OMG! These cars are really getting to me!!!

UltimateSVT

UltimateSVT

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Miami, FL(Home of the rust free MARK VIII's
Last night when I'm about to leave a local restaurant I start the car & hear a hissing. I walk back outside & the front is on the ground. The hissing is LOUD! Coming from the general compressor area. I turn the switch off & drove home. Early this afternoon I started working on the issue. I run the compressor with the fender cover off & notice the air hissing is coming from where all 4 lines meet at the drier. I move the hoses around & hear the hissing change while I play with the lines. I decide to replace the whole thing with a spare "NEW" Arnott compressor/drier that I had in my shed as shown below. I cut the lines to get a clean tip & install all the lines on the new compressor! NOTHING! The bastard is still on the ground! Also, both passenger wheels stayed stuck inside the fenders when I lifted the car. First time this has happened to the suspension! Usually as I jack up the car the wheels hang there but not this time!

What on earth could be causing the hissing(constant loss of air), I cut about an inch from each line so that if there were any leaks on the tips I would get rid of them but it's the same!


Old compressor
COMPRESSOR1.jpg


New Compressor
compressor2.jpg


Sitting slammed! Jack stuck under the car
SLAMMED.jpg
 
try swapping the dryer only.
maybe the old one cracked or something?
if the old pump is still good, put the new dryer on and that will get you going again.

although. it looks good tucking those wheels like that!
 
You must be sure that you cut the lines absolutely square and also be sure there is no burr on the ID or OD. Be sure also that the rubber "O" ring is seated properly in the dryer, and that you are pushing the tubing hard against it. You may have to jack the front end up a couple inches in order to get the sensors extended some. Both wheels at the same time.
 
Go X-15 Go said:
A real headache if the system fails, but I still don't want to convert to springs. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I always said I would NEVER convert to springs but I'm unemployed, broke & this is my DD. I need reliability & a FAST fix. My bags are old (front ones have slow leaks, solenoids are old, lines are old & honestly I don't have the money to fix it knowing it will go bad again in 2 months. I'm tired of patching up the suspension issues.

chris2523 said:
try swapping the dryer only.
maybe the old one cracked or something?
if the old pump is still good, put the new dryer on and that will get you going again.

although. it looks good tucking those wheels like that!
Click to expand...

I didnt mention that last night but my last resort was exactly that. I swapped the drier onto the old compressor, it does the same exact thing!

I have to agree, I like the way it looks tucked but man the exhaust scrapes almost everywhere & the entire car scrapes on the gate rail right behind the car in the picture.

Roadboss said:
You must be sure that you cut the lines absolutely square and also be sure there is no burr on the ID or OD. Be sure also that the rubber "O" ring is seated properly in the dryer, and that you are pushing the tubing hard against it. You may have to jack the front end up a couple inches in order to get the sensors extended some. Both wheels at the same time.
Click to expand...

O ring is sitting perfect, I'm going to jack up the car today. I know I should've helped it by jacking it up a bit. Only thing I'm worried about is that the wheels stay tucked into the fenders. I will try to pull them down as the compressor runs.
 
chris2523 said:
double gross. scp AND springs. no thanks.
Click to expand...

You say that now, wait until you're broke, and you can't drive cuz your precious air bags are flat

And that wasn't an "hey buy these from SCP" that was just the top in the search for Springs..so I just grabbed that one, there's cheaper springs and (better companies?)
 
I agree 100% if I was cash strapped I would most likely put springs in. Then you could look for work and not worry about being stuck, or slammed in our cases.
 
There's nothin that says you can't just unplug the compressor, put springs in...save all the GOOD air stuffs, save money, buy what you need to fix air stuff later... This at least let's you USE your car in the mean time

But in all seriousness... Ask any respectable mechanic.. And they pretty much all agree...air ride is the dumb

And for anyone who wants to argue that...when's the last time you saw a Train engineer changing a flat on the tracks?
 
what about semi trucks and trailers with air bags? ever seen one of them changing an air bag on the side of the road? i have not.
 
You all seem to hate air cause of reliability but 2 months
Ago I was at my work parking lot helping fix a co-workers
UN DRIVABLE camery cause a front spring broke came off the
perch and cut the tire.
But according to you guys springs don't fail haha.
 
Um FYI springs fail ALL the time. Just like mentioned many a times I have seen broken springs punching hole in tire. Every other Escort I have worked on has broken rear springs.
 
A broken spring is rare...very rare...but on a focus it's like a twisted paper clip....a spring designed for a MN12 chassis is a BIT beefier, I've had springs on my 93 for about 8 years, previous owner was my step dad... And they haven't broken yet, nor do they even look old..

Do whatever you want to your Mark, I personally don't care... My springs will never make my car look like it's dropping a deuce in my driveway.
 
i had so many problems with the air, and cost was becoming an issue i put the coil overs and shocks in in my friends garage in 2.5 hours, the ride feels good to me, no more problems, priceless.
 
Sapperfire said:
You say that now, wait until you're broke, and you can't drive cuz your precious air bags are flat

And that wasn't an "hey buy these from SCP" that was just the top in the search for Springs..so I just grabbed that one, there's cheaper springs and (better companies?)
Click to expand...

Right on the Mark said:
I agree 100% if I was cash strapped I would most likely put springs in. Then you could look for work and not worry about being stuck, or slammed in our cases.
Click to expand...

That's the biggest problem! I'M STUCK at home because my ride is NOT reliable.

Sapperfire said:
There's nothin that says you can't just unplug the compressor, put springs in...save all the GOOD air stuffs, save money, buy what you need to fix air stuff later... This at least let's you USE your car in the mean time
Click to expand...
That is EXACTLY what I am thinking about doing. Junk yard T-Bird find & install it on my car.

Sapperfire said:
A broken spring is rare...very rare...
Click to expand...

In all sincerity a broken spring is unheard of. It may happen but thats 1 in 10,000 cars! If I had the money I would purchase EVERYTHING new on the air ride & thats it, no worries for 5 years! After all, the air ride is what sets these cars apart from the rest. However thats not the case, as mentioned earlier, I'm broke! Springs are much more dependable than air. I am an air ride guy but deep inside we all It's the truth, we all know it. Otherwise these cars would be worth 3x's as much. These cars lost their value because of their unreliable air ride. Anyhow, tomorrow I will continue working on it, try to save the air but I doubt it will happen. I may have to switch over to springs for now leaving the compressor & lines in place then switching back to air when I'm good & ready!
 
When you guys are saying broken springs are rare are you talking about a certain car or cars in general? And also do you work in the auto field?
 
They must be talking about certain cars cause nearly every
Mn12 I have worked on with stock springs at least one if not both of the fronts are broken
this is only one example
 
Right on the Mark said:
When you guys are saying broken springs are rare are you talking about a certain car or cars in general? And also do you work in the auto field?
Click to expand...

I've worked as an automotive tech in three Chevy dealerships in New England; two in MA, and one in RI and the only time I have seen broken springs, is on older vehicles, and they have rusted through and broken.
 
I live in NH and have seen more then I can remember Escort rear spring broken. Also taurus front spring this is the one that came to me with shreaded front tire from spring. I don't recall any chevy broken springs. Hmm Chevy did springs right!
 
Check the lines where they enter the body structure. I've seen them chafe in that area.


Ill NEVER go back to springs. The ride quality is HORRID.

But then again, my Konis can give me either characteristic with a knob twist.
 
I worked in the automotive field for 20 years and the only broken springs I have seen are either on trucks or 4 x 4s.
 
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