mark viii rear shocks

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chappyviii

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i have a 1997 Lincoln mark viii. I plan on converting my air ride to coils soon and was wondering if anyone has used firebird or cougar shocks in our car because 150 bucks for two shocks is too much when compared to about 50 for firebird shocks. Yes i have already looked it up and did research but can not get direct answers so if anyone here has done it or knows were i can get the adapters please let me know. Thanks
 
Yup, search rear shocks for a 97 t-bird. Direct fit. Might consider replacing the upper mounts if they're worn.
 
why such a big price jump? only thing i can guess is the mark viii shocks are stronger because the air bags. Im not sure. Dont the new shocks come with new mounts?
 
Did the shocks you were looking at have the electronic doohicky on top? I want to say those were only offered on the first couple years.
 
chappyviii said:
these are what i was looking into getting http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...=Search_C0077_1140613_3168&pt=C0077&ppt=C0035
where would i buy the upper mounts
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I like the Sensatracs for a middle of the road rear shock. They've held up fantastically on my lowered Mark, which aren't always that kind to reg ol' shocks. They are $22/pc @ Rockauto not including the 5% code.
When I first got the car I tried the cheap gas/monro-matics and they failed quickly. Wouldn't suggest going that route.
I haven't tried the gr-2's but suggest reading reviews on them before purchasing. Those are also $22 and change @ RA vs the $47 that O'Riellys is selling them for.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1140613,parttype,7556
 
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If you go to Advanced auto's website you can get the Sensa-tracs for $46/pr + tax by ordering online and picking them up using code trt30. Rock auto would be a couple bucks more including the discount/shipping and you'd have to wait a few days for them to be delivered.
 
should even be considering shocks? The car has 95,000 miles. It rides good and there isnt clunk noises coming from the shocks. i was only considering replacing the rear shocks because soon i am going to be doing the front conversion to coils and i wanted new shocks to go with the struts.
 
For as little as a pair costs i'd go ahead and replace them when you convert. That way you know it's all new.

If the mounts look good and aren't making any noise just leave them be.
 
Spree said:
Doesn't matter how many miles. How old are they is what matters.
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This makes no sense a 10 year old shock nos is still good, if it has 95k they need replacing
Use wares out a shock not time.

Modern shocks use multistage oil valves. Each valve is a calibrated metal disk that flexes to let oil flow through in response to different road conditions. The first stage valve opens in response to little bumps, the second stage valve opens in response to medium sized bumps and the third stage valve opens in response to big bumps. These valves are usually what wear out first. The metal valves fatigue and go limp after millions of openings. The first stage valve is the first to die because the vehicle is constantly exposed to little bumps and the valve is constantly cycling.

I've also read that a shock is cycled a minimum of 1500 times per mile that's 142,500,000 in 95k.
 
You people will put junk on your car? Amazing. I won't tell you where I got the Konis so cheap. ;)
 
I couldn't afford the Mark VIII or T-Bird shocks so I got a set of brand new Gabriel Gas Ryder shocks for a '69 Galaxie station wagon off fleabay for about $8 bucks including shipping and put them on my '97. It improved the ride and handling dramatically. Those shocks are very stiff. I can jump on the back of the car with all my weight and it will barely move.
 
imo, don't ever consider getting used shocks or any used suspension components. I did awhile back and won't do it again. In hindsight I don't know what the heel i was thinking
 
ok thanks fellas. im just going to go with monroe when i get my conversion kit. im going to check my mounts when i get the chance
 
Hey, tell you what. A factory shock that hasn't blown will ride 3x better than the $20 shocks you're going to buy. Don't waste your money and time. If you can bounce your car at the trunk and it does not repeatedly resonate then your shocks are fine. I repeatedly say this and will say it again. I've bought gabriels sensa trac monroe and monroe yellows and installed them on my car(Yes I have 3 pairs of extra shocks in the shed). I was about to buy kyb because i hated the bouncy/floaty ride but it was all money waste. I have two mark viii right now with factory shocks. One has 170k and the other has 100k(so whoever says they need to be replaced purely on mileage is wrong). They both ride better than any shock I bought for my 93. If you want to know how it ended is I finally bought konis and that is the only aftermarket shock i can recommend over the factory shocks. I have never tried bilstein so I don't know how they are. So my recommendation is if your shock isn't blown LEAVE IT ALONE.
 
93mkviii said:
Hey, tell you what. A factory shock that hasn't blown will ride 3x better than the $20 shocks you're going to buy. Don't waste your money and time. If you can bounce your car at the trunk and it does not repeatedly resonate then your shocks are fine. I repeatedly say this and will say it again. I've bought gabriels sensa trac monroe and monroe yellows and installed them on my car(Yes I have 3 pairs of extra shocks in the shed). I was about to buy kyb because i hated the bouncy/floaty ride but it was all money waste. I have two mark viii right now with factory shocks. One has 170k and the other has 100k(so whoever says they need to be replaced purely on mileage is wrong). They both ride better than any shock I bought for my 93. If you want to know how it ended is I finally bought konis and that is the only aftermarket shock i can recommend over the factory shocks. I have never tried bilstein so I don't know how they are. So my recommendation is if your shock isn't blown LEAVE IT ALONE.
Click to expand...
well on amazon they have motorcraft shocks for not much more:

http://www.amazon.com/Motorcraft-AS...r=1997|1997&carId=021&n=15684181&s=automotive
those are oem replacements right?
 
No, those are the same thing as Monroe almost. The OEM replacement are near 150. I'm not saying to buy OEM, but I do want you to see if any of your shocks are bad. Unless you want to replace it for the psychological effect.
 
93markviii
You can out right call me wrong on fact but not on your ass-o-meter or your 1970s test methods.
They are not a non wear item where there us friction there is wear.
I replace my shocks cause I like to go around corners and have a good ride on pot hole MN roads.

Also if your testing of shocks works so well why did you buy new shocks in the first place?
I will agree that buying cheap is not smart but not replacing unless there leaking is not smart either.
 
I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was not directly talking to anyone's response so I don't know what that was all about. What i'm trying to say is don't replace them with 20 dollar shocks just because they are old and you want something new. Just because something is worn doesn'mean any new part you buy will be better. If you're going to replace them to get a better ride like you're suggesting for "handling" then buying those monroes isn't going to perform better.
Secondly, I don't know why you are attacking me. Did you not comprehend my post? I'll give you the whole story about why I bought new shocks when I get home and not typing thru a phone. Just trying to help no need to get hostile.

EDIT:
"Also if your testing of shocks works so well why did you buy new shocks in the first place?"
Bought the car when i was 15 and my brother drove over a pothole and seized the shock... had it done by a mechanic because I didn't know any better. Got gabriels... couple of years later I started to learn more about racing and suspension work. Bought monroes from the suggestions on here thinking that would solve it... nope it didn't. Long story short I finally bought konis. That is why I bought new shocks, hopefully that was clear enough. But I still don't fully understand your question.
Here is my simple test to see which shock I would have for best control because I can't take you for a drive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k87AZJNbIv8&feature=youtu.be
First is my White 97 ~ 176k with original yes original motorcraft shocks
Second is my Silver 98 ~79k(Went easy on this one) with motorcraft branded/monroe sensa tracs(not yellow). They were spanking new when I bought it and I haven't replaced them because it doesn't get driven.
Third is my Ivory 97 ~105k with again original motorcraft shocks
Last is my Silver 93 with konis I bought one year ago. This is the car that has been my control that I personally have installed countless shock pairs. So you can decide for yourself which shocks you would prefer on your car, the old original shocks or the new monroe shocks. My point is that replacing them just because it's old and worn with anything new is wrong. He obviously doesn't want to spend upwards of $50 so I'm saying just stick with what you have unless you have a blown shock. So if you want to call me an ass and my 1970 methods wrong I'm fine, i'm not gonna start getting aggressive. It's your car i'm just trying to help with the experience I've gain from these years experimenting with these shocks. And i'm willing to bet I know more about the suspension of a mark viii than most.
 
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