My new to me sport trac

mcarroll02 · Nov 10, 2024

I think im gonna bite the bullet and order the rancho shock set. And new sway bar bushings. I put a cheap set of Gabriel shocks on about a year ago, and i think they are shot. Bad clunking when going over our rough roads. Just replaced the endlinks when i replaced all the ball joints. I have checked everything multiple times, and the bar bracket bushings and the shocks are the only thing left that i can think of making the clunking in the front. I know the rear sway bar bushings are shot and thats where that rattle in the back is coming from. I already have those, just waiting on a weekend for the weather to cooperate.

Pat in RI · Nov 11, 2024

Yeah. I had the same clunk in the front end. Turned out to be a sway bar links and the upper shock bushing was gone. New shocks and links fixed the problem.

mcarroll02 · Nov 12, 2024

I just put these shocks on last year. But they are the cheapest Gabriel shocks rockauto had for it. Ive got a set of ranchos on the way. I did replace the endlinks when i rebuilt the front end, but not the bar to frame bushings. I did see a little light shine through on one side using a bright flashlight. I've got new poly end links and frame bracket bushings. Also have the poly bushings to do rear sway bar also. Trying to source poly bushings for the rear leaf springs, but no luck yet.

cadman777 · Nov 13, 2024

mcarroll02 said:
I just put these shocks on last year. But they are the cheapest Gabriel shocks rockauto had for it. Ive got a set of ranchos on the way. I did replace the endlinks when i rebuilt the front end, but not the bar to frame bushings. I did see a little light shine through on one side using a bright flashlight. I've got new poly end links and frame bracket bushings. Also have the poly bushings to do rear sway bar also. Trying to source poly bushings for the rear leaf springs, but no luck yet.

I put a pair of Monroe air shocks on the back of mine TEN YEARS AGO, and they're still going strong. Only thing I HATE about air shocks is they LEAK and have to be constantly fixed. It's b/c the stupid PLASTIC nuts break inside, so you have to make sure you leave plenty of extra line so you can cut behind the pinched part that the existing nut was attached to. I paid around 80 bux for the pair.

Dmiranda1269 · Nov 13, 2024

mcarroll02 said:
I just put these shocks on last year. But they are the cheapest Gabriel shocks rockauto had for it. Ive got a set of ranchos on the way. I did replace the endlinks when i rebuilt the front end, but not the bar to frame bushings. I did see a little light shine through on one side using a bright flashlight. I've got new poly end links and frame bracket bushings. Also have the poly bushings to do rear sway bar also. Trying to source poly bushings for the rear leaf springs, but no luck yet.

3 years ago I put all 4 shocks on. Cheap blue Monroe shocks. Granted I put less than 5000 miles each year because I don't drive it April to September. And just replaced the fronts as the passenger side was banging on bumps. They fell apart upon removal. Amazon had the same ones less than $20.00 so I'm happy if I get 2 more years out of them. Remember I have 33's and torsion bars cranked almost to the max.

cadman777 · Nov 13, 2024

Dmiranda1269 said:
3 years ago I put all 4 shocks on. Cheap blue Monroe shocks. Granted I put less than 5000 miles each year because I don't drive it April to September. And just replaced the fronts as the passenger side was banging on bumps. They fell apart upon removal. Amazon had the same ones less than $20.00 so I'm happy if I get 2 more years out of them. Remember I have 33's and torsion bars cranked almost to the max.

I put KYB on front about 10 years ago and they're still holding up.
Got a bit of rust, but that's to be expected.

Dmiranda1269 · Nov 13, 2024

cadman777 said:
I put KYB on front about 10 years ago and they're still holding up.
Got a bit of rust, but that's to be expected.

Lots of stress on my front end...
Plus with shocks, you can't always tell when they are bad

cadman777 · Nov 13, 2024

Mine's all stock, so it's easy to fit.
33" wheels is the bird of a different color.
My neighbors have trucks like that which I work on.
I have no desire...

mcarroll02 · Nov 16, 2024

I'll be doing front and rear sway bar bushings as well as new shocks tomorrow. Went with the rancho set as they are for 0-1.5" of lift. No lift atm, but when my alignment guy gets time, I'll have him crank the torsion keys to level it out and realign. 255/70r16 atturo trail blade at tires. Went with those tires as thats what was on it when i bought it and they did great on snow and ice last winter. Still no luck finding poly rear leaf bushings. But according to rockauto, an 01 st and an 01 explorer use the same leaf bushings. Can anyone confirm this? Would like to know before i spend $150 for the polyurethane kit to find out otherwise.

mcarroll02 · Nov 16, 2024

cadman777 said:
I put a pair of Monroe air shocks on the back of mine TEN YEARS AGO, and they're still going strong. Only thing I HATE about air shocks is they LEAK and have to be constantly fixed. It's b/c the stupid PLASTIC nuts break inside, so you have to make sure you leave plenty of extra line so you can cut behind the pinched part that the existing nut was attached to. I paid around 80 bux for the pair.

If they made air shocks for the front, i would consider it. Because, add in a 4 corner airlift control, and you have a good adjustable suspension with the flick of a few switches.

mcarroll02 · Nov 16, 2024

Dmiranda1269 said:
3 years ago I put all 4 shocks on. Cheap blue Monroe shocks. Granted I put less than 5000 miles each year because I don't drive it April to September. And just replaced the fronts as the passenger side was banging on bumps. They fell apart upon removal. Amazon had the same ones less than $20.00 so I'm happy if I get 2 more years out of them. Remember I have 33's and torsion bars cranked almost to the max.

I dont have any plans to go that big. I may consider doing 265/75r16s later on. I just want it high enough so I dont hit my head gettin in.

mcarroll02 · Nov 16, 2024

cadman777 said:
I put KYB on front about 10 years ago and they're still holding up.
Got a bit of rust, but that's to be expected.

When i replaced my old shocks last year, they pretty much fell apart taking them out.

mcarroll02 · Nov 17, 2024

Busy day ahead.

cadman777 · Nov 18, 2024

Looking good!
This pressure bleeder is one of the smartest purchases I ever made for doing brakes.

cadman777 · Nov 18, 2024

mcarroll02 said:
I'll be doing front and rear sway bar bushings as well as new shocks tomorrow. Went with the rancho set as they are for 0-1.5" of lift. No lift atm, but when my alignment guy gets time, I'll have him crank the torsion keys to level it out and realign. 255/70r16 atturo trail blade at tires. Went with those tires as thats what was on it when i bought it and they did great on snow and ice last winter. Still no luck finding poly rear leaf bushings. But according to rockauto, an 01 st and an 01 explorer use the same leaf bushings. Can anyone confirm this? Would like to know before i spend $150 for the polyurethane kit to find out otherwise.

One thing that I had to do was body mounts.
I got the urethane ones as replacements.
The OEM ones just crumbled until the cab began banging.

mcarroll02 · Nov 19, 2024

cadman777 said:
Looking good!
This pressure bleeder is one of the smartest purchases I ever made for doing brakes.

I have the maddox pressure/vacuum bleeder kit from harbor freight. Works like a charm.

mcarroll02 · Nov 19, 2024

cadman777 said:
One thing that I had to do was body mounts.
I got the urethane ones as replacements.
The OEM ones just crumbled until the cab began banging.

I did polyurethane body mount bushings march of 23.

cadman777 · Nov 19, 2024

mcarroll02 said:
I have the maddox pressure/vacuum bleeder kit from harbor freight. Works like a charm.

Similar to my MightyVac kit with the added 1 liter catch bottle.
But with Mercedes, I needed a bona fide pressure pot (30psi).
Now I use that on all the cars I bleed, unless I can't find a pressure cap for the reservoir.
Amazing time saver!
But if I can't find a pressure cap, then it's the old school pedal-pumping method.
Which reminds me...filling coolant when doing a 'flush' has never been easier than with the MADDOX Cooling System Test and Refill Kit + the PITTSBURGH No-Spill Radiator Funnel Kit for 'burping' the system. I got the latter kit under different 'brand name' on Amazon for 1/2 the price.
1/2 a day job turned into 1.5 hours!
Can't beat the right tool for the right job!

my red sta · Nov 20, 2024

Agreed, the right tools make all the difference.
I've got a power bleeder, (not sure how else you could ever properly do a full brake fluid flush without it) and you only need one person to bleed your brakes. Genius.
Also have a no spill funnel kit, what a time saver in deed. Especially helpful on my turbo Subaru with 2 reservoirs to burp.
What I really need is a hoist!

cadman777 · Nov 20, 2024

my red sta said:
What I really need is a hoist!

Me2!
How many times do I say that every week!

My new to me sport trac

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