having trouble breathing ....

im the one with the 95 mark viii with the bad front strut and compressor.
i just called the local ford lincoln dealership to find out how much it would be for them to just install the parts ....
$1100.
nope, no way.
going to a backyard mechanic.
im going to print out instructions on how to do it and hound him while he fixes it.
im not going to let him mess up my car.
he works a bit fast, too fast to do things right which is why im going to be watching every move he makes.
anything i need to know so i can make sure its done right?

RE: having trouble breathing ....

The short version from the manual...

Spring and Shock, Front


Removal

1. Turn the air suspension switch OFF.

2. Raise vehicle on a hoist. Refer to «Section 00-02». Suspension must be at full rebound.

3. Remove tire and wheel assembly.

4. Remove air suspension height sensor (5359). Refer to «Section 04-05».

5. Remove air spring solenoid valve (5311). Refer to «Section 04-05».

6. NOTE: Do not remove front shock absorber's large center nut, as this may result in a permanent air leak through top of front spring and shock (3C098).

Remove the shock absorber housing seal (18T003) from over air spring attachments in engine compartment. Remove three nuts and shock absorber housing seal retaining three air spring studs to shock tower. Remove lower nut and bolt to detach front spring and shock from front suspension lower arm strut (3468).

7. Carefully remove air front spring and shock.

Installation

1. Install air spring solenoid valve. Refer to «Section 04-05».

2. Position and fasten three upper air spring studs through shock tower, and loosely assemble three nuts and collar. Solenoid valve socket for either spring should be oriented forward of front spring and shock.

3. Place lower end of the front spring and shock over front suspension lower arm strut arm and loosely assemble with nut and bolt.

4. Tighten three upper attachment nuts over shock tower to 23-32 N-m (17-24 lb-ft).

5. Install shock absorber housing seal over top of shock tower.

6. Connect air line and electrical connector to solenoid valve assembly. Refer to «Section 04-05».

7. Install air suspension height sensor. Refer to «Section 04-05».

8. Refill air spring.Refer to «Section 04-05».

9. Replace tire and wheel assembly. Tighten lug nuts (1012) to 115-142 N-m (85-105 lb-ft).

10. Position the vehicle on an alignment rack.

11. Neutralize the front suspension bushings by pushing down, then releasing the front of the vehicle.

12. Tighten the lower shock absorber nut to 170-230 N-m (199-243 lb-ft).

________________________________________

Air Compressor and Drier Assembly


Removal

1. Remove front bumper cover (17D957) as outlined in «Section 01-19».

2. NOTE: Air compressor and compressor air drier (5346) assembly is located ahead of the front RH wheel. It may be convenient to service the solid state relay and the four air line connections by disassembling and carefully bending back the forward section of the RH front fender apron (16054).

Remove evaporative emissions canister (EVAP canister) (9D653) as outlined in «Section 03-13».

3. Disconnect electrical connector for compressor motor, located on front face of compressor bracket.

4. Disconnect solid state relay connector, located on outboard face of compressor bracket.

5. Disconnect four air lines from compressor air drier as outlined.

6. Disconnect wiring harness and front LH air line clip from rear face of compressor bracket.

7. Remove two lower screws retaining bracket to body.

8. Remove upper screw retaining top of compressor bracket to body.

9. Remove air compressor assembly.

10. Detach air intake hose from top of compressor head.

11. Remove screws attaching noise attenuator from front face of compressor bracket and remove attenuator.

Installation

1. Position noise attenuator and install two screws attaching noise attenuator to the front face of the compressor bracket.

2. Firmly attach air intake hose into compressor head.

3. Place compressor and compressor air drier assembly in position on the body. The assembly hook at top of bracket can be utilized as an aid to hang assembly on body while next step is performed.

4. Align two lower compressor bracket bolt holes with corresponding holes on the body and retain with two screws.

5. Attach top of air compressor bracket to body mounted U-nut. Make sure that metal portion of upper bracket is not in contact with body. This will limit noise/vibration transmitted through body.

6. Connect wiring harness and LH front air line clips into rear face of the compressor.

7. Connect four air lines into four quick connect fittings of the compressor air drier. Each air line can be connected to any of the four fittings, since fittings are connected to the same compressor air drier chamber.

8. Connect solid state relay and compressor motor power connectors to the wiring harness.

9. Install evaporative emissions canister to outboard face of the bracket.

10. NOTE: It may be convenient to perform any required diagnostic test before front bumper cover is installed.

Install front bumper cover as outlined in «Section 01-19».

Hope this helps.

RE: having trouble breathing ....

Check out what I wrote here, also, about the bottom bolt.

http://www.lincolnsclub.org/forum/d...opic_id=2497&mesg_id=2497&listing_type=search

Also, when you are ready to remove the selonoid, there will be a clip in place to lock it. Remove the clip, twist selonoid once about an eigth of a turn (if air is still in lines there will be a whoosh), raise selonoid slightly and twist again and remove. If you receive new o-rings, put a new one on. Reverse procedure on new strut.

As for the compressor, go ahead and remove the air silencer (and just leave it out, it restricts air flow anyway) the air silencer is bigger than you think, it frees up a lot of room. It is attached by three bolts under the air cleaner container. Remove the air cleaner and you will see a 3 inch hole in the fender, the three bolts are around this hole in the fender. Once it's wrangled out, the compressor is right there in front of you. Four bolts and a very stubborn electrical connector (on the far side with very little play in the car harness). When you remove the air lines, you need to push in on the little orange rings as you pull on the line. If the line has hardened, it can be very frustrating to remove. If you need to, clip off the lines flush with the orange rings IF you have spare line to plug into new compressor. If you clip, make sure to re-round the line ends(where they were squashed flat when clipped) before inserting into new compressor.

Jeff