Which Motorcraft shocks (front) are better for a Town Car

[porschpow]

ball joints are pressed out on the lowers and riveted in on the uppers. loaner tools for the lowers but you need a fn grinder/carbide drill to get those f'n rivets out of the uppers.

Do the control arms come out as a whole unit or can you uninstall-reinstall the control arm bushings by lower and upper separately?

the upper control arm bushings are cake with an air hammer. I have the bushing press that allows you to change them on the car too... it's a bit of a PITA for the rearward bushings, but it makes the frontward ones absolute cake. If replacing with energy suspension stuff, you will need to burn out the old bushings and that is a horrendous mess and will destroy something in the process (tools, clothes, etc).

What is this energy suspension? How do I know I have it?

WD40 is great for cleaning burnt rubber off of tools FYI. You will obviously need an alignment after jacking with all that crap. if doing all of the above, budget about 6 hours at least and have varying levels of BFH, crow-bar, pickle fork, torch, breaker bar, impact wrench, etc. (got tired of thinking) on hand.

Good to know. I tried looking up videos on how this is done, but there really isn't one that shows the in between, just the before and after

[porschpow]

What shocks do you have in your fronts?

The make lowers and uppoers (control arms with ball joints alrady installed?)

I wouldn't bother with anything Motorcraft. All they are are basically Monroe shocks without the label (likely Sensacraps). They made my car ride like a lumber wagon. Not sure what KYB has, but seems like they are more performance oriented.

As for bushings and balljoints, I did this job and it wasn't fun. I bought the new Moog ball joints and bushings ahead of time, removed the control arms and took to a local shop. They pressed old out and new in for about $100 labor. For the upper arms, it's more cost effective to buy the arm with new bushings and ball joint as a whole assembly then to dick around replacing components. The lowers are nearly the same way.

[sly]

Do the control arms come out as a whole unit or can you uninstall-reinstall the control arm bushings by lower and upper separately?

yes and yes. I removed the whole of the upper and lower control arms with the spindle still attached. the proper way is to knock the spindle off the ball joints and change those as well, but I didn't care to jack with them at the time. They lasted another 3 years without issue and I probably would have left the old ball joints this year except nobody would fix the alignment with the slight wiggle they had. meh.

What is this energy suspension? How do I know I have it?

a brand name. They make poly bushings instead of rubber. they are not stock components and do not come with the outer shells so you would have to leave the shells in and burn the rubber of the old bushings out.

Good to know. I tried looking up videos on how this is done, but there really isn't one that shows the in between, just the before and after

probably because it's a long and tedious process requiring liberal use of BFH to get stuff apart.

[porschpow]

haha that is true, i can imagine peoplees patience wearing thin with that.

I guess I can bring the spindle and upper and lower control arm to the shop and they could do the ball joints for me (if I decide to do it that way) and if i can't find the control arm with a ball jont pre installed

I believe my control arm bushings are stock, so i don't think i have to worry about burning the whole thing out

[LithiumCobalt]

What shocks do you have in your fronts?

The make lowers and uppoers (control arms with ball joints alrady installed?)

In my '87, more than likely it still has the factory shock absorbers up front. Only 52k miles and no excessive bounce, so I don't plan to change them.

Yes, you can get control arms (a complete package) with the new bushings and ball joints installed. Only reason I went the other route is because I wanted to ensure that I got joints with grease zerks on them.

[Deno McThrash]

Should one consider the performance shocks if michigan roads blow and ruin every suspension part at a greatly increased level?

[kodiak]

If your suspension is getting worked then consider gas shocks. The pressure helps prevent foaming of the shock oil.

Sent from my '85 Lincolin Town Car

[LithiumCobalt]

Just about everything out there is gas charged now, unfortunately. Creates a much harsher ride, in my opinion.

[gadget73]

Should one consider the performance shocks if michigan roads blow and ruin every suspension part at a greatly increased level?

I think one should consider moving to a state with paved roads, but thats coming from someone who should take his own advice once in a while. My roads here suck, so I understand.

[sly]

lots of room in Texas

[gadget73]

yeah but its full of Texans

[Mainemantom]

I think one should consider moving to a state with paved roads, but thats coming from someone who should take his own advice once in a while. My roads here suck, so I understand.

X2 regard moving to a state with paved roads. My wife keeps telling me our roads are from the 3rd world.

[sly]

yeah but its full of Texans

as long as you avoid Austin, Dallas, Houston, and El Paso... it's not that bad.

[gadget73]

well, cities in general are things to avoid if you have any sense. I'm quite happy in my little township with a population of 1036. The place has grown though, population has doubled since 1810. It has however decreased about 200 in the last 30 years.