'99 Explorer Suspension

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Apr 24, 2006 | 10:51 AM

the_merlin

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Joined: Dec 2005

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'99 Explorer Suspension

I'm your below average weekend mechanic. My '99 4x4 Explorer rides very rough. What do I need to replace in order to restore a comfortable ride?

Shocks - Definitely.
Sway Bar Bushings - Yeap.
Leaf Springs - ?
Anything else?

Apr 24, 2006 | 12:14 PM

blend-door-lover

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From: Raymond, NH

I find when my tires are pretty worn, the explorer drives like crap. New tires + alighnment = best thing to do. BUT, if you have a 1999 explorer on original ball joints, my bet is that they need replacing. This is a $800 job at midas for all ball joints. If you can do yourself, the good Moog parts cost $300 at www.roackauto.com, and autozone has the tools for free.

Apr 25, 2006 | 12:05 PM

LV Dan

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Joined: May 2004

Posts: 392

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From: Las Vegas, NV

Tires make all the difference. The original Firestones where the best riding and handling tire when I first bought my '99 4x4. The Goodyear Wranglers, replaced during the recall, where sloppier and harder and they became worse with wear. I just put on Goodyear Fortera and had the front aligned. They handling is not back to what it was as new, but it did improve considerably. The ride of the Goodyear Fortera is definitely smoother than the Wranglers. But overall, the ride of a '99 Explorer is going to be rough. The '02 and later is supposedly smoother with the independant suspension, but I don't have experience with those later models.