I went to a local auto parts store and was quoted over double the price for these Monroe shocks. Absolutely incredible. Doing the work myself also saved 2 hours of shop work. So along with what we saved on the rears (more than half price again) plus my own labor, replacing all four shocks came out to 1/3 of the total cost if we had sent the vehicle to a shop instead.
These shocks and a set of rears were purchased so the Air Ride system on our '98 Explorer could be disabled. The rears were installed first because of the pair, the aft shocks would be the hardest to install. And they were.
The fronts come out much easier. The air hose and wires were simply cut from the old shocks. I had the car raised, then removed both front tires. It doesn't matter which order the top nut or the bottom two bolts are loosened off. Because the suspension is in the air, the A-Arms are hanging and the shocks are pinned in. Put a jack under the lower A-Arm and lift it until the shock becomes slack again and can be pulled out.
The new shocks are not as wide as the O.E.M. parts. Lower the A-Arm and slide the shocks absorber into place from the bottom. Install the lower two bolts first. Then raise the A-Arm again. This will push the top threaded rod of the shock absorber up into the engine compartment where the top bushing half - backing washer and nut can be installed. Remove the jack; torque up the top nut; put the tires back on and that's it.
The new Monroe shocks give a much smoother ride than the old crappy Ford Air Ride shocks.
| Manufacturer | Monroe Shocks & Struts |
|---|---|
| Brand | Monroe |
| Item Weight | 4.2 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 25.24 x 15.5 x 7.43 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | 37122 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Exterior | Black |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 37122 |
| OEM Part Number | 0 |
| Position | Bottom |
