Strut/Shocks question

rickztahone

rickztahone

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please don't kill me for asking but i have searched plenty of threads about the shocks replacement but there were many that really answered the question i had. when i went to go do my a/c recharge the guy also does alignment and told me that shocks/shocks (can't remember which) need to be replaced every 50k miles. so i'm assuming i need some new ones. but then i see that the strut is the whole assembly while the shock is just the shock itself. which did he refer to? just the shocks or do i have to replace the whole strut which has the spring? if it's just the shocks, is this something i can tackle myself or do i need to take it in with some that has something to compress them? any info appreciated. here are a couple links to the items i'm describing.

http://www.lskoncepts.com/store/lincoln-ls-oem-shocks-p-86.php
shocks


http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...P040&callout=4&catalogid=1&displayCatalogid=0

strut
 
forgot to ask, can i also switch the base model ones w/ sport or euro ones? i have a Gen1 btw
 
The Lincoln LS are coil over shocks; you can replace the spring or the shock separately. There are I believe two aftermarket springs other than OEM that are used to lower. You can use any of the OEM shocks available on the 1 gen LS. There are two levels of sway bars, base, and sport, if you go to sport or euro shock I would replace the sway bar if coming from base, shock and sway bar are tuned together.

There is no hard rule about replacement mileage; all depends on the driven conditions.

As for installation I’m sure others will chime in because there are different approach and difficulty.
 
My BF and I are doing mine...

Next long weekend..
Putting in Eibachs, OEM Sports Shocks and Sway bars..
Got the eibachs at LSK
and the OEM from teamford Las Vegas..

I have another thread about other coming standard to sports upgrades...
 
He fed you some bull. Neither shocks nor struts need to be replaced every 50k miles. It might be a good idea if they haven't gone bad or blown out after 150k miles, but every 50k is just complete overkill.

Basic shock/strut inspection is simple. Look at each one for traces of oil. The shocks and struts are filled with oil, which is what makes them work the way they do. If there is any oil on the casing clean it off and see if it comes back. If it comes back within a week or so, or if the case is completely covered with oil the end seal has split or blown out and the shock/strut needs to be replaced.
 
97stscaddy said:
He fed you some bull. Neither shocks nor struts need to be replaced every 50k miles. It might be a good idea if they haven't gone bad or blown out after 150k miles, but every 50k is just complete overkill.

Basic shock/strut inspection is simple. Look at each one for traces of oil. The shocks and struts are filled with oil, which is what makes them work the way they do. If there is any oil on the casing clean it off and see if it comes back. If it comes back within a week or so, or if the case is completely covered with oil the end seal has split or blown out and the shock/strut needs to be replaced.
Click to expand...

thank you very much that was very insightful. i will do this asap. i get a creek when going over speed bumps and i've done both my ball joints and maybe this could be the cause? more than likely not but still, it's a start i guess.
 
I agree with the above statement....my LS had 102,000 miles on it when I changed my front struts. There was no oil coming from them and were actually not too bad. The reason I changed them was b/c of all the rust on the cylinder (thank you PA salt and calcium) and plus I was changing the ball joints anyways.

Mine should be good for another 100,000 since the LS will never see snow again.
 
The creaking noise could be from your sway bar bushings too, might need a little bit of oil on those. I have 121k on mine, slight amount of rust, but they're still good, and in PA as well. Our roads suck! They're maybe 5-10% softer than what they were originally, but oh well. Still takes a bend way faster than most cars can think about it!
 
I just changed me rears about 3 weeks ago. And what a difference! I had been noticing that the back end was taking longer to rebound after going over dips on the freeway and expansion joints too. Now it settles down right away. It feels like it did when I first got Her. I have 70K miles on her.
 
LEOV5 said:
I just changed me rears about 3 weeks ago. And what a difference! I had been noticing that the back end was taking longer to rebound after going over dips on the freeway and expansion joints too. Now it settles down right away. It feels like it did when I first got Her. I have 70K miles on her.
Click to expand...

you changed the shocks? which did you go with? and i'm sorry if i missed it but what was the difference between the euro and the sport shocks?
 
gcwimmer said:
Euro is firmer than sport, can be too harsh of a ride for some.
Click to expand...

thanks again, so i won't go with the euro. i have a base LS and i won't run into any problems putting the sport in right? i'm not going to do the whole strut. this is just preventative maintenance as of now
 
Again, on a Lincoln LS they are coil over shocks not struts because the LS has upper arm suspension.

Sport shock fits just like base shock; I would change the sway bars to sport so they match performance.
 
All things being equal, at 50k, your shocks front and back..are just fine. Dont believe the hype.
 
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