Jarring ride....Bushing Kit?
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Jarring ride....Bushing Kit?
My 1998 Expy XLT (5.4L) has gotten to be a really bad ride in what seems like the last year. Bumps in the road jar the hell out of truck, to the point it makes my molars hurt! The ride is driving me nuts!!! I have Bilstine shocks on it (and have pulled them off to test to see if they are the issue).
I have to imagine this is a common problem, and I would appreciate any suggestions on how to remedy the problem. Has anyone done a urethane bushing kit? If so, did it help?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Ben
I have to imagine this is a common problem, and I would appreciate any suggestions on how to remedy the problem. Has anyone done a urethane bushing kit? If so, did it help?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Ben
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Mine is also riding like hell right now. Any kind of bump in the road and wow I'm all over the place. My hubby will look at it this weekend in the meantime he told me not to drive it because it's just too dangerous. I was asking him what he thought it was and he gave me a look like WOMAN it could be a number of different things. So I'll know more and maybe be able to give you some hints for your problem after the weekend.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
98 Expy, EB 4x4, 81,000 miles.
About 3 months ago I heard a clunk from I believe the RF. It has progressed to the point it feels like I'm running over a brick. After recorrecting from a left hand turn, seems to occur the most, but can also happen driving straight. It is getting to the point of freaking me out. Sway bar is good, shocks are 8 months old, no apparant play in the tire, but I am in Ohio, have no garage, and it's been bitterly cold out, so I have not really torn it apart yet. Anyone with an idea of where to start? Thanks.
I posted this a couple of weeks ago. Turns out the right front sway bar link, that I thought was good, and had replaced 12 months earlier for 15.00 from a national auto parts store, was shot. Not broken, but the bushings were gone, and my buddy said the extreme cold was making it worse. Jarring ride at times. New on from Summit, has happened since. Don't know if it's the problem, but it fixed mine.
About 3 months ago I heard a clunk from I believe the RF. It has progressed to the point it feels like I'm running over a brick. After recorrecting from a left hand turn, seems to occur the most, but can also happen driving straight. It is getting to the point of freaking me out. Sway bar is good, shocks are 8 months old, no apparant play in the tire, but I am in Ohio, have no garage, and it's been bitterly cold out, so I have not really torn it apart yet. Anyone with an idea of where to start? Thanks.
I posted this a couple of weeks ago. Turns out the right front sway bar link, that I thought was good, and had replaced 12 months earlier for 15.00 from a national auto parts store, was shot. Not broken, but the bushings were gone, and my buddy said the extreme cold was making it worse. Jarring ride at times. New on from Summit, has happened since. Don't know if it's the problem, but it fixed mine.
New User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Radius Arm Bushings?
I had a 92 Explorer that rode the ways that you have explained. I changed the radius arm bushings and it fixed the problem. I have a 97 Expedition now and I looked under it yesterday and not sure if it is the same set up as the Explorer. You might ask some more qualified shadetree mechanics if the 98's have the radius arm bushings......I was told then that they wear out pretty darn fast. HTH (hope this helps)
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 843
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by shanethomas67
I had a 92 Explorer that rode the ways that you have explained. I changed the radius arm bushings and it fixed the problem. I have a 97 Expedition now and I looked under it yesterday and not sure if it is the same set up as the Explorer. You might ask some more qualified shadetree mechanics if the 98's have the radius arm bushings......I was told then that they wear out pretty darn fast. HTH (hope this helps)
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 689
Likes: 1
From: VA
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
I have a 2000 4WD EB and replaced the front and rear sway bar bushings this weekend. The front bushing kit includes end links. The rears include the bushings (sway bar and end links) and hardware for the links and you have to reuse the rear end link rods. The part numbers are 4.5145G (front) and 4.5146G (rear). The link to the ES site is http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/fdt2.html
I disagree that the ride is harsh. Out truck has ~88K miles and surprisingly, the original components appeared fine. However, based on my experience with ES sway bar and end link bushings on two current other cars, we went and did our truck as well. The front and rear kits are a total of $52 total from PepBoys (special order). I am happy with the installation and find no deterioration in ride quality and my preliminary impressions are that the truck handles a bit better.
I disagree that the ride is harsh. Out truck has ~88K miles and surprisingly, the original components appeared fine. However, based on my experience with ES sway bar and end link bushings on two current other cars, we went and did our truck as well. The front and rear kits are a total of $52 total from PepBoys (special order). I am happy with the installation and find no deterioration in ride quality and my preliminary impressions are that the truck handles a bit better.
New User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Well its Sunday morning and the big girl still sits in the driveway. I don't think she will be getting any attention today. Hard to say, other things keep popping up and lord knows the weather isn't treating us very kindly.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 974
Likes: 0
I just changed out my bushings, but decided to just use the standard rubber type. While I had it apart, I found the ball joints were on their way out too, so I replaced those as well. Rides nice and steering is precise again.
On another note, I have Energy Suspension Urethane bushings all the way around on my Bronco, and it rides nice, not really much different than stock.
A good set of shocks help also. I put a set of Rancho 5000's on the Expedition, and that made it a much nicer ride.
On another note, I have Energy Suspension Urethane bushings all the way around on my Bronco, and it rides nice, not really much different than stock.
A good set of shocks help also. I put a set of Rancho 5000's on the Expedition, and that made it a much nicer ride.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
abyars111
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Feb 12, 2016 08:30 AM
granny_rocket
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
12
Jan 21, 2014 02:54 PM
