2007-2015 Ford Expedition Air Suspension Swap to Standard Spring

Removal of Ford Expedition air suspension and replacement with standard shocks. This is a permanent and simple solution that will leave you with no codes or error messages. Save money on a failing air suspension repair.

[@axel7921]

Actually, I have changed this compressor 3 times. The good thing about all this is that it was under warranty. Now I have decided to change to a conventional one. I think it is a very good decision.

[@AquaticLogic]

My 09 Expedition is currently bottomed out sitting in my driveway. I'm here exploring my options before I start to throw money at it. Thanks for the video.

[@freestylette]

Good luck! Hopefully the video is helpful.

[@rissone99]

GREAT VIDEO!!!! Only one comment....... Your approach with working with the Control Arm is WAY Better than others who take off about 3 different parts, Plus the brake. I followed your approach - Step-By-Step,, ....But,,, I didn't have to take off the Caliper. Once that Control Arm iis completely undone, you can get the old shock out and the new one in with no problem - just watch it a little closely, but otherwise..... BEST APPROACH I'VE SEEN! I would Highly recommend it! OH - An Impact Gun makes it REAL Easy. Thank You for the video!

[@jonnyrocket8954]

You did a great job on this video! Thank you, your method saved me a lot of trouble.

[@bronsonjosue7423]

I know Im kinda off topic but do anybody know a good site to watch new movies online ?

[@charlesham77]

Thank you so much for making this video! The info you provided made this job so easy for my '13 King Ranch EL 4x4. Btw, I reconnected my little rods for the leveling switches and it hasn't thrown me any warnings.

[@Waffle_cones]

It looks like my 2007 navigator I'm getting ready to go outside and change mine. Thanks for the video!

[@freestylette]

Yes. The navigator should be the same.

[@felixguerra5905]

I'm on that now lmfao

[@cdubya586]

Well done video. Thank you! I wish I could give two thumbs up.

[@jimharddunkin]

I like your style i couldn't get the lower bolt lined up for my strut using the Jack on the support should be the fix👍🏾

[@kendrafincher5386]

Once you had the sensor in correct spot did the error code go away?

[@JoseRodriguez-fn1jc]

nice video

[@terik555]

ty great video

[@Polarbear5353]

Great video- how does it ride compared to the air bags? One busted so I’m contemplating which route to go. Thanks for the video.

[@freestylette]

It's seems like the new suspension is a bit softer, but the ride is good. Right after I made the switch it seemed a tiny bit bouncier, but I don't notice any of it anymore.

[@Polarbear5353]

Simon Kirschman TY sir

[@brentbradley6711]

Crummy

[@hectorgarcia8691]

did you swap the front air shocks as well ? BTW your video was very good, thanks

[@freestylette]

Mine just had air on the rear, so I left the stock ones on the front. Thanks!

[@nicolekluthe2393]

I see some places selling a 'conversion kit'. Can't I just use a factory strut for the same year of vehicle or will it not match up?

[@freestylette]

My understanding is that the mounts are not the same as the stock coil struts, so I just got the conversion kit. I suppose there is a possibility they are the same, but I didn't want to risk having to buy both.

[@dlightbo1956]

I just replaced my front and rear shocks at Firestone. They squeak worst now then before the replacement! Also there’s a loud clunking noise when going over any bump’s 2008 Expedition.

[@ilc-nl3yy]

I just bought a 2012 Expedition King Ranch with only 39k miles and I noticed clunk noise going over speed bumps too fast. Did you figure out what was causing it on yours?

[@ravinat00r]

What year is this? How do you tell if the lower control arm is adjustable or not? I’m worried about messing up the alignment. Could I outline the overlap with a sharpie and then light up the markings during replacement?

[@freestylette]

2007 was the subject vehicle. Was the same until 2015. The control arms themselves don't have much adjustment in their mounts, so you shouldn't need to worry too much about that. Although it's never a bad idea to get your alignment checked after this procedure.

[@chalinoahuesoduro5566]

What about tge front

[@looneytunes3620]

I just bought the coils and shocks for $225 each, the air ride parts and labor were over $1200 for each side, Mine is a 2008 expedition and was not worth the air ride, It feels the same when driving and very comfortable ride.

[@felixguerra5905]

U got taken

[@lorenzomata8231]

Just a question on tightening what torque did you go to on all the bolts or just as tight as you can run it down?

[@freestylette]

I'm sorry, I don't have torque specifications for these bolts. On the large ones you can tighten them quite a bit, but on some smaller and mid size ones you can and will strip the threads if you tighten too much. There are likely torque specs on the web if you wanted to do a Google search.

[@wldktz1]

Strut control arm bolt is 406 ft lbs. control arm to frame is 300 ft lbs. The three top nuts on the strut are 30 ft lbs ea.

[@chalinoahuesoduro5566]

Does the front gave to be done aswell or just tge back? Cause on mine tge front goes down too

[@freestylette]

If you have a Lincoln Navigator, it probably has them in front as well. Probably will need to change them both. Although there is a chance that it is your solenoids leaking instead of the shocks. Hard to know for sure unless you start replacing stuff though. The reason I changed mine to the spring shocks was so that I knew the repair would fix the issue. Otherwise you are just hoping to find the right problem.

[@0500AlphaWolf]

What did you use to succure the airbag level sensor

[@freestylette]

Honestly, I haven't secured them at all yet. I just moved them to the "high" setting and left them. Seems to work fine, and the pump has never turned on since the swap.

[@lincolnhamad]

Can you explain in more detail about the sensor? I did the same thing without interest. I get the message that there is always a mistake. Please help me

[@freestylette]

Just move the little arms all the way down. Occasionally a message may pop up when you hit a bump, but you can just clear it. That only happens about once a month for me.

[@bullgarage6642]

Do you have the name and brand of the new one that you put on ?

[@freestylette]

The set I got isn't available anymore on Amazon. But there is one by unity automotive on there now that appears to be the same.

[@ilc-nl3yy]

Where did you get these springs? I just bought a 2012 King Ranch with only 39k miles. How long will my current ones last?

[@freestylette]

If they took good care of the vehicle, you probably have several years left in those airbags. I found my springs on Amazon, of all places.

[@ilc-nl3yy]

@@freestylette It looks like it just rolled off the assembly line.

[@chrisgraham2904]

The original and previous owner of my 2012 Lincoln Navigator had the compressor fail and one air shock leaking at the same time. The other three air shocks were not far from needing replacement, so they made the decision to replace the air springs with coll overs. The compressor was removed from the vehicle, the air springs removed and replaced with coil overs and I don't think the air spring solenoids were reconnected, nor the electrical connectors at the air springs. I had test drove the same vehicle with the air ride system and another with the coil over springs and found very little or no ride and handling difference. My vehicle rides great with coil over springs, but there remains just one annoying problem. The in-dash information display shows the message; "Check Air Suspension System" every time the vehicle is started. The message is easily cleared by pressing the Reset button before I start driving, but I'd like to find a way to eliminate the message. Could it be as simple as repositioning and affixing the level sensors at each spring assembly or inserting a jumper into the electrical connectors to trick the system to think the vehicle is at the optimum level and not generate the message? I'm not sure what actually triggers the message to display. Any help from yourself or other commenters would be appreciated.

[@freestylette]

I'm pretty sure I cover this in the video, but what I did was to leave the leveling sensors installed on the vehicle and fasten them so that they remained in the position of fully aired up suspension. The code was never a problem after that.

[@chrisgraham2904]

@@freestyletteThanks for your reply. I've tried fully contracting and fully extending the sensors and still had the message. I guess I need to find that "sweet spot" somewhere in the middle to prevent the code. I'll re-address the issue in about 6 weeks when the 2 feet of snow is gone and I can get under there. lol.

[@qrs3658]

hi, don't they also have front air strut?

[@freestylette]

Some do, like the navigator. But some, like this one, only have air in the rear.

[@Waffle_cones]

Why did you have to remove the brakes?

[@freestylette]

Because the shock just won't quite fit if the brake rotors are still on. It almost fits, but not quite.

[@Waffle_cones]

@@freestylette i realised that just as I jacked it up i saw how tight the brake line was like "oh, that's why he undid the caliper"...

[@markthefishguy]

Just turn the pump off right?

[@freestylette]

Yeah. I share instructions in the video on how to keep the pump from running.

[@dbashortsmoreno5423]

2008 lincoln navigator .it be the same

[@freestylette]

Yes. Should be the same.

[@shanepipkin4041]

Why take air bags off?

[@freestylette]

Air bags are great! Eventually these vehicles get to a point where the whole air suspension system is wearing down and needs almost a complete overhaul. My expedition is at almost 200k miles. It's still a solid vehicle, but old enough that I'd rather not spend thousands on a repair. Thus, the option of going to coil springs. It's cheap and keeps the car on the road.

[@tremayneg]

How do you secure the rods?

[@freestylette]

Which rods do you mean? The sensor rods?

[@tremayneg]

@@freestylette yes the sensor rods. I did the job so i just reconnected them. Seems to ride fine.

[@freestylette]

Yeah, they can be reconnected, but if the vehicle is loaded down it might kick the pump on needlessly. I just set mine so they are pointing downwards, which is telling the car it has lots of air. Has worked fine for me.

[@tremayneg]

@@freestyletteit only took a 1.5 hrs but it worked. thnx for responding.

[@mtwain69]

the bolt is not a 23mm, more like a 1 1/8" on a 2008 expedition

[@Waffle_cones]

On the head of the shock bolt, it was a 27mm or1an1/16" on the nut side, it was a 30mm? or a 1an5/16"is what i used. The bolt up at the wishbone end both sides were a 1an1/16

[@Waffle_cones]

Did anyone have to turn the bottom bolt hole around to get it to straightened up right ? I haven't been able to get it straight or turn it...

[@freestylette]

I didn't have that problem once I had the top lined up right. Maybe your new shock is a bit abnormal?

[@Waffle_cones]

@@freestylette it might be. I bought the cheapest one on Amazon that had at least 4 stars. 🤔 thanks again for the video. It was just what I needed to work on my 2007 navigator. Thank you again...

[@Waffle_cones]

Can't you just hook up the hight Sensor again?, it should read about the same thing as the airbags did...

[@freestylette]

The reason you want to disconnect the sensors is because they will call for air again if you are loaded with a bunch of stuff and the car is sagging. This will cause the pump to run for nothing, and after a while it will send an error code because they aren't lifting.

[@Waffle_cones]

@@freestylette oh, ok. I noticed that when you adjusted them at the end of the video they were they very close to the same level as before you converted to struts...

[@brentbradley6711]

bad idea, put bags in

[@felixguerra5905]

Stfu mine is happening