Suspension: Rough Ride, Loud Noise, Leans to Driver's Side

[PeteL]

I have a 2001 Explorer Sport.
The ride quality is poor. When I hit relatively small bumps, it feels like the rear suspension is bottoming out. There is rather loud noise in the rear as if the entire rear was going to fall off the truck.
Also, I have the what appears to be famous, lean to the driver's side.

Is this typical of bad shocks, bad springs or both?

 

[Carguy3J]

As for the ride quality, assuming there is no obvious serious mechanical/structural flaw, I would suspect worn shocks, as well as sway bar bushings.

As for the lean, the 2nd gen Explorer is well known for it's "gangster lean". The left rear leaf spring wears out faster then the right, because Ford put the gas tank, the driver, and the battery all on the left side of the vehicle.

You can either install a pair of replacement springs to restore it to stock ride height/stance, or you can swap the left and rear springs, to even it out for a while. If you do the side-to-side swap, the rear will even out a bunch, but the rear will likely be lower than the front. You can remedy this buy lowering the front to match, by backing off the torsion bar asjustment bolts. Usually, the right bolt will come out all the way, while the left gets left in a few turns, to compensate for the greater left side weight.

There is a little more to lowering it properly, but you can check that out in the Lowered Explorers section here on the forums. There are a number of "stickies" on the subject.

Also, the Sport (2dr) guys like to swap the rear single leafs for the 4dr multi-leaf packs.

 

[PeteL]

Thanks...I think I am going to replace the shocks with monroe 5816 Sensa trac shocks and see what that does. If it's better, fine. If not then move on to springs....

 

[trailblazer295]

Personally I wouldn't suggest going with the Monroe's I was looking for shocks myself last year and considered the sensa trac's. The reviews aren't great and monroe doesn't make them, they just put there name on it. I went with KYB GR-2's and were cheaper than monroe's as well.

 

[my98nnj]

I have the GR-2's as well. They are a nice firm shock and definately make the truck more responsive. Don't ever expect it to ride nice, it's always going to ride like a truck.
Swapping to a nice highway tire does help ride quality.