Level Ride Conversion To Reg. Shocks!

[wayfarers43]

Recommendation: Conversion of aging level-ride system

Unless you know what you are doing with replacement of components, adjustments and troubleshooting when you are done...

Me: 1994 Mark VIII

Cost of Replacement of Level Ride Components by Lincoln dealer who knows what the f*** they are doing with these: Compressor and labor, $920; Strut and labor $780(part $529) ;
Total cost to me $1700
Total cost, compr. and all 2 struts $2500

Cost to Convert entire system to regular shocks and struts: $1400 (parts and labor)

Cost of Not Having to Worry About Imminent System Failure, "Nose Low, Butt High"; and Repeated Cancelling of "Check Level-Ride System" Everytime Getting On Or Off the Highway; by conversion: Priceless

 

[67Continental]

Recommendation: Conversion of aging level-ride system

Unless you know what you are doing with replacement of components, adjustments and troubleshooting when you are done...

Me: 1994 Mark VIII

Cost of Replacement of Level Ride Components by Lincoln dealer who knows what the f*** they are doing with these: Compressor and labor, $920; [/B]

I paid 150 dollars for my compressor and installed it myself....

 

[wayfarers43]

like i said

I paid 150 dollars for my compressor and installed it myself....

Like I said, if you know what you are doing...has your blower, struts, computer module etc. etc. gone yet....start worrying.

BTW. If you are burning rubber with your brakes on (picture) I would think the ABS or tranny is about to go as well.

 

[Calabrio]

Like I said, if you know what you are doing...has your blower, struts, computer module etc. etc. gone yet....start worrying.

BTW. If you are burning rubber with your brakes on (picture) I would think the ABS or tranny is about to go as well.

Congrats on the springs, if nothing else, you'll appreciate the piece of mind.
But, it is true, the air ride is pretty easy to work on, it's all bolt on stuff.

 

[67Continental]

Like I said, if you know what you are doing...has your blower, struts, computer module etc. etc. gone yet....start worrying.

BTW. If you are burning rubber with your brakes on (picture) I would think the ABS or tranny is about to go as well.

my abs and tranny are fine - thanks for asking tho These cars are not nearly as fragile as your are making them out to be....That picture is from one year, 10 000 miles, and 250 track passes ago....:L

 

[poneyhexed]

There is a guy on e-bay that sells the frons struts for about 150-180 each and the compressors for around 100. Besides that there are allot of venders on the web site that sell parts check with them. Exspecially the (is your lincoln is sinkin) one. that one cracks me up... strutmasters.com there on the side of this page..LOL
There is also a guy that sells the spring conversion on e-bay for around 450 complete front and rear.
I am sure a local shop will replace them for cheaper ...

 

[American Air-1]

Wow! For $1,400, maybe I should get into the install business. Most people find shops to do it for 2-4 hours labor. Somebody is making some serious profit on that job!

I sell the kits for $434 shipped to your door. http://www.americanairsuspension.com/MK 8 CONV.htm

 

[my95mark8]

My car is not even worth $2500

 

[4.6powa]

My car is not even worth $2500

lo, that reminds me...

after discovering marks (cuz my gf has one) on the lookout for my first, this guy wanted to sell me his 94 mark. the problem is he wanted 2500 for it with bad struts, rear springs, compressor. seats/carpet ripped, engine surge, and a dented qtr panel. all with 173,000 miles.


i passed on that and got my 95' with a small dent in qtr, leaky dryer, and a bad strut (all others replaced) for $900. o and 135000 miles.

got my 93' parts car mark, 90 000 miles, crushed qtr. and bad struts for $300.

 

[wayfarers43]

Thinkin' Lincoln

Wow! For $1,400, maybe I should get into the install business. Most people find shops to do it for 2-4 hours labor. Somebody is making some serious profit on that job!

I sell the kits for $434 shipped to your door. http://www.americanairsuspension.com/MK 8 CONV.htm

RE: Prices .
I decided on the Lincoln dealer after previous work by a local respected auto and collision repair business and worked on them, and two mechanics PASSED on working on the '94...The auto repair place had replaced a compressor, dryer , etc. and right strut at 80,000 miles, another compressor replacement at 109,000 miles (because they did the first replacement wrong) and I didn't have the time or patience to mess around with this anymore. So, yeah, I could have done it cheaper...but didn't want to mess with ebay, shipping, etc. This car had to be fixed, now ! And it's still original but who knows...

 

[4.6powa]

Wow! For $1,400, maybe I should get into the install business. Most people find shops to do it for 2-4 hours labor. Somebody is making some serious profit on that job!

I sell the kits for $434 shipped to your door. http://www.americanairsuspension.com/MK 8 CONV.htm

i replaced my struts 2 days ago from american air. i heghly recommend em. thanks eddie!

 

[wayfarers43]

Checked your site--will keep it in mind...

Wow! For $1,400, maybe I should get into the install business. Most people find shops to do it for 2-4 hours labor. Somebody is making some serious profit on that job!

I sell the kits for $434 shipped to your door. http://www.americanairsuspension.com/MK 8 CONV.htm

Thanks for the info btw, on conversion . Yeah, labor rates here in Minneapolis/St. Paul -- $125 to $190 an hour. Course, that doesn' t go to the mechanics/techs...

 

[4.6powa]

Thanks for the info btw, on conversion . Yeah, labor rates here in Minneapolis/St. Paul -- $125 to $190 an hour. Course, that doesn' t go to the mechanics/techs...

its not all that hard to do if you have the knowhow/tools. the hardest part is getting that damn lower strut bolt out.

 

[formerknown]

Lincoln dealer who knows what the f*** they are doing with these:

Where is this Lincoln dealer you speak of? What dealership employs people who know what the fvck they're doing?

American Air Suspension has conversion kits for under $450. I'm on a few boards, and he seems to have the most reputable kit. Go with the lowered kit, they look bad-ass. Save your money on the air crap, tell the stealership to shove it, and pick up one of Spinks' do-it-yourself coil kits.

 

[MediumD]

Damn! $1400 for parts and install of coils? Hell I'll drive from New Mexico to wherever in the continental US with my tools and the springs, install it in a couple hours, then drive back and make a couple hundred on the deal.