1998 Mark 8 coil spring/strut conversion kit. Does it work?

[roni14626]

Hi, I'm about to buy '98 Mark 8 that needs new suspension. Previous owner gave it up completely after the Lincoln dealer gave him $4,000 estimate for the repair. ( buy the way under some warranty the same shop did on two occasions 2 weeks appart work for over 3k and ) Now, I don't know why, but in that Lincoln store they absolutely try to convince me that this particular 1998 model can not be converted to regular suspension. The guys at Arnott Industries that make and sell the conversion kit are more than confident that their kit will do the 1998 model like on all 93-98.
Any suggestions or experiences with the 98 model conversion? Is the 98 model different somehow?
Thanks to all in advance.

 

[Roadboss]

Well, the first thing I would do is totally ignore anything that paticular dealer would tell you as it appears they have little or no knowledge what so ever. Just based on the what you've described,

Now on to the suspension, first let me tell you that a majority of us really appreciate the advanced suspension system in our cars. If you have noticed the car trends there are more and more modified and street cars getting equipped with air rides. Fortunately for us our vehicles were designed for it years ago. You will find that alot of Marks get sold for the reason you described above. This is sad as with a little knowledge there is no need for this to happen.

You obviosly found the Arnott site and you should also visit American Air Suspension site as well. Eddie has been a fixture around here because of his knowledge and service, and yes he sells some of Arnotts product, but he also sells some of his own as well. and his knowledge is much deeper than you will find at others.

Once you buy the car you ought to get back to us as maybe we can help you get the air ride working. It's not that complicated. New bags front and back, along with a new compressor and Spider Valve can add up to about $750 if you need it all, and the labor to put it in could be minimal if you have some basic tools and basic mechanical skills.

Still want conversion kit, then you may want to consider that the ride will not be the same as an air ride. Some of the fellows have installed the standard height and noticed them to sag after a while. Results may vary. There is no major difficulty in the kit install, just about the same labor as replacing the parts I mentioned above.

As a member of the site you can do some searching and I am sure you will find some write ups on both projects.

Hope this helps

 

[MindyMark]

Good answer, I'm glad you gave it as I was too tired to type all that out.

 

[XLRVIII]

95% of the mark 8's on ebay often are "spring conversion cars".

I find it odd that the sellers usually describe this as a "bonus".

I wonder why many "recent" coil conversion cars are winding up on ebay?
kinda makes you go..HMMMMMMMM

In my opinion, as a new mark 8 owner you owe it to yourself to have a fully functioning air ride system BEFORE you decide to convert to coils.

The cost difference isn't "that" much, and with a fully operational air ride system you should get 100-200K of trouble free miles out of it.

 

[BlackMark8]

Your air - ride problem can be as simple as a bad connection at the relay, Ive had that one before - Worse comes to worse you can go to your local auto salvage yard and get a used compressor for $50. Thats what I did. Now I find myself leaving the air-ride switch off, and only exercise the compressor about once a week. Car stays up, the ride is beautiful. Its disrespectful to the mark to put coils in it.

 

[FLM Fan]

Disrespectful? Please... It's a car .. and one with allot of issues.
My air ride is working perfectly and I just got the parts to convert mine because I don't want the hassle of another thing going wrong on the road.

It's a matter of choice.. the ride quality will suffer a little...maybe. But... I won't worry about being 100 miles from home when it goes "low rider" on me and slams to the ground.

I bought mine with the express purpose of modifying it.... and if you think modifying the air ride is disrespectful.. mine is a CE in mint condition.

 

[roni14626]

Thanks guys for all the replies. Well, it looks the owner was trying his best to maintained it. For 2 months period the car has been 4 times in that shop for new upper control arms, bearings, alignment, 2 compressors, something else electrical....and now to trade it in for $2,000?!

 

[Roadboss]

He just could have been going back to a place that was on the greedy side as they never got it right, as evidence as to what they told you. Upper control arms, bearings, alignments etc are all considered maintance items. For the 3K they said he spent they should have also replaced all brake rotors, rebuilt the calipers, replaced pads, drain the torque convertor and transmision, changed the tranny filter, and refilled with 14qts of Mercon V @ $5.00 /qt, and had enough left over for 4 new tires. Wow, that's more than he traded the car for. That's the car business (trade low) sell low.

DON"T DITCH THE AIR SUSPENSION

 

[Joeb6812]

I'm in the same boat as Roni, I am very tired of getting out of work and finding that the front end is on the ground, AGAIN! The ride may be comprimised but, what the ride lacks it will more than make up for in convenience. Do'nt get me wrong, air ride is awesome when it works, but can make you and your car look like a piece of junk when it does'nt. I dont know how many times I have been asked "What the hell is wrong with your car?" Then i have to explain to them about air suspension and compressors and blah blah blah.

Coil spring suspension is reliable and inexpensive to maintain. I'm gonna change over my 98 with the kit from Arnott as soon as my tax returns arrive.

Good luck on your install.

 

[Be2lose]

I understand what you are saying about reliability. I use my mark daily for work (25000 miles a year) and need it to be running, but I bought for the comfort and power.
I had a T-bird (great car), but doesnt even come close to the ride I have now. I will never even think of springs.

My vote
Keep the Air ride.

 

[driller]

Wanted: '98 CE with bad suspension.

If I found one, it would not get a coil conversion.

The best values can be had on Mark VIIIs whose owners have taken it to a dealer for a repair quote on the air suspension. They will practically give the car away afterwards. Often, after a proper diagnosis, the suspension can be repaired for a mere fraction of the cost quoted. I have seen this replay over and over.

Yes, one option is to throw the air suspension out and opt to change over to coils. But in doing so you have not necessarily taken the easier nor cheaper path. You have simply chosen to take the more conventionally understood path rather than deal with a perplexing problem in a less understood system. You are throwing hundreds of dollars of parts at the car when in reality it may only cost a fraction of the conversion cost to repair the air suspension.

Your car, your money, your decision - I respect that.

 

[XLRVIII]

reliable?
I got 200K out of my original air ride...and 197,000 miles later I have ONE leaking front bag.

IMHO 200K out of the original and 197K out of the second set SURE SEEMS reliable to me...

and I drive may car likely MORE and HARDER than 90% of all mark 8 owners.

Next components I put on my car will be air ride AGAIN!
..headed for half a million AIR RIDE MILES!

 

[XLRVIII]

You are throwing hundreds of dollars of parts at the car when in reality it may only cost a fraction of the conversion cost to repair the air suspension.

I wonder how many coil cars could have been saved if they had replaced the CHEAP relay?

I know my car has eaten a few of them over the course of almost 400K.

 

[ofc98]

Anyone out there ever have an intermittent problem w/air susp. not venting on 1 or more corners? Have replaced everything. Has code 99 on scan tool

 

[TwinTurbo MarkVIII]

I don't get it. Replacing the air suspension with coils saves you about $200.

If you have to complian about your car being on the ground when you come out, simply replace the front air bags with new ones that have the new shocks in them.

The car made it 10 years and 100,000 miles with new air parts. Replace them and enjoy another 100,000 miles and 10 years.

I would be more critical that having the air suspension provides the ability to raise and lower the car which happens to have a deleterious effect on the front suspension and steering components.

The joy I get out of having the $40 "Ray switch" (God rest his soul) and slamming the car on the ground, which tends to make people to gawk, is worth way more than the $200 I saved to convert my Lincoln into a Thunderbird.

But to each his own. I'd prefer everybody convert over to coils. Makes my Lincolns more exclusive and worth that much more.

 

[frankjc]

to each their own. i don't hink my car will be around in 10 years/100,000 miles.
i just wanted it done, and problem free. i needed a compressor and rear bags when i did mine.

 

[XLRVIII]

i needed a compressor and rear bags when i did mine.

That would have been what.. 350.00 in parts?
Cheap FIX IMHO....

but as you said.. "to each his own".

 

[frankjc]

That would have been what.. 350.00 in parts?
Cheap FIX IMHO....

but as you said.. "to each his own".

Maybe. My kit was $335. I just wanted to be done with it. There is no right or wrong answer here, and I respect your opinions.
If my car were in better shape, maybe I would have tried to keep it the way it was. I am probably getting rid of this car soon anyways....I want to find a low mile Gen II.

 

[beatupmark]

There is something to be said for the air ride on these cars. I converted my car to springs for around 40 dollars with junkyard parts. It rides (ok. just like every other sprung car) but it just doesnt have the lincoln "float" to it. One of these days when I save some more money I will put new struts and shocks in it casue it does make some banging noises. But at the time that 40 bucks in junkyard parts was basically a lifesaver for me.

 

[budpytko]

The "banging noises" is probably not the air suspension, but the bad rear shock mounts and/or the bad front upper control arms.