Shocks worn out??

[michigan newbie]

Just bought a 98 Eddie Bauer with 142,00 miles, 5.4 and 3.73 axle. We are getting a shudder throughout when we hit rough pavement. I drive a Didge pick up at work, so I'm pretty sure that it's not just me not being used to how a truck feels.

I looked at the shocks, and the right rear passenger side shock is/was wet (leaking) at one point. All look to be the same age- old, rusty. How can I tell if they need to be replaced? Any suggestions for replacement parts? Are planning on towing a 4,500# RV with it in a few months.

 

[OVERKILL]

Since you already have 1 shock leaking and all 4 rusting, thats more than enough evidence to justify replacing all 4 shocks.

Coincidently, I just replaced all 4 of mine with Bilsteins.
The previous shocks were all rusty and the drivers side was leaking.

It's worth the investment.
Just do it

 

[exceldetail]

Billys are AWESOME on my Dodge P/U.......They're just a little pricey.
I need to replace mine on the 00 Expy as well. 145k on her now, replace the OEM's with KYB's aout 5k ago, which were either the wrong part number, or are just junk altogether.
Will this help minimize roll feel as well?
What about coils? Do they ever go bad? I have air levelers in the rear btw.....

 

[nvycrmn]

i agree, bilsteins are a good choice. well worth the money. i have ranchos on mine but that is cuz i run a rancho kit. figured might as well keep it all together. where in michigan you from?

 

[exceldetail]

Im 225 miles north of you, lol......

 

[panda24619]

just replace the shocks. i have monroe shocks. not the greatest. great at first then got a little dirty and now they squeak in the rear. i wish i got bilsteins. a little more pricey but would have been well worth it. i like my shocks i can take corners fast and they handle great but squeak to damn much in the rear if i have weight or if im bouncing a little. and about the springs thats a good question. might get spacers not sure yet. do they ever go bad? im thinking about running coil overs. anyone see that in an expo b4? i like that idea but a lot of work. just me getting some 2.0 or 2.5 8" stroke shocks. what do people think of that idea?

 

[nvycrmn]

i say go for it panda. make it happen. excel, come on down! we can have a little cali get together down here at the beach or something. a couple of my guys in my virtualford.org forum are from up that way i believe.

 

[panda24619]

i say go for it panda. make it happen. excel, come on down! we can have a little cali get together down here at the beach or something. a couple of my guys in my virtualford.org forum are from up that way i believe.

we should have a jet ski bonfire at fiesta. i might be able to borrow my uncles 3 seater jet ski if hes nice enough. maybe. o and nice ride of the month. i saw that on the other forum ur on.

 

[panda24619]

o and i think i might when i start to go to school for welding, make my own brackets and what not. shes going to be my project vehicle now i need a new truck for a tow truck. maybe a svt raptor.

 

[smo0othride]

Billys are AWESOME on my Dodge P/U.......They're just a little pricey.
I need to replace mine on the 00 Expy as well. 145k on her now, replace the OEM's with KYB's aout 5k ago, which were either the wrong part number, or are just junk altogether.
Will this help minimize roll feel as well?
What about coils? Do they ever go bad? I have air levelers in the rear btw.....

Excel... I have the bilstein shocks and while they do help with roll, if you really want to reduce body roll then upgrade your sway bars (front and rear). After I upgraded my sway bars the expedition handled a lot better and has a much more solid feeling while driving.

 

[nvycrmn]

i see a lot of people from cali here. panda, yeah i finally got ROTM. i would be down for something like that at fiesta island. you can rent them for a reasonable price too right there in mission bay. smooth, where you located at? everyone from socal (norcal too if you want) should all get together at the beach or something.

 

[smo0othride]

i see a lot of people from cali here. panda, yeah i finally got ROTM. i would be down for something like that at fiesta island. you can rent them for a reasonable price too right there in mission bay. smooth, where you located at? everyone from socal (norcal too if you want) should all get together at the beach or something.

I'm in San Marcos but have lived all over SD and know the area pretty well, except I don't know anywhere good to do some offroading. Any of you from SoCal know a good place where we could drive some trails without my 2wd getting stuck (I do have all terrain tires though)?

 

[panda24619]

why didnt u ask the guy who always goes to a trail in alpine in 2wd all the time? ME!!!! let me know when your down. im always trying to get navy to go but hes always got duty or fixing stuff hes breaking jumping that truck. ha just kiding. but we 3 should all go. maybe a few other buds should make a trip of it ones day. trial name Anderson Truck Trail. its super easy to get to if youve been there b4. so convoy with me in the lead. if you look it up its famous for mountain bikes. i have yet to see a youtube video with trucks or jeeps or anything on it. but there are youtube vids of it. so just hit me up if your down. i have never been threw the whole trail cause of the fact its long and usually only me. so i turn around when it gets to ruff. its not long. easily completed in a few hours or a good day to stop and help blah blah. but yeah. idk my schedule as of yet. but when ever anyone is free is good for me. i like weekdays better. but if people like weekends i think i can free stuff up.

 

[nvycrmn]

hey, let me know when you guys are thinking about doing it and i will try to fit it in my schedule. my truck should be fixed next weekend. just gotta give me plenty of time in advance to make sure i dont have duty or anything...plus gotta clear it with the wife! hahah. panda, how far away is this trail? not familiar with alpine.

 

[smo0othride]

I'm up in LA working for another month, but when I come back to SD after that I should be pretty open. If it works out, I think a week day would be better since it wouldn't be as crowded.

 

[nvycrmn]

well when you get back down here, let me know. i can put in for a day off during the week if i need to. i agree, it would probably be best during the week. then i can just have the nanny watch my kids while my wife is at work, unless she takes a day off too.

 

[panda24619]

okay. see heres the think. the trail is very not well known. i only know it from being there with my cousin. its still a legit trail though. some people say its an old fire trail or an old truck trail. but its still there. its part way a very dirty and rutty drive way for a lot of houses out there. but then when u pass the big house with the big tree its the trail. so its not going to be full of people off roading. ive only seen a few hand full of people in their trucks and like a dozen people on their motos and a lot of moutain bikers. anderson road is the road then into anderson truck trail. alpine. u know where el cajon is? its ruffly 10-20 mins away from there. depends on traffic. during the day its 10 mins. around 5pm 30 mins. from my house in PL its about 45-50 mins. and pl is as far west as u can get in SD. its a good drive on the 8 freeway all the way. and weekday works better for me. gf has work and my friend might come too. well make a day out of it. just need to know what days work best for people. after aug 24th tues and thurs will not. school. but thats a month away.

 

[panda24619]

okay. the trail is also off tavern road. just google map anderson road and it should pop up. its like 5 mins before viejas casino.

 

[nvycrmn]

well when smooth gets back from LA, we should def plan a trip. if its during the weekday, I can probably ask my commander for the day off but I would have to be back by 3 or 4pm....gotta get the kids.

 

[panda24619]

hey he dosent take long and from wht it seems for how long ive been down the trail its easy to some point where a spotter is best and then ull be fine. our trucks are so big its hard to judge where are wheels are. but it nots to long. i forgot the exact length of the trail. ill look it up. but it should be completed in like 4-6 hours. and plus during the day will reach 100+ temps. so early morning should be best. and i can wait. im not in a rush.