Verdict is in: Car handles like a boat

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RedHotMark96

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I'm getting sick of the boat like handling on the Mark, my mothers freelander feels like it handles better.

So my first question is will I notice any difference once I pull out the old leaky air suspension and put the new coil springs (stock height) in? If so, how much difference?

I already have 17x7.5" wheels with BF Goodrich g-force sport tires (great traction, can stomp it with TC off and not a squeak from them) but it still feels too much like my grand marquis. I live in MI so lowering is a no-go.
After the coils and tires, i guess the next step is sway bars. Seems like people here like the addco's 1 1/8" and 1 1/4". How big is the difference?
From the people that have them, how much do they help? and how much harsher does the ride get? Is it harsher than the stock setup on a smaller car?
 
meh, we took 3 mark 8's to the autocross.
they put us in the RWD modified class against a 68 stingray corvette.
We finished 1st 2nd and 4th and the vette EEKED into third by .1 of a second.

try installing the "driver mod" and remember go fast.. by slowing down.

P.S. we all had stock factory air ride
 
How wide are your tires? My BFG's made a huge difference. I have those and a rear shock tower brace and took it to the Tail of the Dragon and had a blast, still have body roll, but once I get sway bars I know it'll ride on rails. Don't have experience with coils, but the bags really aren't that bad.
 
I have the rear bar coming sometime this week according to addco, I will let you know my 98 seems to have a lot more body roll then my 93 although the 93 was sensor lowered and the 98 isnt yet. It does handle like crap and thats why I sprung for the rear bar.

If i remember correctly when i sensor lowerd the 93 It made a huge difference. I wouldnt go with springs until you try sensor lowering it. I liked the feel of my friends on the 1.5 lowered coils but I havent driven that car in 2 years which was before I did anything to the 93 I had.
 
jbird97 said:
How wide are your tires? My BFG's made a huge difference. I have those and a rear shock tower brace and took it to the Tail of the Dragon and had a blast, still have body roll, but once I get sway bars I know it'll ride on rails. Don't have experience with coils, but the bags really aren't that bad.
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off topic, but where'd you get the shock tower brace? fabbed?
 
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have a friend who went with one of those 399 dollar coil kits, and it feels like a milk truck-I understand why he did it, he was having all kinds of problems with the air ride and it is his DD, so he went with dependable-if your air system is alright, or you just need bags, you'll be happier if you mess around with some lowering and keep it-just my opinion.
 
mikemark8 said:
have a friend who went with one of those 399 dollar coil kits, and it feels like a milk truck-I understand why he did it, he was having all kinds of problems with the air ride and it is his DD..
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Same here, I know of two mark 8 guys that have springs that now want to "go back to air"..and they wasted 400 dollars on springs that would have been 80% of the cost fixing the air ride.
 
Well If I keep the car past college, its going back to the air ride and gettin a blower. I've already bought the coils, but from what I read on here it seems like there isn't much of a handling difference vs the air ride, and most people dont have trouble with them.

My tires are only 225s, but they hook good. jbird where did you get the rear shock tower brace?
 
MonsterMark said:
They guys that went coil really don't want to admit they made a mistake.
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and the cars quietly sell off on ebay, and the users generally evaporate.

This isn't a 100% blanket statement, but I have seen it happen quite a few times...

and then there are those are in "denial" and pride wont allow them to prevent someone else from making the same mistake.
 
I went with front coils and they were the worst mistake i made. They ride stiff as hell, mine made noise. I replaced them with all new air bags, think about it. replacing the air ride that just wore out after 13 years of abuse, if my cheap arrnot bags last half as long ill be happy, and my mark will be long gone. they are 580 bucks for all around air bags you don't need much to put them in, the back ones clip in, geez louise. i never worked on a car and all 4 can be easily done in a day, and i know nothing about cars. spend the 600 and go with air, you wont regret it.

(No one likes coil compressors.)
 
Just because the bags don't leak doesn't mean the hydraulic strut isn't shot. Personally I like the air suspension and going to coils isn't going to do much for you except you have a bigger selection of struts available. Going with Koni's say may help you out some but they are not cheap. I would recommend the 1 1/8" rear sway bar, new front struts and shocks in the back. IMHO the 1 1/4" is a little big unless you have a good amount of experiance with at the limit driving or are doing a front bar to match. Buy new rear bags won't do anything for you unless they are leaking now.
 
Rich88LSC said:
Just because the bags don't leak doesn't mean the hydraulic strut isn't shot. .
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Rich hit the key right there.

a coil conversion will sometimes improve a mark 8's handling because it's literally replacing a 150-200K completely shot suspension.

With that said, either will give you a crappy ride if the hydraulic portion of the strut is worn out.
 
MonsterMark said:
They guys that went coil really don't want to admit they made a mistake.
Click to expand...

I'm in denial.. I love my coils on my 94..... 1.5 lowered.. rides fine for me... no air ride head aches.. On my 93 standard height.. rides nice..

Air Ride is fine until it starts to go... but there is nothing wrong with the conversions...
 
Mark VIII against Vette Issue

As I make my way to work along some twisty, deer infested back roads I sometimes drive my '97 Mark and sometimes drive my '91 Corvette. I set the cruise at 65 mph and let them rip. There is a set of switchbacks where I never have to take the Lincoln by the horns but have to keep the Vette on the road. The Mark has the 225-60-16 in place with 275-40-17 on the Vette. I think a lot of this is caused by the suspension on the Vette being so stiff it can start getting sideways with the least little bump and the Lincoln absorbing some of the road bumps and keeping the tires in contact. My air ride has 164,000 on it and it still works great. The car "settled" very little over the 10 days I left it sitting while we were on vacation. The pump in this one makes much less noise than the pump in my Town Car.
 
RedHotMark96 said:
Seems like people here like the addco's 1 1/8" and 1 1/4". How big is the difference?
From the people that have them, how much do they help? and how much harsher does the ride get? Is it harsher than the stock setup on a smaller car?
Click to expand...


I have..

--factory air suspension

--lowered pretty low

--18's with 274 40's

--Poly front bushings

--Rear 1 1/4 addco sway bar -with shorter bolts so it's leveled out after being lowered- (Like it definately SHOULD be) And poly bushings..

--No front sway bar

And the car will slide before it rolls through a corner. Yet I have yet to slide when not extensively on the gas. It handles better than a dream. Anybody can say this, but, if you had a ride in my car, you would understand. Your body is against the door before the car rolls at all.

I personally would never have a set of coils on a mark viii. The air has many advantages that most people probably don't fathom before they rip the air out. Coils are less maintenance, but air's not much less IF maintained properly, and the benefits are wonderful. Nobody can say coils handle better.. many road and track tests have proved that air handles as well as anything.
 
i got my car with 52K.....my air ride was shot by 60K. well it started to go, front leaked, and the compressor was noisy as hell........out the window it went, couldnt be happier.




:p
 
I guess my friend sums it up best-he changed the air to coils, and admits it's stiff, and the car is now subject to disadvantages when loaded with extra riders or junk in the trunk-

"It's my daily driver, and I spent a lot of money and time chasing down problems with the air ride-I just got frustrated getting rides from bud's or my gf to go places, getting to and from work was a pain-I actually took the bus/train, while my mark sat, slammed, at home. Put the coils on, forget about it, done."-

I do not like it as much as my air ride, and I hear noises in his car that I never hear in mine. Mine is not a daily driver, so I understand. I will also try to keep mine air, it is a better all around ride IMO.
 
Hmm, There isnt much I can say in regards to this topic except I do not own a coiled car/truck. I just love that with air, you can adjust the ride to what you feel like, from a cushy boat to a sports coupe.
 
For those asking about the Rear Shock Tower Brace, picked mine up from Rod on TCCoA. http://forums.tccoa.com/showthread.php?t=109173&highlight=rear+shock+tower+brace
It takes a little modification because of how the shocks bolt in, but not that big of a deal. I'm actually supposed to take pics and measurements for him so he can make ones that will go straight into a Mark VIII, I just keep forgetting...
 
Rich88LSC said:
Just because the bags don't leak doesn't mean the hydraulic strut isn't shot. Personally I like the air suspension and going to coils isn't going to do much for you except you have a bigger selection of struts available. Going with Koni's say may help you out some but they are not cheap. I would recommend the 1 1/8" rear sway bar, new front struts and shocks in the back. IMHO the 1 1/4" is a little big unless you have a good amount of experiance with at the limit driving or are doing a front bar to match. Buy new rear bags won't do anything for you unless they are leaking now.
Click to expand...


is it possible to replace the strut without the bag, or is it internal. I did my reat shocks cause they were shot but my front end is still a bit thunky. I love the air tho... when this goes im replacing it with more air!
 
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