I just wanted to introduce my self, I just bought a 97 base mark viii, I seem to have a leak on my rear airbags though, the car sags overnight. any suggestions, thanks all help greatly appreciated.

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Nice. Probably a leak. One can get Arnott for the rears, just dont get that brand for fronts! $190 on eBay shipped for the pair. Pretty darn easy to swap the new ones in.

And welcome aboard!

Contact Eddie Spinks at American Air Suspensions ... He's also a member of this site.

Best guy around and will treat you right. Go to Eddie!!!

thanks for everyones help, just also wanted to ask where I can buy the control to lower my car. thanks

thanks for everyones help, just also wanted to ask where I can buy the control to lower my car. thanks

Don't know anything about it. I'm sprung. Check this site..

http://www.module8.net/

Thats exactly what i needed thanks.

A non lsc collectors edition cordovan extriour? Werent those only offered on the ce's?

In 98, yes, only LSC and CE but in 97 is was an open color.

Decent car, sucks that the headlight lenses don't match, don't really care for the pinstripe on the trunk. Honestly, I don't really care for any of the pinstripe. It just doesn't seem to follow the lines of the car.

i agree the headlight and the pin striping are the number 1 priority after I fix the airbags, I don't like the gold stripping thank god its only a stick on and not painted on. thanks for everyones feedback.

i agree the headlight and the pin striping are the number 1 priority after I fix the airbags, I don't like the gold stripping thank god its only a stick on and not painted on. thanks for everyones feedback.

Go to any parts store on ask for a stripe eraser. Eraser on a wheel you chuck into drill motor. Easy to use, clean access glue off with pre cleano. Just did my 93.

Nice Mark. I love that color.

Is it me or does your car look too high?

I'd make sure that the air ride is working properly before installing the Module though. A spider valve works well with the Module too.

I've got those modules on both of my Marks and I think they're great.

The front end looked a bit high. But its running so that may be why. I think I am used to seeing more photos when the car is vented to park height. I almost wonder if that is the reason for Ford to have the car lower when parked, just for appearance.

Nice Mark. I love that color.

Is it me or does your car look too high?

I'd make sure that the air ride is working properly before installing the Module though. A spider valve works well with the Module too.

I've got those modules on both of my Marks and I think they're great.


It seem like it was higher to me too. the car actually always sits higher in the front than the rear even when the engine is off. . Any suggestions on what I can start checking, or how i can deflate the system and let it build back up?

The front should appear a little higher than the rear. I think Bill might have have measurements? Best quick way to check is to look at the rocker panels and how level they are with the ground.

I will do that tomorrow, I know that when i turn the car on the air system always turns on and lifts up the back about 1/2 an inch, it doesn't Sag all the way down in the rear at night but it does sag about a 1/2 inch I will test the bags for leakage this week. Thanks for the help.

Yup, the car does lift up. It also vents down when parked, there is a park height and a ride height. The park height is also the same as the highway height which is reached if you are over 45 for more than 30 or 60 seconds or when you hit 55 right away.

I will do that tomorrow, I know that when i turn the car on the air system always turns on and lifts up the back about 1/2 an inch, it doesn't Sag all the way down in the rear at night but it does sag about a 1/2 inch I will test the bags for leakage this week. Thanks for the help.

Sounds to me like the front bags aren't venting. You said that the back will go down a small amount (sounds like parking height for the back), if the front isn't moving at all, and it also seems like it's a little higher, I think I would check the air solenoids for the front bags. They could be sticking shut.

I've got the specs from my 94 service manual. They might be a little different than the Gen 2, but it should give you an idea if there is a problem. They might just need to be adjusted.

Measure after the car is parked and has vented to parked height. Measure from the bottom edge of the wheel to the wheel well lip.

Front: 24 1/2 inches, +/- 1/4 inch
Rear: 24 1/4 inches +/- 1/4 inch

If you think there might be a venting problem, run the self test at the end of this article:

http://www.markviii.org/psjs_faqs/04051030.shtml

It seem like it was higher to me too. the car actually always sits higher in the front than the rear even when the engine is off. . Any suggestions on what I can start checking, or how i can deflate the system and let it build back up?

You can deflate each one of the bags by twisting the air solenoid in it's socket about 1/8 of a turn. The air in the bag is gonna rush out, so don't be surprised by it. It's gonna be pretty loud. I would pull it the rest of the way out, so you can check to make sure the o-rings stayed in their grooves. They always seems to move whenever I let the air out of the bags--probably just because of all the air rushing by.

Thanks for the help guys, I have notice that sometimes on the freeway the car does squat a little bit but doesnt do it all the time. if i let the car sit for more than two days then The back end sinks completely, the front never seems to move though, I will check the solenoids this weekend.

i have a good idea..leave the switch off and drive it....SLAMMED :D

then again,you will tear things up...but it looks cool!

Sounds to me like the front bags aren't venting. You said that the back will go down a small amount (sounds like parking height for the back), if the front isn't moving at all, and it also seems like it's a little higher, I think I would check the air solenoids for the front bags. They could be sticking shut.

How do I check to see if the solenoids are stuck?

the front is not venting at all, Does any one know what are the best solinoid for the front airbags?

If you have any part of the air ride system isn't working, it tends to make all the other parts of it over compensate in funny ways.

Are you sure your front isn't venting at all? Is the back not venting either?
When you shut the car off and get out, do you hear it vent at all?

If the vent solenoid, a component built into the compressor assembly, is bad, you have a few options:

1. Buy a rebuilt compressor, preferrable from American Air Suspension because they are the best.

2. But a satellite vent solenoid, also from American Air Suspension, because he's the only person to actually develop this product. If you live in a high moisture environment, like I do in Florida, it's a must have.

3. Throw in the towel on the air ride system, buy the coil spring conversion, and be done with the whole thing. You lose ride quality and novelty- but in exchange you get better handling, less aggravation and maintenance, and you can buy a set that already comes lowered. American Air also can provide these too.

I've spent a lot of money on my air ride system since buying the car. If I knew then, what I know now, I'm not sure if I wouldn't have just bought coil springs back when I first started replacing components. Because, it adds up, FAST. Fortunately, it's not difficult work to do because auto shops charge a fortune if their even willing to work on it. Many of them don't even want to get involved with it.

If you have any part of the air ride system isn't working, it tends to make all the other parts of it over compensate in funny ways.

Are you sure your front isn't venting at all? Is the back not venting either?
When you shut the car off and get out, do you hear it vent at all?

If the vent solenoid, a component built into the compressor assembly, is bad, you have a few options:

1. Buy a rebuilt compressor, preferrable from American Air Suspension because they are the best.

2. But a satellite vent solenoid, also from American Air Suspension, because he's the only person to actually develop this product. If you live in a high moisture environment, like I do in Florida, it's a must have.

3. Throw in the towel on the air ride system, buy the coil spring conversion, and be done with the whole thing. You lose ride quality and novelty- but in exchange you get better handling, less aggravation and maintenance, and you can buy a set that already comes lowered. American Air also can provide these too.

I've spent a lot of money on my air ride system since buying the car. If I knew then, what I know now, I'm not sure if I wouldn't have just bought coil springs back when I first started replacing components. Because, it adds up, FAST. Fortunately, it's not difficult work to do because auto shops charge a fortune if their even willing to work on it. Many of them don't even want to get involved with it.


The rear seems to vent fine, I do know the rear bags need replacing because when i bought the car the rear of the car was completely dropped, while the front was sitting high. Today I notice that when i turn the car off, the front does vend down but it Imeidiatly goes back up to the driving position. So I thing It may be a problem with the front Air solenoids, as for throwing in the towel on the air ride, I will pass on that one, I've heard this cars never ride the same on shocks and spring conversions. I like the smoothness of the bag system.