Air springs

[hgt142]

I have an 89 LSC. Everything seems to be ok with the suspension. The bags look ok, the motor and compressor both work fine. It just won't raise up. Does anyone know the steps you have to take to reactivate the air ride system? Any help would be appreciated.

[90LSC]

If the compressor is running and the car is not lifting then you have a serious leak. Just a couple of days ago I had to replace the dryer 'cause the air line connections coming out of the top of it were leaking air too fast for the compressor to keep up........ If the compressor does not kick on when you turn on the key, you'll have to determine why. If it does kick on but no lift, then you need to find the leak(s). You may have to run the pump for a while, then listen under the hood and at all four wheels as soon as you shut it off......The bags can look just fine but be goners......Happy hunting

[Lscman]

If the switch is ON in the trunk and the compressor is not running at all when you start the car with the driver's door closed, you need to troubleshoot the air system electronics. There are several switches that could be defective. I'd need more specifics to comment.

[hmplslncln]

Why not take that troublsome air suspension out of the car and put coil springs in it?

[Lscman]

To each his own, but I'd rather spend a couple hundred bux every 10 years to buy a new pump or a couple bags. I would have purchased a T-Bird if I wanted steel springs. A correct, safe conversion to steel springs is possible but very labor intensive and costly. You can not achieve Cobra handling and Lincoln ride isolation with steel springs. I love mine.

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Rick, Road Track Terror in my '88 Mark VII LSC. See ya at Northeast Events! Pgh, PA

[hgt142]

Well, thanks for the advice. I checked everything and one hose was off. Repaired it and it is perfect now. By the way, I installed 3 lighted blue switches on my dash so I can raise and lower the car anytime I wish. That is a plus. And I agree 100% with LSCMan..... Why own the LSC if you are going to turn it into a t-bird? You own it for the ride. I also have a 1986 Town Car in excellent shape in Lakeland, FL if anyone is interested in a good car. Needs nothing. Pearl white with blue velour interior and half vinyl top (Signature Series) A/C has been converted to R-134 already. I don't need 2 cars for myself right now, and I believe I am going to keep the 89 LSC I just picked up for peanuts.

[Lscman]

Well, a hose off is about the simplest problem I can think of...lucky. I'd like to see a Road Racing setup LSC with 1000lb/in steel spring ride conversion. It'd be real cool but the project would not be sensible. An LSC will never compete on equal terms with a ponycar at the professional or even amateur level. It is too long and heavy...the deficit is simply too great. I wish to retain the unique features of my Lincoln instead of trying to convert it into an overweight ponycar.

[hmplslncln]

well to start with a t-bird doesn't look this good!! I don't know if any of you have priced the parts of the air ride stuff I think it's a little more than a couple hundred dollars!! And I never said anything about trying to compete with any Mustangs, I just know my mk7 with a 5-speed 3.73 gears,17' wheels, and coil springs is nothing to laugh at and will out handle any air bagged mk7!!!

[Lscman]

I'm overly sensitive because I've seen Mark VII owners unintentionally convert their car into a T-Bird. I'm not implying you did that just because you converted to steel springs. Some owners also remove the hump in the rear trunk. At that point, the Mark VII is a virtual mechanical and visual clone of an '88 T-Bird. IMHO, the hump and suspension are the only significant distinguishing characteristics. Remanufactured pumps and bags are $130ea at Arnott and they're good as new. I have spent $390 and about 3 hours labor on my air suspension in 220K miles. My air suspension with Koni's and ADDCO and T-Bird swaybars handles every bit as well as a '93 Cobra per two different Cobra owners that have driven mine on SCCA and CART Road Racing Tracks. These experienced SCCA drivers tried my car at Mid Ohio, Watkins Glen and Pocono. If your steel springed setup outhandles a Cobra or keeps up with 80% of the Porsches and BMW's on those tracks (with stock 5.0L motor) as mine does, I'd be equally impressed. My car has won SCCA autocross events against 15 stockish ponycars. Anyway, a conversion to steel springs is one solution I never needed to consider. If my air ride computer, pump and bags all failed at the same time, I'd probably think about it. However, it was never such a disaster for me personally. I did not intend to sound like I was criticizing. I can see how certain difficult wiring/electrical troubles would convince someone to take that brute force route to a resolution.

[Steino]

What supension upgrade works best for body roll? My 90 LSC rides firm, but I want more reponse. Hey - Is it sacriligious to want a Cobra strip? I love those cars

[This message has been edited by Steino (edited December 19, 2000).]

[Lscman]

If the shocks are soft, try to find Tokico's or KYB's as a second choice. The Koni's are obsolete. For responsive handling, the '87-'88 T-Bird Turbo Coupe 1-5/16" front swaybar should be installed matched with an ADDCo #415 7/8" rear swaybar. These will make it handle like a Cobra.

[mdcluth]

Would those sway bars be a good solution to help with an even heavier car, such as a '47 Ford business coupe? I don't intend to put it in a road race, but because it sits higher, and about 20% heavier than the LSC, I'm alittle worried about the air bag suspension handling the extra stress of the higher and heavier center of gravity.

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Mark D. Cluth

[Lscman]

Air Bags are kind of cool. The heavier the car, the stiffer they get. The ride & handling should be reasonably good. I'd use fat junkyard swaybars, perhaps from 4WD truck.