Bags or Springs?

97MarkJA

97MarkJA

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Last fall when I put the Mark away I notice the front bags had started to leak down over a period of 2 weeks or so, I picked the car up last weekend and have been getting her cleaned up in the garage. What was taking 2 weeks last fall now takes about 2 days.
My air ride works perfect, that being said it is all original with 99k on the car. Its due for new bags or switch to springs. I'd only buy OEM front bags so I'm trying to weigh the cost here as I'm sure it will need a compressor next.
I've noticed some members that switch to springs saying they plan on going back to air.
From those of you that have springs I'd like to hear how the springs ride and perform?
My car is sensor lowered now with 18's, 45 series in the front and 40 series in the back so it rides more like a mustang than a lincoln with the air ride now.
Thoughts?
 
one of the nicest things about the air ride IMO is that you can set your hight. i would go back to bags. just my $.02
 
I never had a 100% perfect air ride in my mark but switched to the 1.5" kit cuase i was sick of dealing with it. But i'd do the oem air if you have money, primarily the fronts. Anott rears are fine.

If its a dd you might want to concider the coil conv to not run the risk of something happening and having the car down for xx amount of time.

^^^x2 on the adj options on the air. You cant set your ideal hieght f+r with coils. My rear is about 1/2-3/4" lower then the front, i don't like it.I'd like it even or the front 1/2" lower.
 
I have the 1.5" lowered springs. I like the feel of the springs better. I know this is an unpopular stance to take.. but I feel more connected to the road.
The Mark is not my DD.. in fact it goes to shows and cruise-ins and that's it. Maybe if I had to drive it all the time I'd want the air ride.. but for now, I really like the springs.
 
Mine has I think stock 1993 bag and leaks down in 5-6 hours. I have all new (lightly used) air struts and bags ready to go in. I don't really care I come out car is slammed and looks dam cool.Ricers pay big money for this look! LOL Pumps right up and stays up the whole time while driving around. Plus like mentioned you can set your ride height. Raped Ape pulled his springs saying he didn't like them.
 
I switched to coil springs, and if I had the money, I'd put the air back in. I miss it. Mine worked perfectly until the compressor went. I figured I'd try springs. I wish I just got the compressor.
 
Well I'be read all the threads and looked at the vogtland springs. I think by the time I piece together all the mounting hardware and buy springs I could rebuild the entire air ride. My air ride works perfect minus the leak down over a couple days. My suspension is brand new poly all the way around including swaybar bushings/links. It handles great in the turns with the tires I have on it.
I think I will go for OEM front air springs and go from there.
Thanks for the input.
 
I'm going to try to put on my arnott coil kit this weekend as I cannot afford the air ride. My kids need the money more than the mark does, and then maybe next year I can upgrade to votglands and tokico blues.
 
97MarkJA said:
Well I'be read all the threads and looked at the vogtland springs. I think by the time I piece together all the mounting hardware and buy springs I could rebuild the entire air ride. My air ride works perfect minus the leak down over a couple days. My suspension is brand new poly all the way around including swaybar bushings/links. It handles great in the turns with the tires I have on it.
I think I will go for OEM front air springs and go from there.
Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...

Good choice, bags for sure.
 
Since I bought my 97 (1.5" lowered strutmaster springs) I've been able to compare air vs coils each day. :)

If I had a choice, I'd stick with air. The springs seem rougher over bumpy roads, and it does seem to bounce a bit more. I haven't noticed a big difference on a smooth expressway though.

Also, I recently made one of my Module 8's plug and play, I can't unplug it from my black car and put it in the 97.:(
 
I have as I mentioned earlier that the spring setup by normal standard comparison to air ride is weak. Weak in cornering stability, speed bump rear bounce and rebound. In my honest opinion, the Strut Master coils are soft and weak for this sled ride, too forgiving.

I do though like the worry free setup with coil as it will not slam overnight or daily.

I am indeed though going to experiment with the Vogtland lowering springs I found on-line averaging around $225.00-$250.00. And going with Bilstein rear shocks, and still maintaining the Strut Master front Strut, just swapping out the coil-over. And I will try my hands at the stiffeners like k-member bracing and sub-frame connections. I would like and desire a performance stiff ride over plush old man comfort. So when my surgery is over, that is my first task at hand.
 
The springs I found were around 530. But I didn't search for very long, I may take another look.
 
I see where Raped Ape was getting the price from, springs only. Which isn't to bad.
 
I have a Gen 2 on Lowering Springs and I have a Gen 2 on Air Still.

The Gen 2 on Springs has Eibach 1.5" lowering springs with tokico blues up front. I feel more connected to the road cornering and under acceleration than I do with my Gen 2 on Air.

The Gen 2 on air however glides down the road and I love the smoothness of the ride. Keep in mind it isn't lowered and is at stock height, so once it's lowered and I drop the center of gravity 1.5" or so, It may have the same feel as my Gen 2 on springs, which is what I've heard from several members here.

I'm an engineer, so I always lean towards the system that's less complex and has the least amount of parts in the system for everyday use. However it is hard to beat the ride of a perfect operating air ride car.
 
bags, I converted my first one and swore I'd never do it again
 
switch to springs once, felt too " bouncy", wouldn't do it again

maintaining the air ride is expensive, but if i wanted simple and cheap, i would have bought a focus!
 
1LoudLS said:
switch to springs once, felt too " bouncy", wouldn't do it again

maintaining the air ride is expensive, but if i wanted simple and cheap, i would have bought a focus!
Click to expand...

Best Reply on here! Awesome!
 
And if you think about it, converting to coils could be almost as expensive to maintain as air ride. Your shocks are gonna wear out. And when they do, it's a whole sh!tpile easier to replace an air spring/shock than a coil-over shock!! I had a '93 T-Bird Sport with the 302 V-8 about a decade ago. When the front shocks wore out and it was time to replace them, it cost me about $400 bucks for the shocks and labor to install them. I didn't have a spring compressor, or I would have done it myself and saved a lot of money. But that's about how much I paid for a brand new set of Arnott front air spring/shocks for my car a couple of years ago. And it took me one hour to install them. I love air ride!!!
 
This is what I come out to every morning. Love the look. LOL

000_1172.jpg
 
I know. All my friends say ,dam car looks hot that way. I took that pic just for your thread today.
 
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