Hola, Im the new owner of a 97 eddie bauer, and yes i like it but damn is it a rough ride on the crappy streets of Atlanta...So from what i've read there is not much I can do about the bumpy harshness, so I would at least like to get rid of the noises from the interior panels and console, and hopefully get stop the console from shaking at all....any one been able to fix this problem? would some sort of insulation jammed in and under the panels/consloe fix this? Thanks, Ryan....

 

A really good set of shocks will greatly improve the ride. I'm hearing that Monroe Reflex work great from other posters. I just put a set of Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks on mine. They are cheaper that Reflex shocks. They didn't make the ride much smoother but it did greatly improve the handling, most noticably in going around corners. If I wanted to spend more money, I would have went for the Reflex's but I'm used to the ride, which isn't too bad. Mine, a 98, doesn't make many sqeaks or rattles either. The console does shake over rough roads some, but isn't noisy doing it.

Oh yeah, congrats on your new toy

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Sep-02 AT 10:02 PM (EST)]Seems like i'm becoming the ride improvement expert...well.. hardly..i actually was criticized for trying to turn a truck into a luxury car. well,too bad, cause more and mre people actually admit their explorers are street machines, not offroaders, cause if i did serious off roading i dont think i'd pick a explorer to do it in...anyway, BEFORE you start killing squeeks, read 2 posts on 9/6, then check out the monroe and yokohama websites...good luck with the new used explorer. i enjoy mine alot since i fixed the ride. those articles are "rollover" and "monroe reflex shocks" and there are others.

 

Cool, thanks for yall's responses....looks like tha reflex and yokos are what i need to do.....now if i can only find the inserts for the cupholders!!!!!

 

Actually, a few more questions.....first, will these even work with the air ride system, or can it be bypassed if not, or will it even be better than the air ride? also, do i only need to do the rear or all 4....also what am i looking at, like $50 a pair for the monroe reflex?

Thanks

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-Sep-02 AT 12:40 PM (EST)] first off dont by anything cause somebody on the web says to do it, including me. for all you know, im a communist ****** terrorista. do your own research and satisfy yourself before you start spending $$ and changing things..did you read the other posts on this?? did you check the monroe and yokohama websites? also go to the tirerack website, fool it by putting in 245/70/15 like your shopping by tire size, and select yokohama...read all the posts there, including a negative one by some yokel who clearly has mechanical problems. next if you do order from them, tell them its for a chevy s-10...if you've read all the other posts it explains why...these tires cos right at $250 including shipping; which is a rediculous bargain...by the way, i had to stare at them for several days before i decided to put them on Raised Letters facing out. the design cut into the blackwall side is real sexy too. shine em up and its a hoot.anyway add another 50 for mounting and balancing at a real tire shop (no i dont mean walmart) dont feel bad to take them in for that even tho you didnt buy them there, it shouldnt be a problem...when you buy the shocks (which i didnt get online) eveybody I called aked me if it had air ride; (which i dont) but not in any way that lead me to believe they wont fit...just a different shock part number. I hate to bust your bubble, but yes you absolutely positively definitely need to do ALL 4, this isnt like struts in front shocks in rear...you gotta do all 4. I paid right at 400 for the monroe shocks installed, and i suppose i could have done a little better but i didnt care, cause the shop i go to is absolutely top of the line; and thats after BEAUCOUP YEARS of going there.never i mean never a complaint. so what they charge they charge, but thats my thing not yours. the point is the reflexes will cost more than u thought,,, this whole deal ran me aound 700 (in 2 stages) tires, then shocks. by the way, my 96 had a recall on the sway bar links, i doubt if yours did, but i learned they can affect roll/handling too, so while its up in the air getting new shocks/tires, have them look at the links..replacing them is very cheap...let me know how it turns out, feel free to ask questions anytime...like i said in another post somewhere, its been months later and a few thousand miles later and i'm happy as a clam. well worth every penny. by the way, I dont know the psi on your tire placard (read the other posts on this too) but mine said 26 which is horsespit i run the yokohamas at 31 and wen i know im going down the interstate big time like a vackay with a load, i run them up to 33..treat yorself to a digital tire guage at radio shack for $10 and get accurate readings for a change...enjoy!