MN12hybrid
Active LVC Member
I looked up this info in search (before the flamethrowers get aimed at me), but I still was left with a couple of questions.
I am changing out my drivers side lower control arm on my 94 Mark 8 tomorrow morning.
I was hoping to share things about my car, and the quest I have started to restore many things on it already. I took care of several things in the interior (electrical problems) as the lack of power windows, and erratic door locks were driving me insane. I already have a bunch of leather I will be using to restore the interior and dash with, and I will make a post for that in the near future as well.
I just got the car on 5/11 and knew I had to work on the suspension, but I thought I had maybe a few months before I had to redo the front end. The car was handling horrible, pulling to the left, and jerking to the rid with the brakes, then jerking back when you let off the brakes. The car is a beast, but every time I get on the gas hard and let it wind up so I can enjoy the top end, I have to back off because the car gets so squirrely.
I pulled into a gas station the other day, and the ball joint yanked out of my lower control arm drivers side, and the wheel ended up inside the wheel well. As mad as I was, I was glad it broke there because I was about to get gas and get on the freeway.
This has happened with me in the past with my Thunderbirds, so I really should have known better. This is my first Mark 8 I have owned though, even though I have worked on these cars plenty in the past.
I am going to change out the control arm, and get the car safe to move again and then take it over to my girlfriends house so I can work on it in the driveway. I was hoping to be able to drive the car for a little while because I am not able to redo the entire front end for another month. The upper control arms need to be changed as well, along with the lower control arm on the passenger side but at least that one doesnt look like its going to break. The air shocks seem to look pretty good on this car, and they function fine. I did disable them the other day as they were about to tow the car for safety. As long as I can get through the rest of this month and part of July I will be happy since this beast is my daily driver now.
In mid July, I will be installing new upper control arms, rebuilding the lower pass side control arm, new end links, tie rod ends and steering bellows, and all the bushings get changed out, suspension line if needed and new dryer with new solenoid seals. I am going to rebuild the rear end the following month. That way at least I have the suspension out of the way and wont have to worry about that for a while.
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Some questions I have...
-- When I take apart the front end tomorrow (ill be doing this on the street), will I need to do anything to deflate the pressure on the air shock? I was thinking of pulling the solenoid which I figured it would definitely deflate all the way unless I am not correct on that. But since I dont want to change any solenoid seals (if I can avoid it), is there a better way to do this before I pull the bottom of the shock off the lower control arm?
-- Also, when I pull the nut off to release the broken ball joint from the spindle I am afraid I am going to be in for a real fight! I envision the ball joint spinning every time I try to loosen the stud nut from the spindle - If I am correct, is there anything I can do to keep that from happening? The fact that I am doing this in the street, my options are limited. If I was home I would cut it off if I needed to.
-- While I have the car apart, is there anything I can do to firm things up in the suspension other than getting expensive aftermarket bushings? I want to keep the stock air ride as long as I can, but I want to make it handle better since I will be throwing on some 18x9.5 cobra r's and 13" brakes.
I will have the control arm in my hands tomorrow at noon and the fun will begin then! I will be taking pics and I appreciate any suggestions!
Thanks!
I am changing out my drivers side lower control arm on my 94 Mark 8 tomorrow morning.
I was hoping to share things about my car, and the quest I have started to restore many things on it already. I took care of several things in the interior (electrical problems) as the lack of power windows, and erratic door locks were driving me insane. I already have a bunch of leather I will be using to restore the interior and dash with, and I will make a post for that in the near future as well.
I just got the car on 5/11 and knew I had to work on the suspension, but I thought I had maybe a few months before I had to redo the front end. The car was handling horrible, pulling to the left, and jerking to the rid with the brakes, then jerking back when you let off the brakes. The car is a beast, but every time I get on the gas hard and let it wind up so I can enjoy the top end, I have to back off because the car gets so squirrely.
I pulled into a gas station the other day, and the ball joint yanked out of my lower control arm drivers side, and the wheel ended up inside the wheel well. As mad as I was, I was glad it broke there because I was about to get gas and get on the freeway.
This has happened with me in the past with my Thunderbirds, so I really should have known better. This is my first Mark 8 I have owned though, even though I have worked on these cars plenty in the past.
I am going to change out the control arm, and get the car safe to move again and then take it over to my girlfriends house so I can work on it in the driveway. I was hoping to be able to drive the car for a little while because I am not able to redo the entire front end for another month. The upper control arms need to be changed as well, along with the lower control arm on the passenger side but at least that one doesnt look like its going to break. The air shocks seem to look pretty good on this car, and they function fine. I did disable them the other day as they were about to tow the car for safety. As long as I can get through the rest of this month and part of July I will be happy since this beast is my daily driver now.
In mid July, I will be installing new upper control arms, rebuilding the lower pass side control arm, new end links, tie rod ends and steering bellows, and all the bushings get changed out, suspension line if needed and new dryer with new solenoid seals. I am going to rebuild the rear end the following month. That way at least I have the suspension out of the way and wont have to worry about that for a while.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Some questions I have...
-- When I take apart the front end tomorrow (ill be doing this on the street), will I need to do anything to deflate the pressure on the air shock? I was thinking of pulling the solenoid which I figured it would definitely deflate all the way unless I am not correct on that. But since I dont want to change any solenoid seals (if I can avoid it), is there a better way to do this before I pull the bottom of the shock off the lower control arm?
-- Also, when I pull the nut off to release the broken ball joint from the spindle I am afraid I am going to be in for a real fight! I envision the ball joint spinning every time I try to loosen the stud nut from the spindle - If I am correct, is there anything I can do to keep that from happening? The fact that I am doing this in the street, my options are limited. If I was home I would cut it off if I needed to.
-- While I have the car apart, is there anything I can do to firm things up in the suspension other than getting expensive aftermarket bushings? I want to keep the stock air ride as long as I can, but I want to make it handle better since I will be throwing on some 18x9.5 cobra r's and 13" brakes.
I will have the control arm in my hands tomorrow at noon and the fun will begin then! I will be taking pics and I appreciate any suggestions!
Thanks!