Turning feels like a bad roller-coaster ride. Suspension issue?

[Dr.Manhattan]

Ok, so I've been noticing for about two months now that when I'm turning in my explorer (at the speed limit even) it feels as if I'm about to flip over, or that I am tilting a lot. I'm not sure if I've just become unused to how it drives, or if I am having an issue of some sort that is causing it to be unbalanced.

If anyone can help me it would be great, as I'm tired of having people almost on my bumper everytime I turn onto a highway, or a sharp corner.

 

[Brandon96]

Check the condition of your shocks, are the leaking? do they have a bajillion miles on them? might be time to replace them! When I swapped my 130,000mi. shocks with a set of Bilsteins, highway entrance/exit ramps now seem doable.. lol

Check your sway bars / sway bar links... make sure those puppies are still attached.

 

[ranger-93]

Sway bar bushings still intact and bolts are tight? Could it be worn out shocks?

 

[Dr.Manhattan]

I never knew shocks leaked. What's in them that leaks just out of curiosity? I can't say I've seen any signs of anything leaking. My shocks in the back look ok, except the shell the shiny part retracts into is really rusty and coroded. Car doesn't look as if it's tilted to any particular side when parked. I actually took a can of WD-40 a few weeks ago and squirted some up inside of the front shocks in a novice effort to lubricate them.

What exactly am I looking for as far as the sway bar? And what are the bushings and links? The only parts of my suspension I actually recognize and understand are the shocks and the tie rod.

Also, my step father says the bearings would cause that feeling, which I can't say I understand how, and feel no shaking when I drive, except when I brake occasionally at high speeds.

 

[Brandon96]

Different shocks have different oils in them, after time the seals in them begin to deteriorate and the fluid drips out.. most of the time you can notice a grease run on them when they're leaking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_absorber

The sway bar essentially is bolted to the frame on both sides, and extends down to both front tires, and again both of the rear tires, and prevents the truck from rolling over side to side... or falling over on a quick turn.

Look for where the bar gets connected to both your front arms and make sure the rubber bushings are intact and there no noticeable play in them.

As for the wheel bearings/brakes.. if you hear a roaring sound that either comes or goes away while turning at like 30+mph, one of your bearings are bad. The vibration you have under braking, as long as it dissipates as you slow down, will probably be because your brake rotors are warped.

 

[huntman58]

Tire air pressure? If you go by the tire side all a lot of times that is too much and can make a car seam very lose. Been there done that. Use the door sticker and go by it and see if that helps but this is only if you have adjusted the air pressure or maybe got some new shoes for the Explore lately.

Just a though as the others have covered the main things.
Other wise but say
Radius arms and or bushings.
Bad body mounts and or spacers
Things like that but there a lot rarer then what the others have posted but the air pressure deal many go on the side wall not the weight of the truck as the door sticker dose.

 

[Dr.Manhattan]

No play in the sway bar. If it is the bearings would this eventually cause what I am feeling as I am hearing a loud whirring noise. I used to think it was just my tires, but it is getting louder. I've read that it can cause some loss of control in steering. I wouldn't identify it so much as that, as that I have to lean significantly into a turn in order to cope with the tilting feeling. Shocks are good too. I have to imagine it is the bearings, but again, I'm seeking more experienced opinions in the matter. Thanks everything so far for the interesting and helpful input.