signs that shocks/springs are worn? - GrandMarq.NET

1990LTD · 02-09-2010, 12:13 AM

My car is sagging a bit, more than it should, I think. Is this a case of "if you have to ask if they're bad, they're bad"? There are times when it very slightly bottoms out in the front driver side and it seems to respond to bumps/dips for too long after the fact.

I'm going with aft wagon springs/shocks and probably cop shocks/springs in the front, FWIW

1987cp · 02-09-2010, 07:42 AM

Springs: sagging.

Shocks: boinging and frequent bottoming.

If you find the overall stance and ride height to be acceptable, I'd just drop the $80ish on new shocks all around and see how you like it. Doesn't take a fancy shock to net an improvement over a set that are shot, and Gabriel's "premium" model, the Ultra, is only about US$20 a corner IIRC.

**gadget73** · 02-09-2010, 05:27 PM

The shocks you can check with the bounce test. Push down on the corner of the car and let go. If it bounces more than once, they're probably done. Visual inspection for oil leaks is also a valid check. Springs you'd ideally have to check by measuring from the bottom of the bumper to level ground, and comparing it to the measurements in the shop manual for that. If they're original though, chances are they've sagged some.

GM_Guy · 02-09-2010, 06:49 PM

Worn out springs will act like worn shocks. Especially notcable after you replace shocks and the ride doesn't improve much.

If your hitting the bumpstops, I'd say it is time for new springs.

Alex.

1990LTD · 02-09-2010, 06:55 PM

I don't know much about suspension, are shocks/springs ideally replaced at the same time? If I could buy new shocks now and save a few bucks for good wagon/cop springs, that would be most excellent.

**gadget73** · 02-09-2010, 10:35 PM

few people replace the springs, just because it requires a decent amount of dissasembly, and frankly its kind of a pain in the ass. Shocks are a piece of cake to replace by comparison.

1990LTD · 02-10-2010, 12:39 AM

cool. I will do as suggested and replace the shocks with the KYB gr-2 whatchamacallits. If things don't improve much, I'll go for some springs

99SLVRSTRK · 02-10-2010, 05:41 PM

I don't know if it's just the GrandMarquis suspension. But when taking a long corner let's say on an interchange; I have to drop speed or it feels as if I'm in a plane about to do a barrel roll. I've about had it . Gonna get some new rear springs(thats's where most of the roll comes from) maybe moog cargo springs

91grandmarquis · 02-10-2010, 07:52 PM

^ that would be your vehicle saying "Easy there Burt Reynolds I ain't no Trans Am"

Try some stiffer springs and a rear sway bar.

1987cp · 02-10-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91grandmarquis

^ that would be your vehicle saying "Easy there Burt Reynolds I ain't no Trans Am"

Try some stiffer springs and a rear sway bar.

.... not knowing anything about the particular vehicle in question, it's also possible it was equipped with a smallish front swaybar and/or is badly in need of sway bar bushing/endlink replacement.

Piece-it pete · 02-18-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99SLVRSTRK

... Gonna get some new rear springs(thats's where most of the roll comes from) maybe moog cargo springs

The Moog cargos did wonders for body roll on the 2 or 3 I've used them on :yes:

Pete

mercman1951 · 02-26-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99SLVRSTRK

I don't know if it's just the GrandMarquis suspension. But when taking a long corner let's say on an interchange; I have to drop speed or it feels as if I'm in a plane about to do a barrel roll. I've about had it . Gonna get some new rear springs(thats's where most of the roll comes from) maybe moog cargo springs

You do realize that is just the way the car is, right? Even when brand new...these aren't racecars...and were never known for their superior handling characteristics around twisties without some work.

cld783 · 02-27-2010, 01:07 AM

when you shoot sparks from underneath the oil pan..

86GmLsCoupe · 02-28-2010, 01:41 AM

Sway bar seems to make a nice improvement in handling and I only added the smaller one on mine. In terms of springs, I'm not entirely sure of when they're due for replacement. My car has the original ones in and there is no noticeable sag. I have KYB's up front and coil over's in the rear.

02-09-2010, 12:13 AM	#1
1990LTD driving like an old man since 2001 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 3,864	signs that shocks/springs are worn? My car is sagging a bit, more than it should, I think. Is this a case of "if you have to ask if they're bad, they're bad"? There are times when it very slightly bottoms out in the front driver side and it seems to respond to bumps/dips for too long after the fact. I'm going with aft wagon springs/shocks and probably cop shocks/springs in the front, FWIW __________________ - 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria P72 - the mothership w/ 5.0 EFI - AOD & 3.08 rear (3G swap/GMQ dash/Stern blinker mod/"mini" starter/KYB cop shocks/2.25" catless duals with Magnaflows) - Daily. soon: H.O intake/throttle body/injectors/ecu/cobra cam, rear sway bar

02-09-2010, 07:42 AM	#2
1987cp Irish-American Dingo Whacker and Certifiable Retrogrouch Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 13,417	Springs: sagging. Shocks: boinging and frequent bottoming. If you find the overall stance and ride height to be acceptable, I'd just drop the $80ish on new shocks all around and see how you like it. Doesn't take a fancy shock to net an improvement over a set that are shot, and Gabriel's "premium" model, the Ultra, is only about US$20 a corner IIRC. __________________ Last edited by 1987cp; 02-09-2010 at 07:44 AM.

02-09-2010, 05:27 PM	#3
gadget73 small engines suck Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18,251	The shocks you can check with the bounce test. Push down on the corner of the car and let go. If it bounces more than once, they're probably done. Visual inspection for oil leaks is also a valid check. Springs you'd ideally have to check by measuring from the bottom of the bumper to level ground, and comparing it to the measurements in the shop manual for that. If they're original though, chances are they've sagged some. __________________ 86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica). Drivetrain: 5.0 HO, Explorer cam, FMS 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley, SuperCoupe stall converter Suspension: Bridgestone Protenza G019 225/60/16 on LSC turbines, 1 3/16" wagon front bar, 1" PI rear bar, cargo coils, KYB GR-2 front shocks, F150 rear air shocks, big front brakes, ES poly front suspension bushings, 00 CVPI steering box, ES poly body mounts, rear disc brakes 91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC SE, triple black (Timewarp) - poly front bushings, KYB struts and shocks.

02-09-2010, 06:55 PM	#5
1990LTD driving like an old man since 2001 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 3,864	I don't know much about suspension, are shocks/springs ideally replaced at the same time? If I could buy new shocks now and save a few bucks for good wagon/cop springs, that would be most excellent. __________________ - 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria P72 - the mothership w/ 5.0 EFI - AOD & 3.08 rear (3G swap/GMQ dash/Stern blinker mod/"mini" starter/KYB cop shocks/2.25" catless duals with Magnaflows) - Daily. soon: H.O intake/throttle body/injectors/ecu/cobra cam, rear sway bar

02-09-2010, 10:35 PM	#6
gadget73 small engines suck Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18,251	few people replace the springs, just because it requires a decent amount of dissasembly, and frankly its kind of a pain in the ass. Shocks are a piece of cake to replace by comparison. __________________ 86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica). Drivetrain: 5.0 HO, Explorer cam, FMS 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley, SuperCoupe stall converter Suspension: Bridgestone Protenza G019 225/60/16 on LSC turbines, 1 3/16" wagon front bar, 1" PI rear bar, cargo coils, KYB GR-2 front shocks, F150 rear air shocks, big front brakes, ES poly front suspension bushings, 00 CVPI steering box, ES poly body mounts, rear disc brakes 91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC SE, triple black (Timewarp) - poly front bushings, KYB struts and shocks.

02-09-2010, 06:49 PM	#4
GM_Guy Stow It! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 437	Worn out springs will act like worn shocks. Especially notcable after you replace shocks and the ride doesn't improve much. If your hitting the bumpstops, I'd say it is time for new springs. Alex.

02-10-2010, 12:39 AM	#7
1990LTD driving like an old man since 2001 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 3,864	cool. I will do as suggested and replace the shocks with the KYB gr-2 whatchamacallits. If things don't improve much, I'll go for some springs __________________ - 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria P72 - the mothership w/ 5.0 EFI - AOD & 3.08 rear (3G swap/GMQ dash/Stern blinker mod/"mini" starter/KYB cop shocks/2.25" catless duals with Magnaflows) - Daily. soon: H.O intake/throttle body/injectors/ecu/cobra cam, rear sway bar Last edited by 1990LTD; 02-10-2010 at 12:47 AM.

02-10-2010, 05:41 PM	#8
99SLVRSTRK NorCal Redneck Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: northern cal. Posts: 1	I don't know if it's just the GrandMarquis suspension. But when taking a long corner let's say on an interchange; I have to drop speed or it feels as if I'm in a plane about to do a barrel roll. I've about had it . Gonna get some new rear springs(thats's where most of the roll comes from) maybe moog cargo springs

02-10-2010, 07:52 PM	#9
91grandmarquis "In science it is either physics or stamp collecting." - Ernest Rutherford Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Keene NH Posts: 2,848	^ that would be your vehicle saying "Easy there Burt Reynolds I ain't no Trans Am" Try some stiffer springs and a rear sway bar. __________________ "Shakedown"- 1991 Grand Marquis GS Dual exhaust, Magnaflow xl turbos, Rear anti sway bar, Outlaw 1 wheels, 43k miles 1985 GMC 1500

02-27-2010, 01:07 AM	#13
cld783 I'm ridin on a dolphin, doing flips and shit Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Onalaska, WI Posts: 1,136	when you shoot sparks from underneath the oil pan.. __________________ Give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will promptly forget that he once did not know, and proceed to call anyone who asks, a n00b and flame them on the boards for being stupid.

02-28-2010, 01:41 AM	#14
86GmLsCoupe GMN Regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Linden, NJ Posts: 1,098	Sway bar seems to make a nice improvement in handling and I only added the smaller one on mine. In terms of springs, I'm not entirely sure of when they're due for replacement. My car has the original ones in and there is no noticeable sag. I have KYB's up front and coil over's in the rear. __________________ 1986 Grand Marquis LS 2 Door Ext: Medium Shadow Blue Metallic, Int: Midnight Blue, 3.08 open, 235/70/15 Goodyear Aquatread III, Rebuilt AOD w/ Transgo Shift Kit, 3G upgrade from 95 5.0 Mustang, Walker Dual Exhaust w/ H pipe, Viper 5900ST alarm, De-smogged, Rear Civ. Sway Bar, and more.

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