My 98 Expedition with 76K appears to have developed some sort of shake when going over bumpy roads. It feels like something heavy is loose and causing the Seat-o-d-pants detector to alarm!

What could this be?

I am suspecting the exhaust system...Perhaps its loose? What to tighten or check for?

 

when was he last time you replaced the shocks. 76k on stock, they are shot.

 

VERY good question and I was wondering about that myself. However, I replaced the OE shocks at about 40 or 50K, I think. I used the Monroe Truck Reflex shock. Those are a new shock by Monroe and a newer concept/technology. I wonder if they wear faster? I probably have 26-36K on these shocks. But I will check that. I have that information written in a log.

SAY I DO HAVE BAD SHOCKS:

What are the symptoms? I've always been told you can check them by bouncing the vehicle on the side of each shock and see how many times the vehicle bounces. 1.5 times is acceptable...

I know for fact when I go over a larger speed bump that the front bounces about 3-4 times. Each bounce getting smaller until disipated. The Monroes did this since new.

Can anyone recommend a GOOD shock that will make my ride more comfortable? Take away the anoying little bumps, shakes, and vibrations? Or is this the way Fords ride with a few miles on them? It is after all A TRUCK!

I did lower the tire pressure to about 32, where I usually run 35. It helped slightly.


Any suspension experts?

 

Ya know, I just thought of something. Those Reflex shocks have some sort of built-in valve that allows them to drop quickly when a tire goes into a pot hole or bump. I wonder if thats what is causing this?

 

RAND,

These trucks of ours must all be front heavy. I have the 7700 4x4 F150 and if I drive over a speed bump slow, my front bounces 3-4 times too. This is on a truck that is supposed to be ready to mount a 1/2 ton snow plow on the front. It did get better when I tightened the torsion bars, but still bounces too much for me. So your bounce is very normal.

I'm thinking the only way to help that situation is get a real heavy duty set of gas pressured or coil over shocks for the front. It seems that in Fords great effort to please the common "female" driver in their market strategy report, they try to make a truck ride like a car. That just doesn't work. A truck should ride like a damn truck.