Excursion Update
 

Still haven't done the wheel/tire upgrade on the EX but I did do some things that you fellow EX owners might like to hear about.

I've been unhappy with the way the truck liked to go its own way- once it started to wander to one side or the other, it usually took an over-correction to get it back. Alot of the time, if the road was dished, I'd end up wandering from stripe to stripe.

I took a couple of your suggestions and installed the Hellwig rear sway bar. I talked to Hellwig and it seems like the front bar they offer is just about the same as the stocker. While I was under there, I replaced the stock shocks with a set of Edelbrock's. They were about $400 for the set but worth every penny. The truck tracks straihgt as an arrow and on one badly worn and dished piece of highway I end up on frequently, it went straight as an arrow. Rides a bunch better too. Best part though is everything from lane changes to tight bends are WAY more solid. It's like a whole different truck.

Took less than 2 hours in my driveway- the toughest part about changing the fronts is removing the tires.

Re: Excursion Update
 

now this helps
found this site just in time
I just bought a 2000 Ex with the V10
84,000 miles
It does seem to wander, but not any more then what my suburban did.
I am not sure if the shocks are original, but I plan on changing them anyway. Was also goin ot order the rear sway from Hellwig.
two ?'s
What model of shocks did you go with?
I was thinking of gettin the Bilstien shocks. but I also notice that Rancho are on some stock ford supy duty trucks.
Naother ? is that i am getting some noise from what seems to be the transmission.
It only happens under power at low speed in first or 2nd. 3rd it is either I cannot hear it from the higher speeds and road noise or it is not there.
It does NOT happen when coasting. and not all the time when under power.
Basically it sounds like a peice of tin sheet metal rattling.

Re: Excursion Update
 

I looked at every shock and bought the Edelbrocks. The biggest thing was their speed/load sensitive valving. I have Ranchos on my Tahoe and they are a very good shock but the Edelbrock is far superior- at least with a few days driving on them. If they head south after a year's use, my opinion would probably change but it's not like they're an off-brand.

My guess would be the catalytic convertor heat shield is what you're hearing. That's a pretty common thing

Re: Excursion Update
 

Havent tried the Edlebrocks, but I run some pretty expensive Bilstiens with reseviours that you can adjust the dampening rate on them. You can also take them into the shop where I bought them and have them add or remove nitrogen from them. They look good too, brushed alum finish, no paint to go bad or wear off. The new Ranchos with the res. are very good shocks too. They can be adjusted as well. I was told that they make Edlebrocks shocks anyhow. (they almost look identical just a different paint color) If you like the looks of the Edlebrock and can get a good price on them I'm sure they are good shocks, every brand makes cheap shocks and they all have their expensive line too, don't buy the cheap ones in anybody's line. You be regretting it later. I've been through some cheaper Procomps and some Rancho 5000's, they couldn't hold up to the weight of the Powerstroke in the front end. Personally I would get the Bilstiens, they are the real deal, very expensive but worth every penny.

Re: Excursion Update
 

Chris, thanks. But I would like to know what model or style Edlebrocks.
There are a couple options.
Hte Bilstiens I am looking at are $65 each. I do not see me spending the hundreds each for the resivior units. Not as a daily driver with towing only in the summer.
I have checked all the heat shields nad they are tight .
I have even jacked the entire truck off the grounf and ran it. Does not do it.
Seems to only happen under a load or torgue scenerio :(
Really hate to pay the $$$ to have someone else lok for something that is obviously there

Re: Excursion Update
 

2000-03 Excursion (All Engines)
2WD 33225**-34225**
4WD 33224-34224

Above are the part numbers for Edelbrock Performer IAS- unless I'm reading the chart wrong, it's the only shock they offer. Got them from Summit Racing

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...cks_main.shtml

I have had the adjustable shocks before but who wants to crawl under there all the time? Rancho has a remote system but it's big $$. Reservoir shocks are fantastic for offroading where heat-induced fade becomes an issue but "offroad" to me is a field or gravel driveway.

Re: Excursion Update
 

Pull your driveshaft and check your universal joints. They won't make noise under a heavy load but sometimes a dry joint will make the driveshaft "ping". You can't check a U-joint when it's bolted in- unless it's very badly worn

You don't want non-greaseable U-joints on anything, especially something that's pulling a load. Only buy Eaton or Dana - Spicer replacements and make certain the driveshaft rotation is "into the fitting" when they install them. If it's "away" from the fitting, they'll crack.

Re: Excursion Update
 

It seemed to me that all the middle of the road shocks wore out real quick with the Powerstroke (front shocks). Maybe with the V10 they will be fine. I think its just too much weight for them.

Re: Excursion Update
 

I agree, I had noise and vibration when my u-joints went out. I can't believe they don't have zerk fittings on the stock ones. I changed all mine out for Dana's, no problems since, and I do grease them and all my front end parts myself. I also had a custom drive shaft made without that cv joint in it for the front drive shaft. It has u joint that has been ground down for extra clearance, I have more degrees of travel now with 1 u joint than with the stock cv joint.

Re: Excursion Update
 

Are you talking about increased turning radius? That would be a welcome addition.

Re: Excursion Update
 

No, I have 11" of lift on mine, the angle at wich I can articulate my front end is actually greater without the stock cv joint. I paid a ton of money for that custom drive shaft so it's probably not something you would want or need.

Re: Excursion Update
 

Momentary brain fade on my part. There are already u-joints in the knuckles on the Ex.

Duh.

Re: Excursion Update
 

Chris, just out of curiosity, what load rating arethe tires you have on your Ex?

Re: Excursion Update
 

The OEM tires- "E"

I put 32K on it before I got the replacements for the "D" tires that came on it.

Re: Excursion Update
 

OK thanks, I was talking with a person at work that has a 2003 ex and he is running C tires :(
He cannot believe how much better mines drives then his and he only has 10,000 miles on it
I have E on mine thankfully :D

Re: Excursion Update
 

C- rated tires? He's going to be surprised how poorly it steers when one blows on the highway. One thing you don't want to do with an Ex is roll it. I've seen 2- both with the roof crushed all the way to the windowsills. One in Kentucky - just outside louisville. The only thing sticking up was the drivers seat- the roof crushed down and to the right. The driver's seat was sticking through what used to be the side window. Body still in it- sheet and all.

Re: Excursion Update
 

If you own an Ex or a SD, this is important to know. Don't let the dealer's service advisers BS you on this. This is an actual TSB from ford and it says right in it how to resolve the problem and states it's covered by warranty

http://www.thedieselstop.com/faq/949...les/010302.pdf

Re: Excursion Update
 

THe TSB is very interesting.
Mine wanders like a *****.
I have the Hellwig rear bar, haven't put it on yet.
I bought the Ranch RSX shocksl (variable internal valving), put them on without taking the front tires off, no biggy and they work fine. I drove 10 miles of washboard, dirt road yesterday and they handled great.
I was also planning to upgrade the front sabilizer shock.

The Bilstiens are great shocks, but the Rancho RSXs are plenty adequate on my 01' 7.3PS EX I think they were on sale from summit last month, about $55 ea, buy 3 get one free. They were noticably much stiffer then the stockers when hand loading and unloading.

Evan

Re: Excursion Update
 

There's something else worth mentioning- the sway bar ends attach to the frame via two 10" long links. It's a different setup than most- not a long bolt with rubber grommets and washers on the ends. It has two eyelets with floating bushings in it. Anyway, even with them removed from the bar, you can barely detect wear. It would be virtually impossible to check them on the truck. One good way to tell is if you are feeling a soft clunking noise at your feet when going over bumps. When these wear even a little bit, your truck will wander. Mine went at about 40K. I'm guessing that without the rear sway bar, the front does all the work. Maybe they'll last a bit longer with the rear installed. Definitely an under-engineered item. Over $100 for the pair not including installation.