4-Wheel coil conversion, front too soft; Spring rubbers?

[LensWork]

I had my '94 Mark VIII converted to coils last week, and while the rear is firm, the front feels too soft to me. I got the 4-wheel conversion from Eddie at American Air Suspension with the Sensatrac rear shocks.

I am wondering if spring rubbers can be added to the front springs to stiffen them up a bit, something like these: http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/item.asp?id=1149&catid=5

Does anyone else feel the front is too soft, and what have you done to stiffen it?

 

[Sapperfire]

I usually just rub it...stiffens right up...my failure us not using rubbers

I recommend Eibach springs tho...awesome ride- for a spring setup. ALMOST as good as air, actually, IMO it's better, cuz my springs will never leak

 

[zmt325]

this is what you need

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2009/01/product-review-addco-manufacturing-sway-bars/

 

[lincolnboy]

Yeah. AAS sux it on the strut/coil. Sap idea is better. My first set was so bad I returned them and got another set. That set was only a stiffy for bout 2 months. some or all their struts are supposely reman struts.

 

[Myco]

After using the regular ride height springs and having a very bad ' boat effect ' I went to lowered struts which were completely different. I've just put back on regular ride height springs with Tokico struts all the way around and the ride is just amazing. Very very close to air bag.. drives 'like a lincoln' again. Very pleased.

I got the shocks from Gman who got them off a junkyard mark so I have no idea what brand they are. ;-/

But, I was telling Gman this worry I had that I would have the boating effect because most of these shocks; from what I know, are made for the thunderbird which is 500~ lbs lighter. So... ida know. Good to know these things you linked are out there though.

 

[slowmkviii]

Where do you get the idea the t-bird is 500lbs lighter
I believe a fully loaded V-8 bird was actually a little heavier than
the mark

 

[LensWork]

I have tried calling Strutmasters to inquire if they have a solution for the "floating" of the front (left three messages over the last week for their tech dept), but they have not yet called me back.

 

[Lownslowlsc]

Tokico blues solve that problem(300ish). I'd just buy springs new/used and get the 4 wheel shock kit minus springs off ebay. All said and done for under 500..

I believe that'll work.

 

[LensWork]

Tokico blues solve that problem(350ish). I'd just buy springs new/used and get the 4 wheel shock kit minus springs off ebay. All said and done for under 500..

I believe that'll work.

While I appreciate your suggestion, and it affirms that perhaps I purchased an inferior product, unfortunately your solution is not viable for me. I have already invested $825 in the Strutmaster kit and installation, and I am looking for a (relatively inexpensive) solution to remedy the situation without starting starting all over from scratch.

 

[Sapperfire]

I have tried calling Strutmasters to inquire if they have a solution for the "floating" of the front (left three messages over the last week for their tech dept), but they have not yet called me back.

Strutmasters are the cheapest spring you can buy...

It's like..how good do you think sex is gonna be with a .50 whore?

Please grab a Muscle mustang and Fast Ford magazine...get the number for Eibach, order a set of springs from THEM!!! I wanna hurry up and hear a happy ending FFS!

 

[LensWork]

Strutmasters finally called me back. After speaking with them, measuring the ride height and sending them pictures, their response was that there was nothing apparently defective, just the float was normal for their front struts.

Any suggestions for improved struts, without spending a ton of cash? (manufacturer model/part numbers would be helpful). When I do a search by year/make/model on the various strut manufacturer's web sites, no results are returned as I am sure that there is no direct reference to front struts for a Mark VIII with coils up front.

EDIT: I called Tokico, and while they did not have a reference to a direct replacement for a Mark VIII with coils, I was given the part number HE3667 as one that might work. These are the Tokico HP series (blue) that sbcaprice305 mentioned, but they are only $42.50 each (not that I am complaining), that is a long way from the $350 that sbcaprice305 mentioned.

Does anyone know if Tokico HE3667 is the correct part number for a direct replacement to the Strutmasters struts that came in their coil kit?

 

[Lownslowlsc]

While I appreciate your suggestion, and it affirms that perhaps I purchased an inferior product, unfortunately your solution is not viable for me. I have already invested $825 in the Strutmaster kit and installation, and I am looking for a (relatively inexpensive) solution to remedy the situation without starting starting all over from scratch.

My bad, didn't catch that..

 

[Sapperfire]

Order Tokicos and Springs for a 96 Thunderbird.

If you are using STRUTMASTER springs it's GOING to be bouncy! I have them on my 93! I have Tokicos/Eibachs on my 98

Tokicos/Eibach RULE !!

 

[DFlaJax]

Good info! I bought my Gen2 LSC with a Strutmasters kit installed, and it has rode like a boat from day one. I installed some Sensatrac shocks in back which did nothing to improve ride. So what's a good link or search for the Addco install? And if there's a vendor here for the struts & springs recommended, I'd like to throw them some business.

 

[Sapperfire]

http://www.andysautosport.com/lowering_springs/ford_thunderbird.html

 

[GMAN]

I guess I don't see or feel what you guys are describing with Strutmaster springs. My CE already came with the springs on it, and the ride although is nothing lik an air ride, is adequate and quite comfortable. I don't have a boat/bouncy/float affect.

 

[slowmkviii]

Stop driving like a granny and you'll know

 

[Myco]

Strutmasters finally called me back. After speaking with them, measuring the ride height and sending them pictures, their response was that there was nothing apparently defective, just the float was normal for their front struts.

Any suggestions for improved struts, without spending a ton of cash? (manufacturer model/part numbers would be helpful). When I do a search by year/make/model on the various strut manufacturer's web sites, no results are returned as I am sure that there is no direct reference to front struts for a Mark VIII with coils up front.

EDIT: I called Tokico, and while they did not have a reference to a direct replacement for a Mark VIII with coils, I was given the part number HE3667 as one that might work. These are the Tokico HP series (blue) that sbcaprice305 mentioned, but they are only $42.50 each (not that I am complaining), that is a long way from the $350 that sbcaprice305 mentioned.

Does anyone know if Tokico HE3667 is the correct part number for a direct replacement to the Strutmasters struts that came in their coil kit?

I am reading this part number off the box for the tokico blues. I got them off amazon for 160~ shipped (for a pair).

Tokico Sticker
TOK-HU3689

These will def. work. The other part number I think is an amazon part number and it is TOHU3689.

 

[Lownslowlsc]

EDIT: I called Tokico, and while they did not have a reference to a direct replacement for a Mark VIII with coils, I was given the part number HE3667 as one that might work. These are the Tokico HP series (blue) that sbcaprice305 mentioned, but they are only $42.50 each (not that I am complaining), that is a long way from the $350 that sbcaprice305 mentioned.

Does anyone know if Tokico HE3667 is the correct part number for a direct replacement to the Strutmasters struts that came in their coil kit?

Sue me, that was the price I found after brief search. And btw I said 300ish.....

fronts: hu3689
rears:he3690

I've been looking around and the best deal I can find for f+r is 265 shipped. 80ish shipped for each front and 55 shipped per rear. Do some research. Use "thunderbird tokico" and the part numbers above to help you out on the search.

 

[Myco]

I have one 'used' tokico front I'd like to sell. It has about 10k on it. When I replaced the shocks the shop stripped the top of one strut so I had to buy a new pair.

I'd do 40$ shipped for it.

 

[lincolnboy]

I guess I don't see or feel what you guys are describing with Strutmaster springs. My CE already came with the springs on it, and the ride although is nothing lik an air ride, is adequate and quite comfortable. I don't have a boat/bouncy/float affect.

Wonder if springs and struts are from AAS.

 

[Dave 88 LSC]

I must say. You guys have it easy. An aftermarket setup might work on good roads. But in my case. When I got my 98 LSC a year ago it came with Arnott struts, brand new.
I live in NYC. So our roads are bad, very bad at times. Long story short, I switched from Arnott struts to used OEM struts to cure some of the harshness and rattling I was getting with those aftermarket struts and I must say. My car rides like a Lincoln now.

Bottom line is, would I want to own a Jag XJS with a Chevy 350 in it? NO
Would I want to own a Lincoln Mark VIII with no air suspension? NO

Air ride is a very simple system if you understand it.


Either way, good luck!

 

[Lownslowlsc]

I prob woulda kept mine had it not been such a pain in my ass shortly after I bought it. I bought a "good" used set of arnott bags(first mistake) all around and I obv wasted money on them. After that I was pissed enough to say f you to the air ride and the a-hole that ripped me off. Got a new lowered kit locally for 275 and have been problem free for almost 3 years.