BlackIceLSC
Registered
Last week after learining how to sensor lower a Mark VIII, I decided to do mine.(94, 65k). I lowered it as far as I could without removing and re-drilling the sensor mounting bracket. Looked good, but not low enough. So, I hoisted the car on a lift, removed the R/F sensor bracket, and re-drilled it for the new position. Then, I lowered the car to "check out the difference.
Before the car was completely on the ground, I could hear the R/F air-strut start to leak HISSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
I didnt even get the car all the way on the ground yet. The tire was just at the wheel lip, so it could have gone down more, but I stopped the lift. I got soapy water, and crawled under there and sprayed it all around. Then, with a flashlight, I could see a couple cracks blowing bubbles like Bazooka Joe. "Great" I thought. Just my luck. I worried about the air ride leaking with its age, and now I really did it this time.
I lifted the car back up, and restored the suspension back to stock height, and the leak stopped(for now). My days are numbered.
I checked the L/F, and both rears, and guess what I found.... small air bubbles leaking all the way around them. Its time. I guess with 10 yr old parts, what was I expecting, a miracle?
Now, listen closely folks. Priorities. I depend on this car daily for my 100 mi round trip commute. It cant go "lame". I have to have it in "running order" all the time.
Also, I dont have the budget right now to buy 2 new front struts, 2 new rears, and notoriously, the spider valve, compressor, and dryer. I mean, if I replace the bags, I will eventually(sooner rather than later) need the components to go with it.
So, instead of cranking out near $1200 for all new equipement, I went another route.
$525 gets me a complete, 1.5" lowering kit, with progressive rate, COIL SPRING CONVERSION!
I know I will get flamed by all you "die-hard Lincoln air ride fans", but remember the key word: Priorities. Budget and reliability.
I spoke to 15+ other Mark VIII owners who went with the coil conversion, and you know what the common consensus was?
BETTER RIDE!. They all have had a "great" riding Mark before the conversion, but with springs, they have trouble-free, worry-free, smooth, not drooping, reliable, predictable cornering Mark VIII's. @ of them had less than 40k miles on their stock set up before converting, so their 'factory" ride was perfect(less the problem/leaks)
Flame me if you want, but if you had my budget, and my "needs" for the car, you might just do the same thing.
I am installing the kit today. I am keeping all of my stock components, just in case the ride is not up to my standards, so I can start saving for the original stuff, and then do a Kale-mod to get the ride height I desire.
Ok, the cat's out of the bag. I am defying the mold. Springs for me.
And before you all even think about mentioning "coil springs sag" realize this: LIFETIME WARRANTY! We all have had coil equipped cars, and I can honestly say, not one of them has developed a "sag" in its life span. The only "sprung" car I have ever owned that had spring sag, was a 1960 Mercury Comet that sat in someone's back yard with a trunk full of engine parts for 20+ years.
Just thought I would "come out of the closet" about this. I plan on taking many pics of the conversion, for anyone who has considered this.
I am excited, and since I never was a fan of the "air ride", at least now I can drive the back roads, hanging the ass-end out around a corner at 45 mph, and not worry about the air suspension doing its typical "undulation" over a minor bump in the road while driving on "the edge".
If anyone needs parts(little things, bolts, uts, sensors, wires, lines, actuator controlled rear shocks,) let me know. They will all be in boxes by the end of today.
BTW, I also sensor lowered our 95(only as far as the sensor's would slide, but not removing any bolts, or re-positioning brackets), and you know what? The ride SUCKED! It was bumpy like a mini-truck, and the shocks are all good(45k). I restored it back to the factory hieght so I wont spill any coffee all over the perfect saddle interior. How the hell do you guys drive with cars that low, without bouncing all over the road???
Never mind... I wont have to worry about that anymore!
Before the car was completely on the ground, I could hear the R/F air-strut start to leak HISSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
I didnt even get the car all the way on the ground yet. The tire was just at the wheel lip, so it could have gone down more, but I stopped the lift. I got soapy water, and crawled under there and sprayed it all around. Then, with a flashlight, I could see a couple cracks blowing bubbles like Bazooka Joe. "Great" I thought. Just my luck. I worried about the air ride leaking with its age, and now I really did it this time.
I lifted the car back up, and restored the suspension back to stock height, and the leak stopped(for now). My days are numbered.
I checked the L/F, and both rears, and guess what I found.... small air bubbles leaking all the way around them. Its time. I guess with 10 yr old parts, what was I expecting, a miracle?
Now, listen closely folks. Priorities. I depend on this car daily for my 100 mi round trip commute. It cant go "lame". I have to have it in "running order" all the time.
Also, I dont have the budget right now to buy 2 new front struts, 2 new rears, and notoriously, the spider valve, compressor, and dryer. I mean, if I replace the bags, I will eventually(sooner rather than later) need the components to go with it.
So, instead of cranking out near $1200 for all new equipement, I went another route.
$525 gets me a complete, 1.5" lowering kit, with progressive rate, COIL SPRING CONVERSION!
I know I will get flamed by all you "die-hard Lincoln air ride fans", but remember the key word: Priorities. Budget and reliability.
I spoke to 15+ other Mark VIII owners who went with the coil conversion, and you know what the common consensus was?
BETTER RIDE!. They all have had a "great" riding Mark before the conversion, but with springs, they have trouble-free, worry-free, smooth, not drooping, reliable, predictable cornering Mark VIII's. @ of them had less than 40k miles on their stock set up before converting, so their 'factory" ride was perfect(less the problem/leaks)
Flame me if you want, but if you had my budget, and my "needs" for the car, you might just do the same thing.
I am installing the kit today. I am keeping all of my stock components, just in case the ride is not up to my standards, so I can start saving for the original stuff, and then do a Kale-mod to get the ride height I desire.
Ok, the cat's out of the bag. I am defying the mold. Springs for me.
And before you all even think about mentioning "coil springs sag" realize this: LIFETIME WARRANTY! We all have had coil equipped cars, and I can honestly say, not one of them has developed a "sag" in its life span. The only "sprung" car I have ever owned that had spring sag, was a 1960 Mercury Comet that sat in someone's back yard with a trunk full of engine parts for 20+ years.
Just thought I would "come out of the closet" about this. I plan on taking many pics of the conversion, for anyone who has considered this.
I am excited, and since I never was a fan of the "air ride", at least now I can drive the back roads, hanging the ass-end out around a corner at 45 mph, and not worry about the air suspension doing its typical "undulation" over a minor bump in the road while driving on "the edge".
If anyone needs parts(little things, bolts, uts, sensors, wires, lines, actuator controlled rear shocks,) let me know. They will all be in boxes by the end of today.
BTW, I also sensor lowered our 95(only as far as the sensor's would slide, but not removing any bolts, or re-positioning brackets), and you know what? The ride SUCKED! It was bumpy like a mini-truck, and the shocks are all good(45k). I restored it back to the factory hieght so I wont spill any coffee all over the perfect saddle interior. How the hell do you guys drive with cars that low, without bouncing all over the road???
Never mind... I wont have to worry about that anymore!
[a BlackIceLSC-VP LODNCA
http://mark8.org/lodnca
94 Black/Black M8
95 Champagne/Saddle M8
http://www.markviii.org/~blackicelsc/lodcard2.JPG [/a]
http://mark8.org/lodnca
94 Black/Black M8
95 Champagne/Saddle M8
http://www.markviii.org/~blackicelsc/lodcard2.JPG [/a]