Want a smoother ride....Help..

[FocalExplorer]

I have a 2001 2D 4WD Explorer Sport...

My only complaint is the SUV rides like a horse drawn cart...

I very rarely will go off rode and would like to have a smoother ride for around town and on the highway driving... What do you suggest ?

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

[ton_e_montana]

I have a 2001 2D 4WD Explorer Sport...

My only complaint is the SUV rides like a horse drawn cart...

I very rarely will go off rode and would like to have a smoother ride for around town and on the highway driving... What do you suggest ?

Thanks,

Jeremy

Sell your X and buy a car.

 

[FocalExplorer]

Thanks for the smart ass comment...! greatly appreciated !

 

[Ritsui]

Well, he has a point. If I hated the ride and didn't go off-road, I would certainly question why I was driving something built on a truck frame rather than a minivan/station wagon type car which can have just as much storage space, AWD and not the harsher "truck like" Explorer ride.

All that said, the first things to look at are shocks and tire pressure. I haven't used them myself, but from reading these forums, Monroe Sensatrack shocks have a reputation for being dramatically more comfortable than stock shocks.

 

[ton_e_montana]

Thanks for the smart ass comment...! greatly appreciated !

Sorry you took it that way(should have placed a smiley) but it was for the humor only. If you search the site some you'll find that in fact what you own is a truck and trucks do not ride like cars. There are mods you can perform to improve handling but it will still be a truck. A place to start would be the shocks. A lot of people like the rancho 9000.

 

[FocalExplorer]

My appologies... rough day at work....

Thank you for the suggestions !

J

 

[FocalExplorer]

I have driven a sportTrac and would like a similar ride for my Sport...

J

 

[Bronco638]

Part of the problem might be due to the short wheelbase of the Sport. If you liked the SportTrac, ask the Ford parts department at the dealership if the shocks on both trucks are the same. If they are, then you need to look for something softer. If they aren't then you could try a set of Motorcraft shocks for the SportTrac. Getting back to the wheelbase issue....Since the front and rear wheels are closer together on your truck than the SportTrac, the SportTrac will handle bumps better. It's simple physics. If you think your Sport rides rough, try taking a short ride in a Zeep Wrangler. That'll rattle your fillings a little. You might be more happy with a SportTrac or a 4 door simply for the longer wheelbase.

Good Luck - Dave.

 

[mosinman]

smooth riding

First off, you have the roughest riding Ex there is. Second of all, there isn't much you can do about.

Tip 1, Keep your tires inflated on the low side of normal instead of the high side. This will allow your tires to flex easier and help absorb bumps. Downside - possibly lower highway mileage and lower tire life.

Tip 2, You can try new shocks, but I don't believe you will find anything that will dramatically smooth out your ride. My Sensatracs mostly brought my Ex back to riding like new, not dramatically smoother.

Tip 3. As much as I don't want to be a smart-ass, consider another vehicle - possibly the Sport-Trac if you like the way it rides. Your 4WD 2door is one of the bounciest rides out there barring the Jeep mentioned above.

 

[cdwright]

I have a 2001 2D 4WD Explorer Sport...

My only complaint is the SUV rides like a horse drawn cart...

I very rarely will go off rode and would like to have a smoother ride for around town and on the highway driving... What do you suggest ?

Thanks,

Jeremy

I totally understand where your comming from. Sure, if you wanted a car, you would have bought a car for a smoother ride. However, like you I wanted some of the things a truck can do that a car can't do but miss the comfort. Check out those Rancho's that was suggested here. I have tried Ranchos and found that it is about as close that you can come to a comfortable ride that a car can give you for reasonable money.

 

[IZwack]

hmmm put more weight in ur x to increase the ratio of sprung versus unsprung weight ahahahah --- it'll ride like a boat but the chassis/body will have more inertia and wont necessarilly trace every bump on the road like the axles will.

after ur done with that, please, have a glass of lemonade.

 

[fangz]

hi you could try taking off your sway bars, as long as you dont drive like a maniac around corners! i took the back ones off my X and it really made a big difference.with sway bars when one tyre hits a bump the whole truck feels the shock. good luck!. my 4 door sport 98X-(http://gallery.fordforums.com//showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/23253).