When you maintain the suspension system on your SUV, it not only makes the ride more comfortable, but it also helps keep riders safe. Replace the shocks on your Ford Explorer after 60,000 miles under normal driving conditions to keep it at peak performance. This process works best for Explorers made after model year 2000 and only covers the shocks because Ford doesn't equip Explorer sport utility vehicles with struts.
Raise the Explorer with a floor jack, and support it by the frame with jack stands. Use a tire iron to remove the nuts holding on the front wheels, and set the wheels aside.
Locate the shocks under the front end of the Explorer. They're slender tubes that slide in and out of slightly larger tubes, and they have a coil spring surrounding them. Use a ratchet to remove the three upper mounting nuts connecting the shock to the frame, and throw the nuts away. Disconnect the stabilizer bar link from the nut midway up the shock absorber, and throw the nut away.
Remove the bolt and flag nut securing the bottom of the shock to the lower control arm, connecting to the back of the wheel hub, and throw the flag nut away. Compress the spring until the tension from the Explorer is gone. Take the shock absorber out, and remove the nut from the top holding on the washer, bushing and upper mount. Throw the upper nut away. Pull out the upper insulator and the dust shield. There shouldn't be any more removable parts on the shock absorber. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 on the other side of the SUV.
Position the dust shield, insulator and the upper mount on the new shock. Place the bushing and washer on top, and tighten the new upper nut. Set the dial on your torque wrench to 37 ft-lb, and tighten the nut until the wrench gives slightly.
Compress the spring on the new shock, and position the new shock on the lower control arm. Bolt the lower mounting bolt, and torque it to 258 ft-lb. Release the compressor, connect the stabilizer bar link and torque it to 18 ft-lb. Install the upper shock nuts, and torque them to 20 ft-lb. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 up until this point on the other side of the front end of the SUV before you proceed. Put the wheels back on the SUV, and lower the Explorer.
Lift the rear end of the Explorer with a floor jack, and support it by the frame with jack stands. Remove the rear wheels with the tire iron, and set them aside.
Remove the upper mounting nuts connecting the shock to the frame of the SUV, and throw them away. Disconnect the sway bar link nut just below the spring on the shock, and throw it out. Unbolt the pinch bolt on the ball joint right behind the wheel hub on the lower control arm, and unbolt the shock from the lower control arm. Throw away the flag nut. Repeat on the other side of the rear of the Explorer.
Compress the spring, and remove the nut from the top of the shock. Throw the nut away. Pull out the washer, bushing and upper mount. Remove the insulator and the dust shield. On the new shock, replace the dust shield and insulator. Position the upper mount, bushing and washer, and hand-tighten a new nut on top. Torque it to 37 ft-lb.
Position the shock in the suspension system, and bolt the bottom of the shock to the lower control arm with a new flag nut. Torque it to 184 ft-lb. Reconnect the pinch bolt to the ball joint, and torque it to 111 ft-lb. Reattach the sway bar link with a new nut, and torque it to 18 ft-lb.
Mount the upper side of the shock to the frame with the new upper mounting nuts, and torque them to 22 ft-lb. Repeat Steps 3 through 5 up to this point on the other side of the rear of the SUV. Put the wheels back on the rear end of the Explorer, and lower it with the jack.
