I did this job yesterday, and since there was no info I could find on this forum to help me I thought I would post my experience to help out others. Sorry, no pics you will have to rely on my words. Also, my Explorer has almost 80,000 miles, and really I think my struts went bad back at 50,000. I replaced them with Monroe Sensatrak Reflex and it made it drive like a new vehicle, not the log wagon it was. Also, sometime in 2005 Ford switched from shocks to struts.

What you need: new struts, spring compressor(can be rented at auto parts store) and assorted tools (a good 1/2 inch breaker bar).

1. Jack up the rear and securely block up the vehicle.

2. Remove wheel.

3. You need to remove some suspension components, the rears are designed very similar to a front suspension. First remove the bottom strut bolt. Next you need to remove the bolt that connects the A frame from the wheel hub just under the rotor. These came out pretty easy for me.

4. There is a rubber post that connects the bottom A frame to the sway bar, this also needs to be disconnected. Now your bottom A frame should be free to move.

5. Unbolt the three bolts at the top of the strut tower, you can access them from the top of the wheel well. This is slow work, a ratchet wrench, 1/2 inch, would work great.

6. Now the strut and spring should be loose. You will need a pry bar to pry down on the lower A frame so that the top of the strut clears the frame and can be removed. You would think that after you remove the bottom strut bolt that it would just slide down. Nope, Ford for some dumb reason put some tabs down there to prevent that. That is why you have to unbolt the bottom suspension.

7. Now, set your assemble old strut on the table and use the spring compressors to take the tension off of the top plate. Be carefull, make sure they are on there securely, there is alot of poundage agaings that top strut plate. Once you feel that the strut is loose from the spring, you can remove the top nut and take the old strut out of the spring. Reinstall the new strut in reverse order using the new bushings. Finally, remove the spring compressors.

8. Installation is easy, just do everything in reverse order. Don't' forget to tighten everything really good.

I am doing the fronts this week end. If there is anything different, I will post but I expect it to be the same operation, just with a little stronger springs.

Your arm muscles will be sore from cranking the spring compressors, so have a couple of beers to ease the pain after the job is done.

 

I forgot to say that my explorer is the 2x4 version, but I can't imagine the rear end being any different than the 4x4 models.

 

Just did the fronts, also with Monroe Reflex. I used a small bottle jack to push up on the bottom shock mount when installing the new assembly; I had to get a neighbor to install the bolt while I manned the jack.

Roger on the sore arms!!!

Steve