One of the front air shocks in my '00 Expedition because it is leaking and I need to replace it. The process looks pretty straightforward, but I just wanted to check here if there is anything I need to watch out for. I am familiar with disconnecting the air hoses since I have previously replaced the air suspension compressor. Anything else? Thanks.

 

They are made by Monroe even if you buy them at a Ford dealership. I got mine from Shock Warehouse for a lot less. You have to compress them to get them in but once they are in it goes smooth.

 

I am also interested if there is anything tricky to replacing the front air shocks (for a 2000 Expedition with 4-corner air suspension, self leveling).

In my case I think my front air shocks are leaking air, so that the front sags an inch or two, and then has to be pumped up every few minutes. This is making the air suspension compressor run too frequently. (The rear air bags have already been replace. And in any case, it is pretty clearly the front end that is drooping a bit, ang then being pumped up again, by the air compressor cycling.)

Getting the air lines out is presumably the same process as on the compressor dryer end - just push in the collett while pulling the line out.

Any other tips or tricks, etc.? Actually a brief description of the procedure would be great.

I guess I also should worry about the possibility the air leak is in the line(s) to the air-shocks. But it seems to me that the leak must be in one or both of the air-shocks themselves, as the compressor is able to pump them up pretty quickly. The problem is that they are loosing air too fast.

Thanks for any help!

 

On these trucks with LLS Moroe is the only choice for the front. There is a little ring that goes around where he air line connects with the shock. Push in on that ring it will move in around a 1/16 to an 1/8. Push in on the air line with a little presure, then pul the air line out. Keep pushing in on the ring part until the air line comes out. Clean the end of the air line before putting it in the new shock. You may also have to trim the air line back a little to get a clean end on the air line. It now removes like a regular shock. You will need to compress both the old to remove it and the new to get it into position, this is probly the hardest part of the whole thing. The rears are just standard shocks. The hardest part on the rears is working around the gas tank. Not real hard just takes time.
I used Bilstiens on the rears and I am very happy with them.

 

OMFG there is another thread going on with the exact same topic and another newbie that does not know how to search a forum...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...4wd-w-lls.html

 

Part of the reason for my post is to answer a question that I have not been able to find an answer to, after much searching.

Is the valve that serves to maintain pressure in the front air-shocks built into the shock itself, or is there a separate solenoid someplace (for the front)?

The rear air suspension has solenoids that plug into each of the two rear air bags.

But in the front, it seems like the air line from the compressor/dryer runs to a T-union, and then feeds right into the air shocks. Am I missing some other valves/solenoids someplace?

When the controller is lowering the car intentionally (after parking, say), where is the valve (or valves) that intentionally are being opened to bleed down the front air shocks? (If this is done right in the shock, is there an electrical connector on it?)

The reason for this question is that my front seems to lose pressure too quickly when the car is running. The nose will drop an inch or so (with the rear staying nice and high), causing the compressor to turn on. The front them pumps up nicely, and then the compressor turns off, as it should. But then it sags again in only a couple/few minutes, so the process repeats. I'm worried that this results in my compressor running too frequently.

A leak in the air line would seemingly cause slow "pumping up", but that's not what I'm seeing. It seems to be the inability of either the shocks themselves, or some other pressure control valve in the front system, to hold pressure.

Thanks for your insights.

 

The defective front air shock I replaced had a slow leak that would lose air only when the suspension was pumped above a certain height.

Eventually, it got to the point where I could hear it leaking while the compressor was running (which is how I determined which shock was defective).

BTW, the replacement procedure was fairly straightforward except that I had a really difficult time getting the lower mounting bolt out of the rubber bushing sleeve. I considered cutting the bolt, but there really isn't much room to get a saw in there. I was eventually able to drive it out with a hammer, but it made me wonder if there was a better procedure.