Shock mounts - and ride control

[Kevin]

Have verified that it is worn shock mounts in the rear that are causing noise.

I have a package of poly-bushings for shocks, and will use them. Safe to do so?

Have also noticed that this car has the ride control shocks (a 93-94 feature). Is there a way to lock them on 'firm' setting, and toss the actuators? Marshmallow ride doesn't appeal - not that I notice ANY difference between 'firm' and soft anyways - presuming they even work!

 

[kustomizingkid]

I would suggest getting new shocks for a Thunderbird and just ditching those actuators while you are at it...

I'm going to put some KYB's on my car cause I have a mount that is starting to clunk...

 

[XLRVIII]

Have verified that it is worn shock mounts in the rear that are causing noise.

I have a package of poly-bushings for shocks, and will use them. Safe to do so?

Have also noticed that this car has the ride control shocks (a 93-94 feature). Is there a way to lock them on 'firm' setting, and toss the actuators? Marshmallow ride doesn't appeal - not that I notice ANY difference between 'firm' and soft anyways - presuming they even work!

the actuators aren't for "firm or marshmellow ride".
the actuators are there to decrease "brake dive" by increasing the dampening under braking to keep the rear of the car from jacking up.

they were omitted in later years, probably because they didn't work worth a crap

 

[wood_e]

I have a new pair of SensaTracs for the rear - PM me if you want them!

 

[kustomizingkid]

Just an FYI, if you do have those shocks and are torching out the rear K frame and you go to cut the shock shafts they WILL explode due to the shaft being hollow.

 

[Kevin]

Nah, no torches here - an angle grinder is my favorite busted part remover though .

WoodE - thanks for the offer, shipping+brokerage would kill me. Have a parts store on my route where I get his cost, will spec out some shocks for it - AND new mounts I guess.

Those actuators don't flip on in corners? My XR7 had them on all 4 corners, and there's a button to turn "Firm Ride" off/on. Figured it was the same shock setup.

Bunch of fancy nonsense anyways - too the garbage pile it goes.

 

[Stangman]

So wait a minute... let me get this straight... '93 and '94 have special shocks???

Great one more thing to add, cuz mine are bad too.

Any special way to replace them?

 

[wood_e]

^ to my knowledge the actuators doesn't really do much - especially with worn shocks.

I wouldn't replace them - just replace the shocks and you should be good to go.

 

[mespock]

So wait a minute... let me get this straight... '93 and '94 have special shocks???

Great one more thing to add, cuz mine are bad too.

Any special way to replace them?

No you do not need special shocks - replace them with Thunderbird shocks ... I usually ask for 96 T-Bird shocks.

 

[Stangman]

what is special about '96 bird shocks?

BTW, love the quote in your sig... good movie..

 

[mespock]

Nothing it's just the year I use and get the right shocks..

Thanks when I heard that in the movie I just had to put it in...

 

[kustomizingkid]

Don't buy new mounts either... take you old broken mounts and burn all the rubber off them. Then use the supplied bushings that come with the Thunderbird shocks to mount the new ones... no more clunks.

 

[Kevin]

Ah, that last reply really helped Kid, I don't think my shocks are bad at all - doing the bounce test on it, and general ride conditions - it's just the rubber mounts are bad. No idea how old the shocks are, but the actuators are still on top.

I looked at it again today (trunk view, not underneath), and thought I could get away with just putting new bushings in top+bottom, providing the metal of the bracket was still good (which it should be).

Already have poly-bushings on hand, will attempt tomorrow .