Piston Slap: SUV Edition

TTAC reader JG writes:

Sajeev, do I have a question for you! Knowing the roads (and potholes) of Houston (like I know you do) here goes. I own a 2001 Ford Explorer 4-door. My pregnant wife curses the ride every time she’s in the car (whether it’s moving, or not). I have recently replaced the tires, which helped a little and ball joints up front. I’d love to get out of this car into something safer, but it’s not an option for a few more years. Is there anything I can do to improve the ride quality? I know I’m dealing with limited options with the solid rear axle, but there has to be something, right?

Sajeev writes:

I see two quick fixes: put several bags of mulch in the cargo area, or hack the muffler and run a straight pipe. (You can get away with it in Texas.) The mulch takes the bite off the leaf springs, and a large amount of ride quality comes from the rear suspension, fuel economy penalty be damned. But the straight pipe ensures your wife will never complain about the Explorer’s terrible ride. Ever.

But seriously: check/replace your shocks, especially the rears. Explorers with air shocks do ride nicer than the regular model, which shows you can fix this oxcart rear suspension. If they are original, consider replacing them no matter what: the fluid (whatever is left) inside the shocks is more like maple syrup by now

TTAC’s own Stein X Leikanger writes:

I really like the original Jeep Cherokee and am comfortable with the 1993-1996 version, except for the fact that most don’t have an airbag, and if they do, it’s only for the driver. Which is kind of selfish.

The car share I’m using doesn’t like my hunting dog(s), and I’m going to need a Jeep (I say that as if it’s a bad thing.) So here’s my question: apart from the other upgrades I’ll do to the car (suspension, engine tweaks, up country reinforcement and raising, etc) – can I retrofit the 1997 passenger airbag into a 1996 model year Cherokee Limited, 4.0L HO? It will already have the driver airbag installed.

And would that be legal? Will it be approved?

Sajeev writes:

Now that you mention it, the amendment to the “Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208” in the 1980s is quite self-centered. Or aimed at the perpetually lonely.

Back to your question: the 1997-newer models had a redesigned dashboard and steering wheel. That is, the driver’s side airbag might have changed too, in accordance to the “de-powered” regulations that brought USA systems more in-line with Euro regulations. So you’d need another wheel, dash, and probably a new dashboard wiring harness. And who knows: maybe a rewiring of the dash-to-chassis wiring harness too. Which may cause brightly colored warning lights a plenty. Ouch.

I’d recommend you get a stateside 1997 Cherokee and have the seller put an older front fascia in the cargo hole before it enters the shipping container. Or forget about your personal feelings for your passengers.

But I have a line on a 2001 Ford Explorer with dual airbags and a wikkid straight pipe exhaust in my hometown. For cheap: just wait about two months for the seller’s wife to contact me. I’ll even drive it to the Port of Houston for immediate shipping to Europe.

[Email your automotive queries to sajeev.mehta@thetruthaboutcars.com]