Hi There

Has anyone had experience of the Ford Explorer Self levelling suspension.

My 2000 North Face is sitting Low at the rear and I have been advised that
the rear shocks may need to be replaced. They come at a hefty price £ 200+
per shock!!! That is a shock Fitting on top.

Many thanks

"IanL" <mail@N05PAMianleslie.biz> wrote in message
news:ZtqdnfHx-q4nYsTYRVnygg@bt.com...
> Hi There
>
> Has anyone had experience of the Ford Explorer Self levelling suspension.
>
> My 2000 North Face is sitting Low at the rear and I have been advised that
> the rear shocks may need to be replaced. They come at a hefty price £
> 200+ per shock!!! That is a shock Fitting on top.
>
> Many thanks
>
>
>
>

May I suggest that you take a look around this useful site:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/ ?
I had loads of problems trying to get the suspension fixed on a '98 Explorer
I had before my current 2000 North Face. I spent loads of cash at my Ford
dealers but they never fixed it. I even swapped most of the system with
parts from another Explorer that had a fully working levelling system but to
no avail. I still have all the gubbins somewhere, including a pair of rear
shocks and the compressor.
Unfortunately the general feeling in the UK is that Ford dealers simply
don't have a clue about Explorers...
Anyway, if you happen to be anywhere near West Yorkshire you are welcome to
try swapping some of the bits I've got to try to get yours working. Does the
orange 'suspension off' warning light come on after about 20 - 30 minutes
constant driving?

Simon H

Hi Simon,

Thanks for the useful info.

No I don't get a warning light. It just sits very low at the rear. I think
it was used for a lot of towing.

What was the problem with yours? I think you're right about Explorers and
UK dealership. Thank you for the offer of trying your bits and pieces. I
live in Surrey close M25 / A3. Sometime after I have stopped I hear the
compressor whir into life for about 3/4 secs but nothing moves.

Do you have a pair of shocks then? Can any garage fit them or is it a
specialist ford due the the SL Suspension

Ian
"Simon H" <simonh@deadmailbox.com> wrote in message
news:vqednZWSO7FAi8fYnZ2dnUVZ8qmdnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "IanL" <mail@N05PAMianleslie.biz> wrote in message
> news:ZtqdnfHx-q4nYsTYRVnygg@bt.com...
>> Hi There
>>
>> Has anyone had experience of the Ford Explorer Self levelling suspension.
>>
>> My 2000 North Face is sitting Low at the rear and I have been advised
>> that the rear shocks may need to be replaced. They come at a hefty price
>> £ 200+ per shock!!! That is a shock Fitting on top.
>>
>> Many thanks
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> May I suggest that you take a look around this useful site:
> http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/ ?
> I had loads of problems trying to get the suspension fixed on a '98
> Explorer I had before my current 2000 North Face. I spent loads of cash at
> my Ford dealers but they never fixed it. I even swapped most of the system
> with parts from another Explorer that had a fully working levelling system
> but to no avail. I still have all the gubbins somewhere, including a pair
> of rear shocks and the compressor.
> Unfortunately the general feeling in the UK is that Ford dealers simply
> don't have a clue about Explorers...
> Anyway, if you happen to be anywhere near West Yorkshire you are welcome
> to try swapping some of the bits I've got to try to get yours working.
> Does the orange 'suspension off' warning light come on after about 20 - 30
> minutes constant driving?
>
> Simon H
>

On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:59:43 -0000, IanL wrote:

> Hi Simon,
>
> Thanks for the useful info.
>
> No I don't get a warning light. It just sits very low at the rear. I think
> it was used for a lot of towing.
>
> What was the problem with yours? I think you're right about Explorers and
> UK dealership. Thank you for the offer of trying your bits and pieces. I
> live in Surrey close M25 / A3. Sometime after I have stopped I hear the
> compressor whir into life for about 3/4 secs but nothing moves.
>
> Do you have a pair of shocks then? Can any garage fit them or is it a
> specialist ford due the the SL Suspension

Don't top-post.

FWIW, there's a very good garage not that far from you between Ropley and
Four Marks on the A31. RM Motors, they do a good job on Explorers and can
cope with all of the major jobs. There are some specialist dealers who
supply Explorer parts at US prices advertising on eBay, easy to find them
and they mostly have online shops and good track records.

"Steve Firth" <%steve%@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
news:hoy2bkxu1tz9$.ac4p03rdlk7z$.dlg@40tude.net...
> On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:59:43 -0000, IanL wrote:
>
>> Hi Simon,
>>
>> Thanks for the useful info.
>>
>> No I don't get a warning light. It just sits very low at the rear. I
>> think
>> it was used for a lot of towing.
>>
>> What was the problem with yours? I think you're right about Explorers
>> and
>> UK dealership. Thank you for the offer of trying your bits and pieces.
>> I
>> live in Surrey close M25 / A3. Sometime after I have stopped I hear the
>> compressor whir into life for about 3/4 secs but nothing moves.
>>
>> Do you have a pair of shocks then? Can any garage fit them or is it a
>> specialist ford due the the SL Suspension
>
> Don't top-post.
>
> FWIW, there's a very good garage not that far from you between Ropley and
> Four Marks on the A31. RM Motors, they do a good job on Explorers and can
> cope with all of the major jobs. There are some specialist dealers who
> supply Explorer parts at US prices advertising on eBay, easy to find them
> and they mostly have online shops and good track records.

Thanks Steve,

I will be sure to try and locate them.

"IanL" <mail@N05PAMianleslie.biz> wrote in message
news:3N-dnejViclW2sfYnZ2dnUVZ8sSdnZ2d@bt.com...
> "Steve Firth" <%steve%@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:hoy2bkxu1tz9$.ac4p03rdlk7z$.dlg@40tude.net...
>> On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:59:43 -0000, IanL wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Simon,
>>>
>>> Thanks for the useful info.
>>>
>>> No I don't get a warning light. It just sits very low at the rear. I
>>> think
>>> it was used for a lot of towing.
>>>
>>> What was the problem with yours? I think you're right about Explorers
>>> and
>>> UK dealership. Thank you for the offer of trying your bits and pieces.
>>> I
>>> live in Surrey close M25 / A3. Sometime after I have stopped I hear the
>>> compressor whir into life for about 3/4 secs but nothing moves.
>>>
>>> Do you have a pair of shocks then? Can any garage fit them or is it a
>>> specialist ford due the the SL Suspension
>>
>> Don't top-post.
>>
>> FWIW, there's a very good garage not that far from you between Ropley and
>> Four Marks on the A31. RM Motors, they do a good job on Explorers and can
>> cope with all of the major jobs. There are some specialist dealers who
>> supply Explorer parts at US prices advertising on eBay, easy to find them
>> and they mostly have online shops and good track records.
>
> Thanks Steve,
>
> I will be sure to try and locate them.
>
>

Ian
The shocks are an easy DIY fit just like any other car (with the addition of
a simple push fit airline fitting on each shocker). Only probs might be
siezed bolts in the bottom bushes. As you can hear the compressor running
sometimes when you have stopped (actually, it should be just after you have
closed a door) the system must 'think' it is working and adjusting the level
correctly. The compresssor NEVER ran on my old '98. It might be worth
getting under the truck and lubing the ball joints on the suspension level
sensor arm and checking that the multiplug is making a good connection. it's
located on the rear axle just to the UK driver's side of the diff, a sort of
lever/arm arrangement going vertically up from the axle to the body. The
ball joints are similar to those on throttle linkages or tailgate gas
struts.
As for the sitting low at the rear thing. My '98 Explorer had self levelling
suspension plumbed into all 4 corners. My 2000 North Face only has self
levelling at the rear. The thing I first noticed when I collected it was
that the 2000 North Face stands higher at the front than the '98 ever did.
Maybe Ford tweaked the front suspension to compensate for saving a couple of
quid installing self levelling at the front? The front standing taller may
accentuate the saggy back end...
BTW, my local Ford agent diagnosed 'leaking seals' on the rear shocks and
quoted me over £400 fitted. I acquired the parts I mentioned before for a
fraction of that and it was qute clear that the shocker seals were perfectly
good when I disconnected the airlines. I also bench tested the shocks and
they held pressure for several days.
I hope you have better luck getting it sorted than I did...

Simon H

"Simon H" <simonh@deadmailbox.com> wrote in message
news:ZJSdnYpCHf2c08fYnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...
>
> "IanL" <mail@N05PAMianleslie.biz> wrote in message
> news:3N-dnejViclW2sfYnZ2dnUVZ8sSdnZ2d@bt.com...
>> "Steve Firth" <%steve%@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:hoy2bkxu1tz9$.ac4p03rdlk7z$.dlg@40tude.net...
>>> On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:59:43 -0000, IanL wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Simon,
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for the useful info.
>>>>
>>>> No I don't get a warning light. It just sits very low at the rear. I
>>>> think
>>>> it was used for a lot of towing.
>>>>
>>>> What was the problem with yours? I think you're right about Explorers
>>>> and
>>>> UK dealership. Thank you for the offer of trying your bits and pieces.
>>>> I
>>>> live in Surrey close M25 / A3. Sometime after I have stopped I hear
>>>> the
>>>> compressor whir into life for about 3/4 secs but nothing moves.
>>>>
>>>> Do you have a pair of shocks then? Can any garage fit them or is it a
>>>> specialist ford due the the SL Suspension
>>>
>>> Don't top-post.
>>>
>>> FWIW, there's a very good garage not that far from you between Ropley
>>> and
>>> Four Marks on the A31. RM Motors, they do a good job on Explorers and
>>> can
>>> cope with all of the major jobs. There are some specialist dealers who
>>> supply Explorer parts at US prices advertising on eBay, easy to find
>>> them
>>> and they mostly have online shops and good track records.
>>
>> Thanks Steve,
>>
>> I will be sure to try and locate them.
>>
>>
>
> Ian
> The shocks are an easy DIY fit just like any other car (with the addition
> of a simple push fit airline fitting on each shocker). Only probs might be
> siezed bolts in the bottom bushes. As you can hear the compressor running
> sometimes when you have stopped (actually, it should be just after you
> have closed a door) the system must 'think' it is working and adjusting
> the level correctly. The compresssor NEVER ran on my old '98. It might be
> worth getting under the truck and lubing the ball joints on the suspension
> level sensor arm and checking that the multiplug is making a good
> connection. it's located on the rear axle just to the UK driver's side of
> the diff, a sort of lever/arm arrangement going vertically up from the
> axle to the body. The ball joints are similar to those on throttle
> linkages or tailgate gas struts.
> As for the sitting low at the rear thing. My '98 Explorer had self
> levelling suspension plumbed into all 4 corners. My 2000 North Face only
> has self levelling at the rear. The thing I first noticed when I collected
> it was that the 2000 North Face stands higher at the front than the '98
> ever did. Maybe Ford tweaked the front suspension to compensate for saving
> a couple of quid installing self levelling at the front? The front
> standing taller may accentuate the saggy back end...
> BTW, my local Ford agent diagnosed 'leaking seals' on the rear shocks and
> quoted me over £400 fitted. I acquired the parts I mentioned before for a
> fraction of that and it was qute clear that the shocker seals were
> perfectly good when I disconnected the airlines. I also bench tested the
> shocks and they held pressure for several days.
> I hope you have better luck getting it sorted than I did...
>
> Simon H
>

Simon

That is really useful information and is greatly appreciated. I will print
this off and take to a friendly mechanic.

Thanks again

Ian