Mark VIII Frequently Asked Questions Suspension     List of Categories Can the Mark VIII be lowered? My front end is 'sagging', that is, it drops all the way to the ground. What's wrong? Can 2nd Generation (97-98) struts be used on a 1st Generation Mark VIII? I get a clunking noise from the rear of my car when I drive over bumps. What are the differences between the 1st Generation rear shocks and the 2nd Generation rear shocks? Where do I jack the car up, and what precautions should I take? My rear swaybar/anti-roll bar is broken. How to DISABLE check air ride message after coil conversion Can the Mark VIII be lowered? Yes, it's very simple. The directions for lowering the vehicle are available here: http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/sensorlowering.htm My front end is 'sagging', that is, it drops all the way to the ground. What's wrong? The most likely culprit is leaking bags. Over time, the air springs (bags) develop cracks in them that will leak at certain points. Once the crack is exposed, the bag will lose pressure, and your car will assume the 'slammed' position. The fix is to replace the struts with new ones. The parts can be ordered from www.fordpartsnetwork.com and the installation directions are here: http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/strut.htm Can 2nd Generation (97-98) struts be used on a 1st Generation Mark VIII? Yes, they are lighter and many members have reported favorably on the ride/handling of the new struts. I get a clunking noise from the rear of my car when I drive over bumps. This is often caused by worn shock mounts. Replacing the shock mounts with new ones often resolves this problem, and it's typically a good time to replace the shocks as well. What are the differences between the 1st Generation rear shocks and the 2nd Generation rear shocks? The 1st Generation vehicles had adjustable rear shocks with variable damping. There is an actuator on top of the shock that adjusts it for Firm or Soft, depending on the road speed and brake application. The 2nd Generation cars do not have this feature. They are interchangeable, if you wanted to put the 2nd Generation shocks (less expensive), they would fit, but you would lose the adjustable shock feature. Where do I jack the car up, and what precautions should I take? Lift points are shown here: Lift Points When lifting the car, ALWAYS turn off the Air Ride switch located behind a panel on the left side of the trunk. My rear swaybar/anti-roll bar is broken. The hollow rear sway bar sometimes cracks due to corrosion, from what some have theorized is from exposure to road salt. Replacement bars can be ordered from Addco at www.addco.net in slightly larger diameters. The removal and replacement of the rear bar is pretty easy, the front one requires significantly more work, as the motor cradle has to be moved. How to DISABLE check air ride message after coil conversion See the following thread: http://www.markviii.org/htdocs/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=25&topic_id=34314 Was this page helpful?     F.A.Q Software supplied free of charge by PerlScriptsJavaScripts.com Copyright 2001-2010 Calvin Louie/www.markviii.org. Use without permission prohibited.