You will find on this site that this subject tears us apart. Those that abide by the air ride, those that have converted & loved it. I have yet to hear of anyone that has converted & hated it though.
[url]http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=83323[/URL]
This is just one of many threads where people are bitching about their conversion. Now can you have a good conversion? Sure...but these simple kits out here ain't the answer. Those that have them can say they are but in reality, it's bullchit. You have to get the right shocks, the right springs and then you might have the exact ride "you" want. Then after 10 years, how well do you think those springs and shocks are going to hold up. They too will wear out, just like an OEM air shock would. This isn't aimed at you Alex, this goes for everyone that converts over and thinks they have escaped the air ride dilema. Well, maybe you did but you didn't escape the spring that will weaken. The shocks that will end up failing. You're gonna have to buy more sooner or later. A conversion is not a lifetime fix! The only thing someone can say that has converted is "I don't have to worry about my air ride failing anymore" and yes, that's right. I just bought new air shocks and I can say that I don't have to worry about them failing for at or around 15 years. Are those springs and shocks going to make it for 15 years? I highly doubt it. "The few" with the bad ass Koni's in the front..... They don't make them anymore. What are you going to do when their shot? Ain't no lifetime warranty on something that is discontinued. This is why I have bought new Motorcraft air shocks. I have seen first hand how long they last and the rears last even longer, or most do anyway. I'm getting new rears and already have new fronts and going to get a spare compressor from Eddie, just in case. I think I'll be more than set for the life of that car. The only other thing that can really fail is the air tubing itself and there is no shortage of that. Air ride module. I have another one of those, maybe two.
I'm just saying, I had the 94 with original air on it and it didn't start leaking in the front till late 2009 and then it was gone for good in Jan 2010. That's 15 years of air ride service that car provided. The rear never failed!
The current 95 had Gen 2 air shocks from a 97 I believe, maybe a 98, so that's 14 years of air ride service one air bag gave. The other one was fine and had no cracks. I don't know how they were treated before I got them but I do know how I'll treat mine now. I even sent the good one off to a member here and I guarantee he gets at least two years or more out of it and if he see's this thread, he will verify what I'm saying.
When I see a Mark for sale and I see that it's had a conversion done on it, I turn the page. To me, it's not a Mark VIII anymore. Might look like one but it don't ride like one. Anyone on here that has seriously installed new Motorcraft air shocks can not say anything bad about them, except they cost them a little bit of money that they didn't like spending. I'm doing it twice in the front but one set will be put away in the closet. Rears will only be bought once. Compressor from Eddie will be bought once. The one I have now is from him and only 2 1/2 years old, going on 3 and I bet I out last all of the converted cars on here, just on this one set of air shocks, compressor and rear bags.
Nearly all of you have seen how long and original air shock will last. Do I have this correct? It varies between 13 to 17 years and you know this. Gen 1 air shocks suck anyway but they lasted.
You have ibach springs that people swear by, bilstein shocks, Koni, Monroe front kits, a couple with the Koni kits (discontinued) Tokico shocks and all these other brands that you can put together to get a good ride, or what you consider a good ride and if that's what you like, I'm all for it. Your money and your car and the same goes for me, it was my money and it's my car. Koni has discontinued what's supposed to be what a lot of people want on here, for a reason. Some of the others will also do the same and so will Motorcraft. They have already stopped making them. I thought 2008 was the last year but I did get one that was made in 2010. So really idk if they have even quit making them yet.
All I'm saying is that everyone doesn't need to assume that converting once was a lifetime decision. Sorry for the book but just telling it like I see it. Nothing lasts forever but a Motorcraft air shock lasts for 15 years. Seen it first hand personally and I see it on here. Proof enough for me.
