Front Air Struts

[Calabrio]

If the lines are leaking it'll drop when the car attempts to fill itself up, but no, they don't hold pressure. I don't think anyone has that misconception though.

 

[chicken]

if your system is leaking down in an hour, you've got a serious leak somewhere (obviously). It may be the air spring/shock units or it could be the lines. I'd say defective air springs if it's leaking down that fast. But your air lines may be dry rotted.

If the lines are leaking it'll drop when the car attempts to fill itself up, but no, they don't hold pressure. I don't think anyone has that misconception though.

.

 

[unity]

OEM bags come with NEW already installed solenoids. I should know, I think I am one of the few that ever bought new OEM bags! lol

So unless he screwed with em, they should be fine.

After Ed and Wood got yaking about crap, I stopped reading.

So has any one suggested letting is rest as far as it goes then feeling the bags? I would be surprised if both are having issues. If one bag goes flat, it WILL bring down both sides. If you feel the bags, the one still holding will be hard. The other will be softer. THAT will be your problem bag.

 

[unity]

If the lines are leaking it'll drop when the car attempts to fill itself up, but no, they don't hold pressure. I don't think anyone has that misconception though.

True. This is also why the compressor operates for 1 second before any of the solenoids open. Doubt me? Listen next time you fire up the car. You will hear the compressor run for just a bit before you hear the solenoids open. Thats so the lines pressurize, otherwise the car would drop momentarily.

 

[LaserSVT]

Have you tried turning off the air ride and seeing if the car still drops? If the car sits overnight and does not drop then you have narrowed it down to compressor/sensors. Sensor is still my guess.

 

[Icarus]

The OEM Ford bags I bought came with solenoids as well. Maybe while the op was mucking with the system the orings got dislodged/moved as they will do that at times if you pop em out with some pressure in the bag still...
The lines need to be installed all the way in, and need to be in good shape/straight cut as well to not leak...
If all that is good I'd check for a sticking vent solenoid...

 

[American Air-1]

#1) The new OEM struts come with new solenoids installed, but some people remove them before installation. If this happened, theres a good possibilty that the seals are installed incorrectly.....as I see where allot of people put both o-rings onone side of the sliding nylon washer. One or both o-rings can twist around and cause a leak.
#2) If you turn the suspension switch off and it still goes down, it can only be from the solenoid on. (solenoid or air strut)
#3) One air strut leaking can easily bring down both sides. One side doesn't have the leverage to hold both sides up.

With all that being said, both sides may go down, but one will usually go down a little more. While the front is pumped up to normal height, measure all 4 corners and write it down(baseline). Then turn the suspension switch of and let it sit awhile. Then remeasure and write it down again and find the difference. Whatever side is worse is most likely your problem side.

BTW Alexander, the deal is still on the table if you want to convert over. I'll take back the struts and swap you out for a 4 wheek kit....and even do the lowered kit if you wish.

 

[thaywood]

Personally, I don't put "struts" on my Mark VIII's. It would just be too darn much of a hassle to eliminate the upper control arms and figure out some way to modify the spindle to mount the strut to it. Plus there's that bearing cap that has to go on top of the strut so it doesn't scrape the strut tower when it turns with the steering. Not to mention that I just plain don't care for strut suspension systems. I much prefer the upper and lower control arm design with integrated air spring/shock units of the Mark VIII. It's more befitting a luxury performance coupe. Struts are for cheesy Japanese econoboxes.

And this is me being an a$$. I know I'll never sway the common misconception that the Mark VIII uses McPherson struts. I'll never understand how anyone could mistake a McPerson strut for a regular combined air spring/shock either. I'll also never understand why anyone would or could ever mistake an upper and lower control arm suspension design for the much simpler McPherson strut design, or how the two could ever possibly be confused with each other, but that's just me. Calling the air spring/shock units on Mark VIII's "struts" simply bugs the ever lovin' crapola outta me. I don't know why, but it does. They're not struts. Look at a Mustang front suspension. That's a strut design. Look at the old Lincoln Mark VII's. That's a strut design. Look at any Fox body Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury. Those all used struts. Now look at the MN12 or FN10. Totally different design. The Mark VIII has two ball joints, not one. The Mark VIII has an upper control arm, strut suspensions don't. Struts mount directly to the spindle (I know, I've worked on and owned enough of them), shocks mount to the lower control arm. Struts have a bearing cap on top, shocks don't. Struts perform three essential functions: Suspension damper, steering kingpin, and upper suspension locating link. Shocks only perform one function: damper. That's it. Nothing else. The Mark VIII's shocks aren't steering kingpins, they aren't upper suspension locating links (that's what the upper control arms are for). They only perform damping duties.

Dang. I'm sorry for the rant. I just have to get on my soapbox once every few months and pi$$ everybody off. Sorry guys. I'll stop now.

 

[chris2523]

anytime i see the word "strut," thaywood is sure to be there somewhere. :lol:

 

[American Air-1]

Its the same thing as 99% of the people calling air springs....air bags. Air bags are what pops out at you when you get in a wreck and air springs is what holds up the rear of a Mark VIII, but as long as everyone is on the same page and talking about the same part....who cares what you call it? Whats next...spelling? Give me a break.

 

[thaywood]

anytime i see the word "strut," thaywood is sure to be there somewhere. :lol:

Not in a while. I've been keeping my big mouth shut lately. Like Laser said, people get pi$$y when I correct them on the front suspension terminology.

Every so often, I just have to vent.

 

[thaywood]

Its the same thing as 99% of the people calling air springs....air bags. Air bags are what pops out at you when you get in a wreck and air springs is what holds up the rear of a Mark VIII, but as long as everyone is on the same page and talking about the same part....who cares what you call it? Whats next...spelling? Give me a break.

Nah. I'll leave the spelling errors to Frogman. He's good at that.

Oh, and air springs hold up the front too. They're just attached to shock absorbers.

 

[ford nut]

LOL....telling a Certified Air Suspension Expert what to call his parts.

Funny...........

 

[thaywood]

LOL....telling a Certified Air Suspension Expert what to call his parts.

Funny...........

Ain't it though?

 

[Alexander B. Sonin]

Send me my new front left suspension!

ALEXANDER B. SONIN
161 #B AINSWORTH AVE
STATEN ISLAND, NY 10308
UNITED STATES

Alexander

 

[Alexander B. Sonin]

#1) The new OEM struts come with new solenoids installed, but some people remove them before installation. If this happened, theres a good possibilty that the seals are installed incorrectly.....as I see where allot of people put both o-rings onone side of the sliding nylon washer. One or both o-rings can twist around and cause a leak.
#2) If you turn the suspension switch off and it still goes down, it can only be from the solenoid on. (solenoid or air strut)
#3) One air strut leaking can easily bring down both sides. One side doesn't have the leverage to hold both sides up.

With all that being said, both sides may go down, but one will usually go down a little more. While the front is pumped up to normal height, measure all 4 corners and write it down(baseline). Then turn the suspension switch of and let it sit awhile. Then remeasure and write it down again and find the difference. Whatever side is worse is most likely your problem side.

BTW Alexander, the deal is still on the table if you want to convert over. I'll take back the struts and swap you out for a 4 wheek kit....and even do the lowered kit if you wish.

Send me my new front left suspension!

ALEXANDER B. SONIN
161 #B AINSWORTH AVE
STATEN ISLAND, NY 10308
UNITED STATES

Alexander

 

[American Air-1]

No idea why this would come up out of the blue and why you would hijack such an old thread. Anyway, as I said before, you have a 1 year warranty on a New Air Strut.....but I would hope most people realize if you alter the part in any way, it voids any/all warranty. It's been so long ago now, maybe you've forgotten about the top nut having wrench marks on it.

Btw, I don't know as putting your address out there for everyone to see is such a good idea.

 

[achesonm8]

Ain't it though?

I am concerned about Thaywood...has he vented or ranted lately? ;-).

I might add that the acronym for the suspension specialist is CASE...I think we are all on the same page (even Ed Hall ) we love our Mark VIIIs!

I think I have spent more money on slime to keep my 20 yr old wheelbarrow tire inflated because I am too damn lazy to buy a solid one at Harbor Freight to replace it! I would rather work on my cars!

Wonderful thread!

 

[thaywood]

I am concerned about Thaywood...has he vented or ranted lately? ;-).Wonderful thread!

:lol: I haven't vented lately. I see no point. Some people are just too stubborn to admit when they're wrong I still have to get on my soap box every once in a blue moon. But I've been too busy lately to worry about people using incorrect terminology

 

[achesonm8]

:lol: I haven't vented lately. I see no point. Some people are just too stubborn to admit when they're wrong I still have to get on my soap box every once in a blue moon. But I've been too busy lately to worry about people using incorrect terminology

Yes... its good to be able to know when to get on the box and when to get off the box...if you perfect that let me know!!