94 mark clunking down the road...recently converted

[jrm94mark8]

So I converted my air ride to coil springs last April. I initially felt improvement and while it wasn't perfect I thought it would soften up more. Well, I'm really unhappy with the ride. When I hit a patch of bumps it really can be harsh, clunking etc. The suspension doesn't feel like it's absorbing anything.

Last Jan. I replaced the right upper control arm (F7LZ3084AA), 2 front stabilizer links (F3LY5K484A) and the rear shocks. I recall this helping some but really wasn't happy - hence the coil conversion this past April. I had replaced the left upper control arm within the last 3 or 4 years and I know at I had at least one other repair job on the front suspension performed during this time. (I can't recall exactly what and can't locate the receipt at the moment).

So I have a few questions-

1. I honestly can't recall how this car is supposed really ride. I know the coil isn't stock but every time I ride in a newer car (say within 5 years old) I noticed how the car really absorbs the bumps whereas my Mark just rattles and clunks over them. Am I crazy but shouldn't the car not clunk and rattle?

2. What else might be going on? Lower arms, ball joints???

I really love this car and want to keep it for a long time. I have 100K and prob put 5 or 6K per year on it so it's got plenty of life in it. I am getting really frustrated though.

Thanks for any info, this forum has always been a huge help to me.

Thanks-

 

[driller]

All I know is I had my front end 'rebuilt' with new ball joints, control arms, bushings, etc... at a cost of about $800 and the difference was night and day.

 

[Roadboss]

Strut rod bushings, stabilizer rod bushings, and lower control arms are the only items left, and as follow up to Driller, all these new parts make the front end handle as it should----new.

 

[draygon]

Likewise, conversion has turned the ride into a buckboard. Just pushing down on the rear or front at idle, it sways up and down, get no absorption from the suspension at all.

 

[billcu]

Welcome draygon.

Have you replaced your rear shocks yet? I've heard some people have noticed a bad ride when they converted to coils, but it was improved when they put new rear shocks in.