After 125k miles I decided to replace my worn struts and shocks. I did some web searches and found Monroe were the most popular with very good reviews. I got a quote from the dealer on OEM replacements of about $800 for both struts and shocks. I also got a quote from a well known local installer of $700 for Monroe Seni-Tracs struts and shocks. Half way into the job I was told I would also have to replace the Sway Bar Links at an additional cost of $110. When the job was finished I had paid the same for Monroe's as I would have for OEM's at the dealer. I rationalized that Monroe's were probably better than the OEM's so no big deal.
I was not happy with the new Monroe's right from the start but I thought it was me driving on faulty struts and shocks instead of the Monroe's. I now have 2500 miles on the Monroe's and all I can say is they suck. My worn OE's were still providing a comfortable ride but would bottom out on certain bumps and my car was buffeted on the interstates at 70mph by semi's turbulence . Now I have Monroe's and I can feel every bump and crack on the road surface through the seat and steering wheel. The car only bottoms out when I am in a hard turn and hit a bump. The buffeting from semi's is the same as with the worn struts. IMO, the Monroe's might be OK for stock cars but they are not suitable for passenger cars/SUVs.
I called Monroe and they told me I should not be experiencing what I describe and they told me to take it back to the installer.

I bought this Escape in 05' new. I have done all the maintenance as recommended. I have tired to used an aftermarket installer for brakes and rotors only to have to repeat the process and expense with a Ford dealer.
Now I seem to be having the same problem with struts and shocks.
Have we now reached a point where only the dealer can adequately perform the maintenance and repair work?

 

Update; I brought my car back to the installer. They took it for a test drive and agreed the ride is very hard. The manager also said that when they push on the fender the car dampens as it should. Once again I told him that the problem is in the ride with every nook and cranny transmitted up through the steering wheel and seat.
Manager said he was waiting on a call from Monroe to see what they wanted to do. I asked if he had any idea what was wrong. He said that maybe I will have to go to Ford for an OE replacement.

It will be interest to see what Monroe wants to do. IMO, if they can find nothing wrong with the install or shocks themselves then replacing them with the exact same thing will not correct the problem.

After several episodes of aftermarket parts not performing as OEM parts I believe that as far as repairing Escapes owners are stuck with using Ford dealers or at least Motorcraft parts.

 

Have you talked to the shock company too?

Keep us posted on any information you get, it is important

For all Escape owners, I hope all goes well for you from this point.

Rep points to you!

 

I own my parent's '90 Buick with 20K on it but had a slow leak in two tires. Nobody would touch them because of their age. I put a new set tires on it and I now feel every crack in the road with it!

I though they had overfilled the tires but to my surprise, the door sticker showed 35psi and they only had 33psi. I never kept over 30psi in the OEMs.

 

Darren,

Yes, I did call Monroe and was told to take it back to the installer which I did today. According to the installer manager he reported the situation to Monroe and is waiting a call back. I will keep this post updated.

Before I bought these Monroe's I did a web search on reviews on their Sensa-Tracs. All the the reviews I found were positive. Today I changed how I goggled to read, "Monroe Sensa-Trac negative reviews." This time I came up with several not so good reviews. One of which stated that after replacing his struts and shocks his small SUV drove like a cement truck. That would also describe my situation.

Now I wait to hear from Monroe.

 

OP Update - I got a call from the manager at the installers and he told me that Monroe has agreed to replace the struts. I asked if they had some idea of what was wrong and he said they have no idea. I will be having them replaced next week and will post the results.
I just wanted readers to know that Monroe has responded in a positive manner.

 

did you have an alignment done.Mine rode bad and the alignment was barely out It was the toe in on mine.

 

OP Update - Yesterday the installers re-installed new Monroe Struts and shocks at Monroe's expense. The end result is that my Escape rides no better than with the first set of struts and shocks.
Prior to doing this I asked the manager if he or Monroe had any idea of why these new struts/shocks provide such a hard ride and they did not have an answer.
My Escape, with the second set of new Monroe struts and shocks now rides worse than with the OEM parts with 130,00 miles on them. The ride is what you might expect in a stock car. Every bump is transmitted through the steering wheel and seat. A deeper divot causes the cab to rattle which never happened before. These Monroe's will ruin this car.
I believe we have reached a point in time where car repairs must be done by the maker of those cars with the exception of menial tasks. I believed in the Monroe advertisement, "a ride better than new," and have now put out $800 for a ride that is, as another dissatisfied customer said, "like driving a cement truck."
The installer manager told me that after he test drove my car it still had a hard ride, but to drive it a few thousand miles and see if the shocks loosen up. It will be interesting to see if the struts and shocks wear in like a new pair of shoes, but I highly doubt it. I will post the results at that time.

IMO, the Monroe struts and shocks are not suitable for a 2005 Escape. This is an expensive replacement. $800 out of my pocket which is too much not to expect good results. I should have put out the extra $100 and had a Ford dealer do the job with OEM parts.

 

At least Monroe tried to make it right.
This information that you shared with the FTE community
Bears a lot of weight.
Monroe does offer highly recommended(by FTE members) parts for
Other Ford trucks.
Looks like us Escape owners should stay with OEM struts.

Staying with OEM/Motorcraft replacement parts should be
A Ford owners mantra.

Thanks for the information you shared with us on this thread.

 

Darren,

I am the OP and I agree that Monroe did what they could to remedy the situation. In today's business world that says a lot for Monroe.

I stopped at my local Ford dealer and had my oil/filter changed. I had a chance to talk to the service manager. I told him of my strut/shock situation and mentioned that I may have OEM parts installed by their service department. He was very honest with me and told me that Ford does not make their own struts/shocks and that they use existing manufacturing firms to supply parts. One of those suppliers was likely Monroe among others. (Low bidder is probably the deciding factor). The point he was trying to make was that replacing my struts/shocks at the dealership with OEM parts on a 2005 vehicle will not guarantee any improvement over the currently installed Monroe's.
Hearing this from a Ford service manager is not helpful.
I am dissatisfied with the Monroe's but I have no idea of how to resolve this problem.

 

My factory set were KYB and that's what I went back with. The first time I replaced them it was great, this time they were slightly stiffer than before but not bad enough to worry about.

 

I went with the Quick Struts on our 2005 Escape and 2005 F150.

both went on fine, and both had our vehicles riding a bit better than before...less bouncy.

perhaps them going in with new struts and original coil springs might have something to do with it bro.

 

I recently replaced my shocks and struts with the SensaTraks as well. Quick struts up front. I have no problems with the ride. The old shocks and struts were a mess. I guess the ride is a little rougher, but the old ones were bottoming out and bouncing like crazy. Then again, I always thought the stock ride was to soft anyway.

 

I am the OP. I talked to the installer manager about the springs. He said if anything the ride would be softer if the springs were failing.

I replace my struts/shocks because of bottoming out on severe dips but the ride was still smooth.

I now feel like I am driving the Fred Flintstone car. I believe he had stone wheels with no shocks. I got on a side road that turned really bad and I had a hard time holding my lane because these Monroe's are so bad.

I will call Monroe this week and see what they want to do, if anything.

 

I remember seeing an advertisement for shocks & struts to the effect that if you were not satisfied, they would refund your money if you returned them.
You could check with Monroe to see if that applies. Go look at the box they come in at a parts house or where you got them installed. If you can get a refund, you can then throw your money on the other horse, Motorcraft/Autolite, and see if it rides better.
If you were/are bottoming your suspension on the road, you are perhaps driving too fast for conditions. You should only compress the suspension that much in an emergency situation. IMO. In all my years of driving, I have bottomed a suspension maybe 3 times, and it was on unexpected road damage.
I have about 108k on a 2007, and it rides nicely, enough that I have not even thought about replacing shocks or struts. Time will tell.
Do you have the factory wheels? Is the tire pressure correct per the sticker in the door jam ? If the wheels are oversized, or undersized, they can affect the ride, as can tire pressure.
tom