Posting Guidelines Support this site


THE Lincoln Mark VIII Message Board

Subject: "Need HELP on front suspension..." Archived thread - Read only
    Previous Topic | Next Topic
Printer-friendly copy     Email this topic to a friend    
Conferences Suspension Topic #2131
Reading Topic #2131
gordo8868
Member since Nov-20-03
25 posts		 Nov-25-03, 09:44 PM (EST)
Click to EMail gordo8868 Click to send private message to gordo8868 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
"Need HELP on front suspension..."
 
   Got the bad news today from my local Lincoln dealer. They said the front shocks are bad, which I knew because the front end was sagging after sitting all night, but he says the tech told him the compressor is "noisy" and that it should be done along with the dryer and relay, plus a 4 wheel alignment to boot, all in all, just under $2K to get the front done, DAMN IT! My question is, do I really need to do all of that or should I do the front shocks myself, it doesn't seem to difficlut and I ordered the 2nd gen one from fordpartsnetwork today and watch the compressor to see. What do you all think is best. I'm not going to put $2K out, if that's the case I will convert to non-air suspension, by the way, they did say the rear suspension was fine, looked very good was their words. So, what is best to do. I am leaning to just doing the front shocks and see what happens to the compressor and dryer and relay. A little help from you guys would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone is in the Riverside/San Diego area and knows a good mechanic to work on my VIII, please let me know. Thanks in advance, G...


  Printer-friendly page | Top
callouieadmin
Charter Member
5586 posts		 Nov-25-03, 10:09 PM (EST)
Click to EMail callouie Click to send private message to callouie Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list Click to send message via ICQ  
1. "RE: Need HELP on front suspension..."
In response to message #0
 
   Well, you're on the right track. $2k for what you described is not all that uncommon, from a dealership. The investment you made in the front struts is most of the cost, if you do it yourself. I think a few folks have had them installed for maybe $75-150, total. If you're particularly lucky or caught it early, your compressor and related parts *might* be ok, but some testing after you install the new parts should reveal any other parts that need replacing. If you need a new part, then Eddie (BLUECOLLAR) should be able to help you out with a quality, fairly priced rebuilt unit.

For the record, the alignment shouldn't need to be done after replacing the front struts, they don't affect the alignment, esp if you carefully mark the sensor position and set the height to the same place it was at.

Calvin Louie
94 Mark VIII - Dark Portofino Blue/Portofino Blue


  Printer-friendly page | Top
MonoPed
Charter Member
264 posts		 Nov-25-03, 11:22 PM (EST)
Click to EMail MonoPed Click to send private message to MonoPed Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
2. "RE: Need HELP on front suspension..."
In response to message #0
 
You already have the struts? Good. If you are mechanically inclined in the least, you will find the swap straight forward, and reletively easy. Maybe Eddie (American Air Suspensions) can give ya some info on the compressor and dryer swap.

Brian Fowler
1995 Mark VIII base
Garnet Red Glaze/Saddle


  Printer-friendly page | Top
gordo8868
Member since Nov-20-03
25 posts		 Nov-25-03, 11:33 PM (EST)
Click to EMail gordo8868 Click to send private message to gordo8868 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
3. "RE: Need HELP on front suspension..."
In response to message #2
 
   I ordered the struts today. I just purchased my VIII last Sunday, Nov 16th, I have no idea how long the frontend has been acting the way it is now. My hope is that I have caught it soon enough to save any further problems with the frontend. Hopefully I can find a shop to put the struts in, I'm not sure I can do it myself.


  Printer-friendly page | Top
drgnfrmteam
Charter Member
1483 posts		 Nov-26-03, 08:01 AM (EST)
Click to EMail drgnfrm Click to send private message to drgnfrm Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list Click to send message via AOL IM  
4. "RE: Need HELP on front suspension..."
In response to message #3
 
If you can use regular hand tools you can change your struts....>TRUST ME....many ppl here have said the exact same thing you have, but have been able to do most of the work themselves following ppls directions.....like mine HERE! for the struts.......mine does not have pix...but THIS one has pix and tools necessary. You can do it!!!! It only takes like MAYBE an hour per side (and that is pushing it as far as time is concerned) even if you have no mechanical skills it can be done in under an hour each side. Hope that helps......good luck.


Check profile for upgrades!
Webshots of da AssassinVIIIor
Cardomain of da AssassinVIIIor
Da AssassinVIIIor website

  Printer-friendly page | Top
dirty old manteam
Member since Oct-22-02
419 posts		 Nov-26-03, 08:50 AM (EST)
Click to EMail dirty%20old%20man Click to send private message to dirty%20old%20man Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
5. "RE: Need HELP on front suspension..."
In response to message #4
 
   I agree with all that has been said about the ease of self installation, by those above. When I did mine, I went ahead and installed upper control arm/ball joint assy., lower ball joints, sway bar links, and replaced all rubber bushings with MN12 poly-graphite. So it was quite a bit more involved.

But to just change out air struts is an easy, quick job.

All I would add is to install Eddie's Spider Valve at the same time or as early as practical. While you're doing this you can change the fuel filter and get rid of the air intake silencer so that you can reach the dryer and compressor thru the wheel well instead of having to remove front bumper cover.

With the Spider Valve installed, if you have a compressor failure while away from home, you can raise the car back up with gas station air and make it home OK.

dirty old man


  Printer-friendly page | Top

Conferences | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic