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Auto Profile: 2002 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer
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| Learn how Ford has improved its top-selling SUV. |
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| Updated |
Mar 17, 2005 19:41:50 |
| Rating |
 23 ( -6 -26.08% ) | | Author | Phil Ruth |
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Description:
It is not often that one of the most popular vehicles in the U.S. undergoes a complete redesign. The time has come, though, for the Ford Explorer to shed its outdated mechanicals. Since 1991, the basic underpinnings of the Ford Explorer (and its twin, the Mercury Mountaineer) have remained inexorably tied to the Ford Ranger pickup on which it was originally based (See
Explorer Roots
sidebar). But the 2002 model year marks the debut of an Explorer that's new from the ground up, which comes just in time to answer last year's concerns over SUV safety (see
Rollover Controversy
sidebar). Ford hopes that the new version will replicate the segment-creating success the Explorer had enjoyed throughout the 1990s.
Suspension
The redesigned Explorer is a radical departure from the Ranger's humble roots. The new design's most significant advance is its completely new, fully independent rear suspension. Compared to the solid rear axle from the previous version, this system saves weight, calms the ride and stabilizes the handling.
Here's how it works. The rear differential - which is the center of the axle - is bolted directly to the frame. This leaves the suspension arms free to react the road surface, which keeps the tires in firmer contact with the road. Coil springs wrap around the shocks, which reduces the space required by the previous Explorer's leaf springs. In a bid to reduce weight, the thick rear sway bar is made of hollow tubing, and the upper rear suspension arms are forged aluminum rather than steel.
The new Explorer's dimensions also contribute to the improved driving experience. The vehicle's stance is 2.5 inches wider than before, and the distance between the front and rear wheels has been lengthened by two inches. The benefit? A broader footprint on a package that is similar in overall size to its predecessor. |
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