Bye Bye air ride... Switchin to coils...

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MatthewDavid

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So I just talked to Eddie and I'm switchin over to coils... standard height... anyways is there any advice or concerns I should be aware of?... there's gonna be three guys... me and my friend are somewhat mechanically inclined... the other... he's handing us tools and fetchin the beers... but yeah I know about the lower bolts but besides that are there any hurdles we may have to jump?... thanks
 
The only hurdle I can think of is that now you will be converting a MARK VIII into a Luxury T-Bird. It might be just me, but Air Ride is so much better than Coils.....

Just my 2cents worth...good luck....
 
I always thought the air bags are what made the MarkVIII special. I wanna convert my T-Bird to them once I get money to do so.
 
Should be a pretty basic swap. I will be getting mine on friday (lowered coils)

Eddie should have complete instructions on his website.

You guys are right about the air ride, but when it starts giving you trouble I think it may be best to switch over to coils. Like Eddie said, you can replace your front air struts now & in 6 months to a year you may need the rears & then a compressor may fail as well. I'm simply going to coils so I don't end up dumping a ton of money into the air ride. Besides, it can always be put back on at a later time.
 
94m5 said:
just switched to lowering coils on the 94.


Don't let anyone tell you it's not worth it. It is.
Click to expand...

How does it sit & ride? I will find out soon, but am curious as to how it rides with the lowered coils as opposed to the air ride.
 
Really if you look for any write up on replacing the air struts the procedure will be the same.

We know replacing worn air ride with anything new makes a huge difference, thats why some say coils are better. In the end its all the same, out with old and in with new, it will be an improvement! I went all new air, could not be happier.
 
You will not regret ditching the air ride. Best mod I've done to my MKVIII yet. No more troubleshooting the air ride system and IMO I prefer the coils ride over the bags. I've got the stock height and I'd never switch back to air. My only tip is to be very careful cutting the wire that turns out the air ride message, I'm very color-blind and cut the wrong 1 the 1st time, No biggie, soldered it back together and cut the right 1. Check your control arm bushings and ball joints while you're there, no use having to do it again when you can take care of it while you're there.
 
Its not a difficult swap, should be much easier with a couple buddies. I did it totally by myself, it can be a one person job.
 
Lol XLRVIII....

If you have air tools switching over shouldn't take more than two hours if you are slow like me and clean and lubricate everything and use antiseeze like I do lol...
 
I rate the swap at 8hrs. Gotta have time to open beer after beer and first aid for all the knuckle busts ahead.
 
Hell Ya!

The way I've always looked at it is that I'm the only one working on my car... so why punish myself down the road with rusted bolts and dirty parts when I have to take it apart again.
 
the only think i miss about having an air ride is the auto leveling in the rear.
 
I didnt buy a Mark VIII over a Tbird for the air ride, I bought it for the engine!

When I'm out of college and if I decide to keep the mark, it will get a blower and new air ride, but until then, the money I save by buying coils is gonna buy me a tuner.

I'm throwing coils on this weekend, got mine from eddy too, standard height. From what I've heard, just make sure you leave enough time, and grab someone to help you. I'm counting on using a torch too.
 
A torch? for what?

I pulled apart a god awful rusty mn native 93 and didn't have to torch anything. I did find that a blunt chisel really helps to open up the spindle to upper control arm mount alowing you to pull them apart much easier with a pickle fork.
 
long breaker bar with a pipe is better, the LCA in front is cast thats not a good area to weaken it.
 
I had to use a torch to burn the rubber out of the lower front strut mount. After that I learned the joys of anti seize.
 
I've had a bunch of lincolns, mark vii's and mark viii's.

Mark VII's i've converted and Mark VII's on air.

Mark VIII i bought converted and now a Mark VIII on air.

I use to be crazy gung-ho about ditching the air springs for coil springs...i'm only 23 but maybe im getting older, the air ride now has me spoiled as its like riding on glass.

Its a beautiful system and as long as its kept up to par (dont think your coils will last forever either) its good for 100k of trouble free problems.

Everyone has different opinions and it doesnt matter what anyone says or thinks as long as your happy with your car, hey, your the one driving it.

I just cant imagine the car without it....beware however i've been in coil sprung lowered mark viii's that bottom out constantly
 
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