Rear end questions

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93mkviii

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Alright I know there are probably a lot answers already to my questions but I rather get new opinions and it's easier if I post all the questions I have here. My mark viii's rear end has always been very unstable. So first I'm most likely gonna get a 1 1/4 sway bar from supercoupeperformance. So the other day boom, all the sudden my rear end is dropping and it gets fully slammed in less than 3 hours of standing. I can't hear any leaks when I first get out of the car so could it be a solenoid since it was fine one day and then the next day it's dropping. More on... the rear right clucks very bad over bumps but I can't recreate it while it's standing. It's like metal hitting metal clunk... what can cause this? Also when going over bumps the rear end shakes side to side( you can feel the car shifting left and right) usually very bad when going over a bump only on the right side but when going over a bump only on the left side it's normal so it must be an issue with the right side. On highway speed it shifts also, you can feel the car shift left right left right when going in a straight line... After having all these issue i've decide on just redoing the rear end once an for all and what would you guys recommend. Sorry for the long post and i know it's alot of questions but i thought it would be easier just having it all in one post. What should I do? I want to put in everything like a rear brace(IRS), sway bar, rear subframe bushings and other bushings, new bags and solenoids but i don't have the money for everything. I changed the shock absorbers about 3 months ago. What would you guys do? What can be causing the shifting issue and clucking and what can be causing the leak? Thanks again guys.
 
whoa. lets see here..

93mkviii said:
Alright I know there are probably a lot answers already to my questions but I rather get new opinions and it's easier if I post all the questions I have here. My mark viii's rear end has always been very unstable.
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describe "unstable" slides side to side. bounces. uncontrolled wheel hop? rear toe link compensators are probably shot.


93mkviii said:
Also when going over bumps the rear end shakes side to side( you can feel the car shifting left and right) usually very bad when going over a bump only on the right side but when going over a bump only on the left side it's normal so it must be an issue with the right side. On highway speed it shifts also, you can feel the car shift left right left right when going in a straight line...
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ah. yeah. toe link compensators. or maybe some totally fubared wheel bearings. or loose lug nuts. or a loose axle nut if its ever been apart for wheel bearings.


93mkviii said:
So the other day boom, all the sudden my rear end is dropping and it gets fully slammed in less than 3 hours of standing. I can't hear any leaks when I first get out of the car so could it be a solenoid since it was fine one day and then the next day it's dropping.
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shot rear air bags. time for new ones.


93mkviii said:
the rear right clucks very bad over bumps but I can't recreate it while it's standing. It's like metal hitting metal clunk... what can cause this?
Click to expand...

dunno about that one.


93mkviii said:
So first I'm most likely gonna get a 1 1/4 sway bar from supercoupeperformance.
Click to expand...

scp is dumb. find another source. also won't fix the swaying problem.


93mkviii said:
After having all these issue i've decide on just redoing the rear end once an for all and what would you guys recommend.
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MOOG or OEM.


93mkviii said:
I changed the shock absorbers about 3 months ago.
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being new does not mean they are good, but they are probably fine.
 
Thanks, so the list goes
-Toe Compensator Link
-Rear wheel bearings (I doubt it's a loose nut)
-Rear Airbags
I've killed getting a rear sway bar since it's not the issue i guess. I'm pretty sure the clunking and sliding rear end is related though. I'll save my money where i can until I actually have extra cash for firming up the rear end... right now I just wanna get the problems fixed. I've heard rear airbags aren't a big issue to replace by yourself. Thanks for your input chris, maybe more people will have a idea of what the clunking is.
 
rear airbags are cake. 10 minutes tops. and that's having never done it before. just replace the solenoid o-rings and apply silicone grease. my car sits for weeks at a time in the dorm parking lot and won't drop a bit.
 
NoLimit95 said:
The clunking sounds like your rear shock mounts. Did you replace the rear shocks or someone else?
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Shock absorbers? I replaced them made sure they where tight but I can check them again. So it's pretty much sure that my rear bags are bad? I'm gonna take it to a mechanic to get their opinion but you guys know alot more about this car so i'll get their word and now I know now toe compensator link exist i have more knowledge...lol. If they tell me the same thing i'm gonna go buy and replace either the toe compensator or wheel bearings or whatever may be the issue (or issues).
 
93mkviii said:
Shock absorbers?
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No, the upper shock mounts. The OEM mounts need a lot of work done to them to replace with normal shocks, I'm assuming you did. Unless you bought some stainless steel mounts for the rear shocks or burned off all the old rubber from the OEM mounts, I would say the clunking sound you hear is going to be the upper mounts. It's an annoying sound and the clunk is heard while driving over the slightest little bumps in the road.
 
NoLimit95 said:
No, the upper shock mounts. The OEM mounts need a lot of work done to them to replace with normal shocks, I'm assuming you did. Unless you bought some stainless steel mounts for the rear shocks or burned off all the old rubber from the OEM mounts, I would say the clunking sound you hear is going to be the upper mounts. It's an annoying sound and the clunk is heard while driving over the slightest little bumps in the road.
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HAHA man i'm lost. You're talking about the shock mounts inside the truck of the car? Yeah the rubber was good when I replaced the shock absorbers(I did replace them with normal shocks instead of the expensive shock absorbers. I'll pull off the truck layout and check those mounts again. For now guys I'm gonna check the mounts and the toe compensator links and also try to check if the bags are leaking. Then i'm gonna take it to the mechanic get a second opinion and i'll get back to you guys and fix these issues.
 
shock mounts shocks, posssible ruptured airbag. spray the airbag with soap while and you should see some bubbles get some oem bags and call it a day. oh yea give the suspension a good shake down with the wheels off the ground.
 
yup had to do mine back in 2006 on the 93 then again in 2009 had the garbage coil conversion kit on that one.
 
The failure in the shock mount is visible from the outside not the inside
Also check your sway bar they are known to rust from the inside out and brake
 
Dude...jack the rear up, remove wheels, get camera, take pictures of EVERY joint back there, upload :) we can tell you more that way..

Other than that, you'll get a compilation of answers that will (note above replies) lead to replace EVERYTHING
 
93mkviii said:
Amazon.com: 93-98 Lincoln Mark VIII Rear Shock Mount (One): Automotive
You guys are talking about this part right?
The sway bar is a little rusty but not broken. I know the bushings for the endlinks are shot and the endlinks are a little bent from the top. I'm gonna try the soap method.
Also wouldn't this kinda of shock absorber eliminate the need for the mount?
Amazon.com: Monroe 20861 Gas-Charged Heavy Duty Shock Absorber: Automotive
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Yes. That one looks a little on the cheap side but yes, that's it.

I don't think those shocks will have any way of mounting. I bought black Monroe Sensa-Trac's and used new stainless steel mounts and the bushings that came with the shocks and haven't had one problem from them yet. Shocks were $32 each and for a 95 Thunderbird.
 
Alright, when I get back home I'll take a couple pictures and upload them. Thanks for all your help and i'll keep updating until I get this fixed.
 
Well one of the issue is that the rear upper control arm bushings are gone... the tire moves out and back once lifted. Can I just get the bushings or do i need to get the whole control arm? Since i've heard that bushings are sometimes pressed in or something.
 
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