air suspension...please help

[Tnavigator 98]

the front end of my 98 navigator has been bouncing out of control for two months now i really need some assistance on what to do i dont want to spend 4000.00 for bags but the bouncing must stop any suggestions?

:confused:

[Nick]

What is the suspension doing? Does it leak and sink down after driving or when parked? You need to replace the air springs if they are leaking and causing the front end to sag. If you are semi-handy with a wrench, you can do it on your own in the driveway with simple hand tools. If you keep driving the truck the way it is, you can damage the suspension further and ruin your air suspension compressor. THe compressor will wear out quite quickly, so I would shut off the suspension if you had to drive it, but the best thing to do is to park the truck until it's fixed.

Check out www.americanairsuspension.com. (http://www.americanairsuspension.com.) They usually have Ford parts at discount prices. If you won't or can't install the air springs yourself, you can at least test for leaks by spraying soaapy water or Windex onto the air springs and air spring solenoids to check for leaks. After confirming the air springs are leaking through this test or by shutting off the suspension and waiting to see if it sinks after it has raised ride height, you can just order the parts you need and have the dealer replace them. If you describe exactly what the suspension does, we can help you diagnose the problem.

The very last option you have would be to convert the truck to an F150/Expedition front suspension, but this is drastic considering the ease of replacement and diagnosis of the air suspension.

[Tnavigator 98]

thanks nick for the info ..........the story goes as such i purchased bilstien shocks for the REAR three months ago and i wanted to put them in the front and the rearsimply because i was just frustrated with the floppin around of the airbags, but after installing the bilstien for the rear the bilstiens for the front came in too long so i had to stick with the stock front end suspension(as is) and my rear sightly stiffer than the front if that makes sence and i have recently purchased air conversion shocks for the front from strutmaster masters hopeing this will help the suituation.....when i start my gator i can see the front end raise slightly after starting the ignition( i guess its the load balancer) but once i take off or hit a bump it feels like my wheels are bouncing and wobbling. hard to discribe but the ride is not good at all.........

I guess my real question is how can i fix this mess the right way without killing my pocket as suggestions are well taken i have not installed the strut masters shock on ther front because i want to be sure this time before installation.....

signed,
worried

[pro-five-oh]

I would replace your front shocks, that sounds like the only problem here. The question is, are the front shocks part of the airbag? No matter, even if you replaced the front bags and shocks it would cost $600-800, not $4000.

It sounds like your front shocks are shot. The ride height is normal?