i wanted to know how much trouble it would be to convert my 97 mark back to air ride? when i got it this year the guy told me he converted it to springs but after looking at the cost of some of the part it seems it would have been a better idea for him to fix the air ride. about 600-700 to fix the air ride, about 500-600 to convert it to springs. im not even sure where the compressor is on my car and if it works. that would knock 150 off if its still there and working. what do you guys think about going spring back to air ride? thanks

Converting back would all depend on if the person who removed the air damaged any lines or wiring when they removed it. Best case would be that you could get a full set of bags and solenoids and just slap them in, hook em up and everything would work. Worst case would be they cut the lines and you would have a ton of work repairing everything.

What he said. Your going to have to do some research first.

I would be more worried about the lines than anything else, I can just imagine some moron who knows nothing trying to remove those airlines, After a minute or so the side cutter come out....

yea i really dont know whats under there yet. ill have to jack her up this weekend. where should the air compressor be located? is there a way if can test the compressor? im guessing, just put 12v to it see if it blow air? it seems the rear bags are easy to get but ill have to do some digging to find a set for the front..

Compresssor is in front of the passenger side front tire.
Remove the splash sheild, and look towards the front of the car.. it should be right there.

Like others said see what you have to work with. Check to see if the air lines, height sensors and compressor are still there. If so get front and rear bags and solenoids and you should be good to go. If you have to replace lines and wire in height sensors it can still be done but obviously would be more involved.

Does the car have a check air ride message when started?

no, it doesnt show any thing about the air ride sysetm when started. even when i do the system check it says air ride is ok, i was thinking it has been bypassed some how.

I'm not sure how you disable it or how it would affect the system if you go back to air ride.

It just a wire that is cut to get rid of the alert.

ok so i need to find that wire, from what i read it should be under the passenger side dash, i need to see if the air lines and electrical line have been cut or removed properly, and text the compressor. if all that is good i should just be able to simply install the new bag and shocks and should be ready to ride?? im thinking the rear should be pretty easy, but its the front im scared of.

ok so i need to find that wire, from what i read it should be under the passenger side dash, i need to see if the air lines and electrical line have been cut or removed properly, and text the compressor. if all that is good i should just be able to simply install the new bag and shocks and should be ready to ride?? im thinking the rear should be pretty easy, but its the front im scared of.

Good luck man. The rear is easy.

Be aware the nuts supplied with the arnott front struts are not the right size. Metric instead of SAE or vice versa. They go on fine but will strip out. I did the drivers side front last night. It was an original Ford unit and I had no issue. The passenger side is an older arnott unit and I cold not get one of the bolts off and the other two gave me a hard time as well. The new struts don't seem to be any different. I have to get to the hardware store and get something the right size before the new one gets striped too. Besides that the fronts aren't that hard. One bolt through the control arm and three on top.

lol thanks, i hope it works out too.
i was just reading the arnott instuctions to convert it to springs and it seems that they say to remove the ride height sensor, if mine is not on the car will that be hard to find or very costly?

Height sensors are usually on eBay for up to $25... Jamie97lsc should have some also as he's a major parts seller on eBay.

Many members have them laying around also.

The cut wire may also be behind the passenger's side kick panel.

Look to find all you need first before you start taking things off. This may be a bigger job than you think or more costly than you want.

Use bags... Up to $200 for front set up to $150 for rear...

Compressor Up to $250

3 Height Sensors - Up to $75

4 Solenoids - Up to $100

Air Ride Modulator - Up to $30

Air Lines... not sure... but a PITA..

This price list is high but in the ball park for used off eBay.

Height sensors are usually on eBay for up to $25... Jamie97lsc should have some also as he's a major parts seller on eBay.

Many members have them laying around also.

The cut wire may also be behind the passenger's side kick panel.

Look to find all you need first before you start taking things off. This may be a bigger job than you think or more costly than you want.

Use bags... Up to $200 for front set up to $150 for rear...

Compressor Up to $250

3 Height Sensors - Up to $75

4 Solenoids - Up to $100

Air Ride Modulator - Up to $30

Air Lines... not sure... but a PITA..

This price list is high but in the ball park for used off eBay.

+1 but I would not go through the trouble of redoing the air ride with used bags.

Well then the cost goes up... LOL

If you lived in TN you could just go to Eddie's and he'd help you do it.

suncore has the fronts for 159.00 and rear for 69.00 and compressor for 155.00 solenoids 15.00 and oring kit 10.00
i just will need to get the ride height sensors, if i need all 3 of them and get them for 25.00 each. total for everything 756.00. im hoping my compressor, ride height and solenoids are all there and working, then im looking at 456.00. are the suncore bags good? or should i look at another brand?

http://www.suncoreindustries.com/english-lincoln-mark-8-VIII-93-98-air-suspension.html

ok so i finaly got some spare time today and was looking around, it looks like the solenoids are there but i didnt see the ride height sensors, anyone got a pic and location of them?

ok so i finaly got some spare time today and was looking around, it looks like the solenoids are there but i didnt see the ride height sensors, anyone got a pic and location of them?

Rear height sensor is located on the drivers side of the car. Remove the wheel and you can see it. It's the thing with the scrunching boot on it, in the middle of this picture.

http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/suspension/rearsensor2.jpg

There is one on each side on the front, remove the wheels, you will see them.

http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/suspension/heightsensor-closeup.jpg

ok thanks. i was under the car last night trying to look, i know i didnt see those on the front but i didnt check the rear yet.

one more question, i checked the connector for the air ride system and didnt see anythign unplugged or any wires cut under the passenger kick panel, is there another place that the system could be disabled? when i do the system check it says air ride system is ok, so i know it has been bypassed some how.

looks like im pretty much stuck with the springs now, i just looked for the front sensors, they are not there but found something that does not look good. the lower ball that the height sensor mounts to is there and seems ok but the top side does not look good. it looks like the upper arms were changed out, there is no mounting point for the sensors on the upper arms.

Seems like your costs for the swap are getting bigger and bigger. The tbird upper arms are the same as the Mark VIII just without the sensor mount. So add ride height sensors and new upper control arms to your list. Did the airlines look intact? And the wiring for the sensors/solenoids?

yea im thinking to scrap this project now. i would now need 2 height sensors, upper arms, front bags, rear bags, 4 solenoids. and i still could not find out how the air ride was diabled. i got some pricing for the things i need so far and its already over 700. not really worth it, considering i only paid 2900 for the car. im thinking just to get another coil kit instead, i would like a factory height kit, mine seems very low now its ALWAYS rubbing when i go up drive ways.

I don't understand the logic here. The guy converted it to spring, said it would have cost the same to fix the air ride, and now you want to do it all over again?

Don't.

If you want air ride, find one with air ride.
Or, take comfort knowing that you're not going to have to walk out to your car one afternoon, at the worst possible time, and find that it's lying on it's belly, or the back or front end isn't extended to the fullest while the opposite side sits inches off the ground.

If any one component are missing, broken, or fried, the cost and ease of the conversion will increase exponentially. Those little plastic hoses that run through out the car are a pain in the rear to trace and fix/replace.

If you bought the car already, just enjoy the peace of mind.

American Air has all the parts you need to re-place your air suspension. If they clipped the air lines there is a connector that you slip on and then add more line that you can buy from Eddie. As Eddie has both the Springs and air components and has the indepth tech knowledge to help you it would be worth your while to hook up with him.

I don't understand the logic here. The guy converted it to spring, said it would have cost the same to fix the air ride, and now you want to do it all over again?

Don't.

If you want air ride, find one with air ride.
Or, take comfort knowing that you're not going to have to walk out to your car one afternoon, at the worst possible time, and find that it's lying on it's belly, or the back or front end isn't extended to the fullest while the opposite side sits inches off the ground.

If any one component are missing, broken, or fried, the cost and ease of the conversion will increase exponentially. Those little plastic hoses that run through out the car are a pain in the rear to trace and fix/replace.

If you bought the car already, just enjoy the peace of mind.

I understand the logic but at this point it sounds like it is probably easier cheaper to find another car with a good air ride system. I don't really get why people go to springs in the first place. For something you'll be doing every 10 tears or so the extra cost to keep the air ride is negligible. But to each his own.

I agree with Roadboss about American Air. Except maybe the ride height sensors. You might want to give them a call before you give up and see what Eddie can do for you.

well my logic is that the air ride is a much better ride and i dont like driving the car with lowering springs on it. so i figured if i wanted to change it i should go with the air ride. but now the total is adding up very fast im re thinking it. ill call eddie and see what he has to say about it. anyone got a number for him?

Dont get too discouraged, even though the previous owner put the wrong upper control arms on the car.. it probably wont be "too long" and you'll have to replace those parts again.

So rather than giving up.. you might just "fall back and regroup".

Start gathering parts..be patient and dont lose your focus.

we often tell people "dont trash the air ride" but to sell the car instead to prevent just this type of thing from happening.

all is not lost.. you can get thru it.. and in the end. you will be much happier with the car in it's original form as the designers intended iit to be.


I'll be glad to help you in any way I can, even if it's only moral support.