Ride seems much more stiff??

[seeforyourself]

A lot of why the later ones feel more solid is the rear axle location. Its sort of held there by hope and force of will on a 97- model. The watts link actually has something that keeps it under the middle of the car. Thats my biggest complaint on my car. Despite new bushings, over shitty roads I can feel the back end dancing around and it doesn't thrill me. On the short list of stuff I want is a panhard bar to locate all that nonsense.

the stiff one with sport suspension made the bumps not feel as harsh but more controlled (bumps didn't jolt through the steering wheel like in my car would) and I know the back end on my car also dances around uneven road! feels like the dam thing will fish tail and I will lose control!



Unfortunately, my friend says possibly all 4 shocks need to be replaced in my car along with maybe the bushings. My transmission is now taking about two seconds sometimes to shift from park to drive so I think maybe my transmission is oddly starting to act up. A long with sometimes a noisy lifter (when it is cold my engine knocks).

So I might just sell my car ... it's a shame because it has low millage and it is in pristine condition inside and out. car was garaged and has no scratches or 0 sun damage...

So I might sell it for $4,000 and put that down as a down payment and lease a new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited... But I'm not sure yet. I feel like this car is starting to get a lot of problems... I want to buy the 2006 Ford crown victoria with the sport suspension but even the engine sounds funny in that thing (engine makes a whirling noise under acceleration could be the transmission and the car is as-is)

So I don't know! I might get a jeep!


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2001 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 62K miles

[IPreferDIY]

You shouldn't be feeling bumps jolt through the steering wheel. Since you have that and the ass end problem on top of everything else, I'd say it's time for everything to be done. The average person in our disposable car society probably would not want to bother, and those who would bother would most likely be looking for a really good deal.

If you still have a plastic coolant crossover on your intake manifold, that would be another issue that would have to be addressed at some point.

The tranny issue might simply be a matter of needing to change the fluid, but I doubt there's any cheap way of knowing for sure without actually trying it.

[Bobcat]

My car is about equal to that.

Not stiff enough for me. Though, you have an inch bigger rims.

[seeforyourself]

You shouldn't be feeling bumps jolt through the steering wheel. Since you have that and the ass end problem on top of everything else, I'd say it's time for everything to be done. The average person in our disposable car society probably would not want to bother, and those who would bother would most likely be looking for a really good deal.

If you still have a plastic coolant crossover on your intake manifold, that would be another issue that would have to be addressed at some point.

The tranny issue might simply be a matter of needing to change the fluid, but I doubt there's any cheap way of knowing for sure without actually trying it.

Is it normal to have steering wheel response with bumps when u have bad shocks? I'm paranoid they are going to find 1,000,000 new problems when I think it's just the shocks lol


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2001 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 62K miles

[sly]

it's normal to have steering wheel response to bumps with good shocks, much less bad ones. These cars are known for their bump steer. Though according to rumor it's reduced in the 03+ models. I have no experience as the newest one I have access to is a 2000.

[IPreferDIY]

I think it would help to get a better sense of what is meant by "steering wheel response with bumps" as compared to bumps that cause a "jolt through the steering wheel". The latter sounds like there's something wrong. I'm actually in the process of trying to figure out why I feel weird stuff through my steering wheel. Here's the link:

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?51161-Corroded-Stabilizer-Bar-How-Bad-Is-It&p=755559&viewfull=1#post755559

In my case, there is obvious slop somewhere along the line that it transmitting vibrations up through the steering system into the steering wheel. That's definitely not normal. It sometimes feels like there's some kind of looseness in the steering wheel bearing, but everything is tight from the steering gear box up. The feeling that the problem is with the steering wheel bearing is essentially a "tactile illusion".

As for shocks causing weird feelings in the steering wheel, I would suggest there's two aspects to this question. First, there's what's happening inside the shock tube. If the shock is not damping the spring properly, then you will get a lot of uncontrolled bouncing from the spring, but I don't see why that would cause a weird feeling in the steering wheel. The second aspect is the bushings at the tops of the shocks. If the tops of the shocks are not properly cushioned, that could cause some degree of banging when you hit bumps, and that might be something you could feel through the steering wheel. In theory, I would think various other things like problems with the control arm bushings and the stabilizer bar bushings and end links might be something you could feel through the steering wheel too, though I should point out I'm not someone who should be regarded as an "expert".

In situations like this, if you're dependent on a mechanic, it really helps to go to one who you know and trust.

[sly]

Bad shocks will create a bouncing. Seized shocks will make bumps feel very harsh and jarring. Between that, feeling the steering wheel jolt left or right will be due to bump steer. This is when one wheel hits something that the other doesn't. This will make the car want to steer that direction. This can be reduced with greater caster in the alignment but can't be eliminated. If the jolt in the steering wheel is telescopic (feels like it's trying to come out at you) the steering shaft is probably seized in the slip joint and the frame/body flex is flexing the firewall in unhappy ways and the u-joints are probably not real happy about it either. I know my 88 has about a half inch of motion in that slip shaft from the rub marks but that's also from me driving like a loon and testing the suspension in bad ways. About a quarter inch or less on the 93. Body mount bushings can contribute to this greatly if they are crapped out.

[seeforyourself]

I think it would help to get a better sense of what is meant by "steering wheel response with bumps" as compared to bumps that cause a "jolt through the steering wheel". The latter sounds like there's something wrong. I'm actually in the process of trying to figure out why I feel weird stuff through my steering wheel. Here's the link:

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?51161-Corroded-Stabilizer-Bar-How-Bad-Is-It&p=755559&viewfull=1#post755559

In my case, there is obvious slop somewhere along the line that it transmitting vibrations up through the steering system into the steering wheel. That's definitely not normal. It sometimes feels like there's some kind of looseness in the steering wheel bearing, but everything is tight from the steering gear box up. The feeling that the problem is with the steering wheel bearing is essentially a "tactile illusion".

As for shocks causing weird feelings in the steering wheel, I would suggest there's two aspects to this question. First, there's what's happening inside the shock tube. If the shock is not damping the spring properly, then you will get a lot of uncontrolled bouncing from the spring, but I don't see why that would cause a weird feeling in the steering wheel. The second aspect is the bushings at the tops of the shocks. If the tops of the shocks are not properly cushioned, that could cause some degree of banging when you hit bumps, and that might be something you could feel through the steering wheel. In theory, I would think various other things like problems with the control arm bushings and the stabilizer bar bushings and end links might be something you could feel through the steering wheel too, though I should point out I'm not someone who should be regarded as an "expert".

In situations like this, if you're dependent on a mechanic, it really helps to go to one who you know and trust.

I don't have any bouncing really that much. Yes it does bounce really easily when I push down on a the corners but it stabilizes it's self in a normal rate (after one bounce).

I've noticed also that my car interior is ratting now all around the door panels to the dash board. I certainly can't wait till I bring my car in Tuesday!

Also I will post a video of me going over bumps in my grand Marquis so you can hear it.


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2001 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 62K miles

[IPreferDIY]

... Seized shocks will make bumps feel very harsh and jarring. ...

I've never heard of seized shocks before. What would cause that?

[sxcpotatoes]

I've never heard of seized shocks before. What would cause that?

the oil leaking out, then the shaft would rust in place and seize or only allow a certain amount of suspension travel

[gadget73]

Not the most common but it can happen on cars that sat a long while. Sounds like there may be some front end slop too. Worn parts make the bump steer very bad.



Has the trans fluid been checked or changed lately? Low fluid or dead juice makes for slow engagement. If not s nice clean red and full when warmed up and running fix that.

posting from mah phone. plz to be forgiving bad speeling.

[Chaplian]

My BMW had one seized shock. Was full of rust. Its more common than most people think.

Ride and steering can be terrible if one shock is seized, and the other is dead in combination with worn bushings.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[seeforyourself]

I don't think they are seized. Where can I buy the most softest shock absorbers? I love the cushy feeling and would love to get something softer riding than the current oems... What is the best I can get? also springs?


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2001 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 62K miles

[sly]

Non-police versions... KYB GR2, Gabriel Ultra, etc.

[seeforyourself]

Ride seems much more stiff??

Non-police versions... KYB GR2, Gabriel Ultra, etc.

which is the softest though? I want to feel nothing on the road [emoji51]


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2001 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 62K miles