Front Suspension Refresh List

[Vicinity]

The lincoln needs to have its front suspension refreshed. Seems that the steering instantly became compromised on the 3rd to last turn home after a couple hours of driving. There is resistance from steering and resistance from the steering return. I hear XR7-4.6's suggestion that it is often ball joints. Regardless, I'd like everything else in the front swapped out under the assumption that adjacent parts are in similar condition.

I need to start budgeting and trickling in parts in anticipation of this years EOY bonus. What parts do I need to revitalize the front? Given that its a clean undercarriage, there may be some structural steel that could be reused?

Please let me know if theres an exploded diagram or animation to help me understand where these parts are in relation to eachother. Thanks for reading

 

[theterminator93]

I've done this at least once overall, but bits at a time. It is much easier to do all at once though, that's for sure.

Lower control arms (includes bushings and ball joint)
Upper control arms (includes bushings and ball joint)
Sway bar endlinks
Sway bar bushings (measure your bar first, mine has a tiny 26mm bar!)
Strut rod bushings (do the LCA side for sure when you replace the LCAs, the frame side - I would leave them alone unless they're shot)
Tie rod ends (inner, outer)

Optionally...
Shock/spring assembly (air or coil, depending on your setup)
Wheel hubs and bearings
Brake rotors and pads

I don't have a pic handy. I can grab my FSM later if nobody beats me to it.

 

[KevinVarnes]

#1 - spindle/knuckle
#2 - wheel bearing/hub and ABS ring
#3 - upper control arm
$4 - lower control arm
#5 - lower ball joint (if you purchase a lower control arm it will have the ball joint in it, you can also replace just the ball joint, but it requires pressing the old one out and a new one in)
#6 - front shock
#7 - upper strut mount
#8 - ARC actuator (not on your car)
#9 - spring (yours has an air spring and shock so won't look exactly like this, but close)
#10 - strut rod (kind of shown in a strange position here, the other end (not shown) goes through the lower control arm)
#11 - strut rod to frame bushings
#12 = front sway bar
#13 - sway bar end link (one end attaches to the sway bar, other end attaches to the spindle/knuckle)
#14 - sway bar bushing bracket
#15 - sway bar bushing

Hope this helps some.

 

[Vicinity]

Just what I was looking for thank you! So I heard that the air springs need to be 'maintained,' what does that entail? Just swapping them out on a mileage basis?

If they fail and slam the car, it's probably stuck in the garage because the driveway slope is no joke

 

[KevinVarnes]

I don't have any experience with the Mark VIII air suspension. I know other people here have Mark VIII's that might have some input. I don't get the impression they just completely fail, but just start leaking down and require the compressor more often. I do not think direct replacements are available, but I could be wrong.

Wile E. Coyote posted a link to these a couple of months ago. No clue what kind of quality they are.

93-98 LINCOLN MARK 8 VIII AIRTEKK COILOVERS

www.airtekk.com

 

[theterminator93]

I've never heard about maintaining the air bags. The rubber dry rots over time in the same way old tires do; past a given age the rubber is just dry and brittle and prone to cracking. It might be possible to "condition" them to extend the life... but IME the only front shocks for the air suspension have shocks you wouldn't want to keep on the car more than several years anyway...

Westar and/or Arnott still make them, from what I've seen. Pricey though, usually about $250/ea. on up.

 

[Vicinity]

Do these parts have a break-in period? The handling seems to be improving over time since they were installed, but then again so is the weather