You can do it even cheaper and easier than Pip. It sounds like his Pathfinder has struts instead of shocks. You have shocks on your Explorer. To replace shocks, you shouldn%26#039;t have to mess with compressing springs. It%26#039;s an easy take off and put on operation.
Here%26#039;s some directions (and it%26#039;s even easier than it sounds) :
1. Raise the front of the vehicle and place jackstands under the lower control arms. Ensure that the lower shock attaching nuts do not become obstructed by the jackstands.
2. Remove the upper shock-to-frame attaching nut, washer and insulator assembly.
3. Remove the two lower shock-to-control arm attaching nuts.
4. Slightly compress the shock absorber by hand and remove it from the vehicle.
To install:
5. Position the washer and insulator on the shock absorber rod and position the shock absorber to the upper frame bracket mount.
6. Position the insulator and washer on the shock absorber rod and install the attaching nut loosely.
7. Position the shock absorber to the lower mounting stud and install the attaching nut loosely.
8. Tighten the lower shock attaching nuts to 15-21 ft. lbs. (21-29 Nm), and the upper shock attaching bolts to 30-40 ft. lbs. (40-55 Nm).|||Yes, if you have enough tools to do it and know what you are doing.|||yes if you know what you are doing or have a buddy that knows how to do it.. on a 98 pathfinder i was quoted around 600 bucks labor and parts for the front end .. me and my buddy did it in one afternoon with a case of beer and 200 bucks... 150 for parts and about 50 on tools.. some of which was returned (we rented a few of the things we needed) but those springs are under crazy pressure and can fire threw your hood if you don%26#039;t do things right... they have a tool to keep them compressed... so make sure you have someone that knows what they are doing!
