How to Replace Rear Shock Absorbers 1991-2005 Ford Explorer
Created on: 2010-11-24
Check out this video to learn how to replace the rear shocks on your 91-05 Ford Explore. If they are bouncy or clunky 1A Auto will guide you.
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step 1 :Remove the shock absorbers
- Apply penetrating oil to the nuts and bolts
- Use a 18 socket and ratchet to remove the nuts, using a breaker bar to help.
- Secure the bolt while you remove the nut with a 15 mm wrench.
- With a hammer and chisel, remove the bolt from the shock.
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step 2 :Remove the spare tire
- Use the jack that comes with the spare or a large screwdriver to unbolt the spare tire.
- Remove the bracket securing the spare tire.
- Pop the bracket off with a sharp rap with a hammer.
- Now you have access to the top of the shock absorber.
- Use a 13mm wrench to remove the two bolts.
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step 3 :Install the new shock absorber
- Bolt in the upper part of the shock absorber, using a 13 mm wrench.
- On the bottom part, use a hammer to get the bolt into place if necessary.
- Use an 18 mm socket and ratchet to secure the nut on the bottom bolt.
Tools needed
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15mm Wrench
Hammer
Flat Blade Screwdriver
Rust Penetrant
18mm Socket
Chisel
Ratchet
1/2 Inch Breaker Bar
13mm Wrench
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Hi, I'm Mike Green. I'm one of the owners of 1A Auto. I want to help you save time and money repairing and maintaining your vehicle. I'm going to use my 20 plus years experience restoring and repairing cars and trucks like this to show you the correct way to install parts from 1AAuto.com. The right parts, installed correctly, that's going to save you time and money. Thank you and enjoy the video.
In this video, we're going to show you how to replace the shocks on this '98 Ford Explorer, same as many trucks and SUVs. Although, you may not need to lower the spare tire like you do on this truck. For this vehicle, you'll need penetrating oil, 18-millimeter socket and ratchet, and 13- and 15-millimeter wrenches. You may not even need to raise your car off the ground, but a jack and jack stands might help. We're going to use some penetrating oil right there. You can see right here I put a jack underneath the axle. That's just to make sure when we disconnect the shock that that's not the last thing holding it and the rear end doesn't suddenly jerk down.
We've got a 15-millimeter wrench on here, and this is an 18-millimeter socket. Here, I went to the hand tools because actually the impact wrench didn't work as well as pulling with a big bar like this. The jack handle on this vehicle is missing, so I've inserted a long screwdriver right into this hole down here. It goes in and you turn it counterclockwise and that lowers the spare tire. You should be able to reach right in and pop that little bracket off. This probably has never been down from the car, so you whack and then push that up through, take the spare out. Now, with the spare out of the way, you can see right up in and get to everything really nice and easy. I'm just using a 13-millimeter wrench, reach right over the top and just got to do it a quarter of a turn at a time.
Unfortunately, it would appear that the only way to get to this one is with a 13- millimeter wrench as well. Make sure you get the wrench down on there as low as possible. I'll speed it up here. These bolts are ... they're not that hard to get to but they're just a ... you just take them off patiently, a quarter turn at a time. I've got a new shock from 1A Auto; it's got this catch on it. You can remove that. You can see it slowly comes out. Here's, obviously, the old shock on the right. I'm putting basically the same pressure on and the old one just goes right in, whereas the new one offers a whole lot more resistance. The new shock comes with new mounting hardware.
Actually, what I like to do is feed the bolts in from up top. Put the shock up in and just twist it. That holds the bolt steady. Put the nuts on. Super nice about that new hardware is now we can use an air ratchet and grab onto the nut ... or the bolt ... from the top with a wrench. Now that you have the bottom started, you can now tighten up the top. It's nice with the new hardware; you can use a nice long extension and a wrench and then tighten up the bottom. Tighten these up nice and tight. You can put your spare tire back up, and you're all set.
We hope this helps you out. Brought to you buy www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll free 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.
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