New shocks for Expedition - DIY or not?

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I have a 1998 Ford Expedition that needs new shocks. It has 122K with the OEM shocks and the quality of the ride has diminished. The garage where I bought the tires will replace the shocks for ~$400. I can buy 4 quality Monroe shocks at $38.88 each.

I have replaced shocks on older trucks and I have the Haynes manual for the Expedition. Would replacement of the shocks on this large SUV be something beyond the capabilities of a DIYer? The '98 Expy has the air ride suspension and the air lines on top of the front shocks are the only things that I am really worried about.

Does anyone on BITOG have an opinion, insight or comment? Thanks in advance for your help.
 
I did it on my 97 Expy. Pretty easy in the rear, a little tight in the front but take your time and you can do it.

BTW - I used Bilsteins. About twice as much as the ones you are looking at, but a lifetime warranty and the trucks drives/handles much better.
 
i wouldn't reccomend the monroe shocks. they are terrible. i had them installed on my accord and they were so mushy that i got my $ refunded the next week (long enough to have KYB's ordered).

try KYB or for a bit more money, the bilsteins (only if you're gonna keep it for a while).
 
Monroe sensa-tracs greatly improved the ride of my 2002 isuzu rodeo. An excellent choice for a mostly on-road SUV. Took me about an hour to swap out all 4. No air fancy air ride though!

Joel
 
Let me ask this,

Did you like the ride with the OEM shocks till now????

If you answer yes, put the same back on.

If no, use anything that suits your fancy.

I just had to replace 2 front shocks on my 1992 4x4 Chevy because one of them was banging on every crack in the road and only had 13,000 easy miles on them. I had replaced the oem shocks in 2002 with Gabriel HD gas and from the day they were put on, I realized it was a mistake. The 1/2 4x4 truck now rode as bad if not worse than a 3/4 ton but I had to live with it till yesterday when I had them install AC Delco HD gas on it. The ride is so much better, now I know the rears are going on the junk heap next.
 
One thing I've noticed with shocks...they tend to gradually wear out, so you don't really notice how bad things get.

Until you put some new ones on, at which point I'm thinking "d@mn, my truck feels like new again!"
 
Thanks for all of the advice and comments.

Mike...I just checked on shock pricing at the Ford dealership. Their replacement shocks were $52 each (front and back). I might put a set of Motorcraft shocks on the back this weekend and see how I like them. I will check on the Bilsteins too.

These shocks did wear out gradually and I didn't notice how bad they had gotten until we were driving down a gravel driveway. I could really notice it at that point.

Robbobster....did your Expy have the air ride suspension? Did you have any problems with the front shocks?

thanks again for the advice.
 
Yes, I've got the load-leveling in the rear w/air springs. Make sure you tell the shop that when you get your shocks, as it requires different shocks than trucks not equipped with it.

Front shocks are a little tight, but not too bad. Take a wheel off to make it easier to get to things.

You can do the rears without removing the wheels.
 
My experience with Monrow is if they have a shock in their inventory that fits your car they will use it. Monrow doesn't care if the damping rate or rebound rate is correct as long as it can be bolted onto your vehicle. That said I will never buy a Monrow shock for a limited production vehicle, only a high volume one.
 
This is all good advice. I will avoid the Monroe and stick with the Motorcraft replacement from the dealer. I will order 2 of the rear shocks tomorrow (2 x $52) and replace them first.

It will be nice if I can change them without replacing the tire. I will let you guys know how things turn out.
 
Monroes are fine for a truck. I put Monroe replacements on GM and Ford pickups (same chassis as Expedition) with excellent results. An Accord is a completely different animal, suspension-wise. Trucks have plenty of room to work, and dont use strut suspensions, so it is an easy DIY procedure.
 
replacing the rear shocks is usually pretty easy. replacing the front shocks usually isnt so easy. with a 1998, you can expect a little rust on the shock. this can make it difficult to remove the nut that's up there. typically the rod is flattened (some have a torx head) so than you can hold the rod and turn the nut. its usually not hardened so you round it off. so use a good penetrant (pb blaster, et al).

i have had to grab the shock piston with vice grips, cut off the top of the shock, break the nut. a little boot on the top of the shock would go a long way. apparently, an impact wrench makes this job a bit easier.
 
I'd use Rancho 9000's, adjustable. I put them on my 01 Supercrew, same frame as yours, and wish I'd done it sooner. The drivers rear is a little tricky because of the fuel tank. The fronts weren't too bad once you get the wheels off.
 
Take a look at the Monroe Severe Service or Gas Magnum truck shock (same shock. This was developed for emergency vehicles and will require you order them. They are tremendous shocks and are much firmer than the Sensa-tracs. They are about $38 at the discount auto stores. They have a rear shock with a coil spring for about $68.00.
 
I put Gabriel Ultra light truck shocks on that are supposed to be the equivalent of the sensatrac Monroe and like them. I used jackstands and remove the tires and it took about 30 minutes each wheel ( 40 minutes when you do the first one and 20 minutes when you do the next and learned from your mistakes). It is easier to get a worn out gas shock compressed and off than the new on.

On ebay they are $28 a pair plus shipping. At Autozone $40 a pair plus tax. When I got the old one off and cleaned off they were Gabriel Gas shocks from 7 years ago.
 
Here's an article with pictures of replacing shocks on an F-150. I'd use this as a guide for the front shocks on your Expy, as the setups are virually identical.

The rear suspension is quite a bit different on the F-150, but on the Expedition the rears are very simple to do. Just unbolt the old ones - the bolts are clearly accessible.
 
Robbobster...thanks for the advice. Would you mind posting the link to that article you mentioned? I replaced the rear shocks this afternoon and they weren't too difficult at all.
 
quote:
i wouldn't reccomend the monroe shocks. they are terrible. i had them installed on my accord and they were so mushy that i got my $ refunded the next week (long enough to have KYB's ordered).
Click to expand...
Weird. My 90 Mercury Sable got new Monroe Sensa Tracs when I had it. They were SOOOO stiff!
 
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