all things suspension related that have been done to it and how many miles ago in a single post so we can assess them all together, including details about the tires?

Ok, my explorer have 172000, bough it 3000 miles ago

Front it have Monroe's, rear Gabriel's. I don't know how many miles ago, but like as I say, they pass the goverment annual test, with a machine

I had change the sway bar bushings and end links, right upper arm bushings, left wheel bearing

I did a TT 2' front lift and rear warrion shackles like

I'm using 31x10.50R15 procom AT tires, 35psi

 

[toypaseo]

Those Pro Comp tires are LT rated tires, right? If so, those contribute to your rough ride.

When I had dismal Goodyear Wrangler RT/S tires, they rode like crap. My ride improved A LOT when I switched to Michelin LTX M/S. Both in stock 235/75r15 size.

 

[jmvb]

Those Pro Comp tires are LT rated tires, right? If so, those contribute to your rough ride.

When I had dismal Goodyear Wrangler RT/S tires, they rode like crap. My ride improved A LOT when I switched to Michelin LTX M/S. Both in stock 235/75r15 size.

http://www.procompusa.com/tires-product-details.aspx?pt=101509&pl=3360

 

[J_C]

I think that answers it. Those tires are described as "equally at home on the street and in the dirt.", but no claim of "smooth ride" doing so. I wouldn't have used the word "equal" either.

Wait, I don't even see the size you wrote as available, did you mean the "Extreme A/T" that you linked, or the "A/T Sport" which is listed in your 31x10.50R15 size? The A/T Sport doesn't look like a particularly smooth riding tire either but better than the Extreme. Thing is, any tread good for off-road is going to be rougher on-road.

 

[jmvb]

I think that answers it. Those tires are described as "equally at home on the street and in the dirt.", but no claim of "smooth ride" doing so. I wouldn't have used the word "equal" either.

Wait, I don't even see the size you wrote as available, did you mean the "Extreme A/T" that you linked, or the "A/T Sport" which is listed in your 31x10.50R15 size? The A/T Sport doesn't look like a particularly smooth riding tire either but better than the Extreme. Thing is, any tread good for off-road is going to be rougher on-road.

That is the tires series, Xtreme A/T, but is no listed there, I don't know why

https://tiresize.com/tires/Pro-Comp/Radial-XTreme-AT-31X10.50R15.htm

http://simpletire.com/pro-comp-31-10.50r15-55031-tires

 

[Joe in NY]

one things to remember, is that all explorers after the 1st gen ride like heavy duty trucks...

We have had 1st Gen Limited, 2nd Gen Mountaineer, and a 2002 Eddie Bauer.

The only one that road smooth was the 1st Gen. The other two ride like a bag of hammers... They smooth out some when get a good amount weight on the ass end

 

[Flash]

A buddy here recently done shocks on his 2002 Explorer along with resolve the squeaking in the rear. Good grease at the bushings eliminates all the noise and generally drive smoother.

Grease will destroy rubber bushes, unless you use rubber grease.

 

[beach]

Shocks designed for lifts up to 2.5 inches.

Rancho RS5374 Front Shock Review
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388725

Mail in rebate too. (Four shocks)
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3535828&postcount=4

These are the shocks I have in the front, if you do TT their a must, lots just run other shocks, quite a difference. I'm also an TT just over 3" in front (2wd), all new bushings, control arms etc, Monroe coil overs in rear, shackles and 31s all around. Truck drives far better than it ever did, however it's still going to be rough.... these are not and never were smooth riding trucks. Also depends on your tires and ply rating, and some have stiffer sidewalls etc, I have Nankang ATs. Those Procomp tires you have are generally heavier and stiffer than other tires.

 

[J_C]

^ That's a good point, that the shocks he has might have position sensitive dampening. I don't know, no specifics of shock model were given and I'm not sure I'd even know then, but perhaps someone else would.

 

[daleebz]

You will have to define rough. Constant vibration and/or road drone noise would be the tires. Larger tires need less inflation pressure to support the load, would generally provide more dampening, but could still be more droning noise from the tread pattern.

Worn shocks will cause a higher rate of front to rear or side to side movement, including a reaction in the opposite direction of the initial force as the springs and/or torsion bars react. The feeling can be a bit like a boat on water. Have you replaced them within the last 50K mi? Some will say they last longer or shorter but it's a nice round number.

The lift makes this worse as you then have a higher center of gravity on a vehicle that already had a high center of gravity. Stiffer springs can compensate some but then you feel road bumps more.

It could be a combination of factors, particularly those components that are still original like swayi bar bushings, end links, ball joints. That gives you more control and less small movements, but could even make the ride seem a little rougher depending on your definition of rough.

I have a 2015 CPO xlt with 38k miles and the ride is not smooth. New Kelly tires with hunter round force balance. Had it a 1 Ford dealer and they couldn’t find what was wrong. I feel all the small imperfections in the road. Took it to another Ford dealer and they thought ride was normal but myself and others that have road with me think otherwise. I have a 2014 xlt and it doesn’t do this. Thinking of taking it to a specialist outside Ford just to diagnose. I wonder if it’s the sway bar bushings, end links or ball joints. It seems like there is resistance when driving

 

[J_C]

^ Doubtful, worn suspension components tend to cause a sloppy ride not rough from small imperfections in the road. That's usually the tires on an otherwise stock vehicle, or if it has been modified then springs or shocks/struts changes. How many miles on it, is there enough that it might have different struts?

I'm doubting anything except tires have been changed on a CPO vehicle. Do you have them inflated to the max on the sidewall instead of the pressure stated on the door sticker, or are they undersized (narrower) so they have to be at a higher pressure to support the vehicle?

I suspect that if you took it to a "specialist" that they'd just recommend some changes to be able to raise the bill. What I'd do in your case since you have 2 of the same generation is swap the tires (wheels) between the two and see if that makes a difference. If one has 18" and the other 20", that alone will make the smaller wheels ride smoother due to taller tire sidewalls to make up the difference (all else equal).

Granted something unusual could have happened for example a defective shock seized up but that is so rare as to be almost unheard of without some kind of severe impact damage.

Also, you posted this in the wrong forum with this one being for 2nd generation Explorers.