Another suspension question

[MissingLINC]

I know the general love that most of you feel for the air ride, but to be honest I dont like it at all. Ive always had trucks and sport cars and am used to a much stiffer ride. It takes different driving habits to master that air ride, sometimes I scare myself going around curves and on/off ramps.

I had a 91 SHO, I would like a ride along those lines on my 92 Conti. Since my air ride is in excellent shape now I debating on swaping it out and selling it on ebay.

What is different about a Conti that makes a direct swap with a Taurus suspension not possible?

For those who now have non-air ride, how do you like the handling?

Did any 89-94 Contis have non-air front suspension, or were they always air front and rear?

Thanks

[Steve Moran]

I couldn't tell you what to do but I will say from my point of view I have two '91 Contis one with air ride and one converted with a Monroe conversion.
There is a very different feel to the ride, and I am the same with you. I have had many sports cars and am more accustomed to the firm ride.
They both have the same brand of tire and I keep close tabs on the air pressure so, the two cars are virtually identical except the air / non-air ride suspension.
I find myself getting behind the wheel of the spring suspension more often then not. Not that it is more comfortable then the other. I just have an attraction to it more. I guess I would say it is a 45/55 split. If you want an opinion as a Conti lover, keep it till it goes and convert it later if you still don’t like it.
To answer your other question the Conti is heavier and “Why install used struts.” For the work it will involve and getting it aligned when you’re done just to cross your fingers and hope they don’t leak in a week.
Also there is a module in the trunk you need to aid in the conversion you will have to purchase that no matter what.
I have never heard of one that was air only in the back.

[ December 16, 2003: Message edited by: Steve Moran ]

[mystery]

I did the Monroe conversion and am overall happy with it. Based on your preferences, you would probably prefer it as well. The ride is not as plush--it is firmer, but comfortable.

Using Taurus struts won't work because I heard that at least the rears are not a direct fit, plus the Continental is a heavier car than the Taurus and needs more support.

Handling is good, but you miss out on the load levelling especially when you load up that trunk with heavy objects. Correct tire pressure is more critical with the coil struts--I used to inflate to 34 - 35 psi with the air struts, but that is too hard for the coils I find and am down to 30 - 32.

Cornering in particular is better.

All stock 88 - 94 continentals were air struts front and rear.

[ekooke]

MissingLINC,
A Taurus front strut conversion IS possible, but the springs are too light for the heavier Conti, and if you were getting the stuff from a salvage yard, you'd be putting in used struts & already sagging springs. The Taurus parts conversion involves drilling a few additional mounting holes, some beating brackets into shape, and just about taking the complete front end off your Conti to do it.
If you really want to do it to correct some perceived handling deficiency, Monroe makes a kit for the Conti that is reportedly a simple bolt-in job with correct spring rates, proper mounts, and new struts; about the same price as new factory OEM air struts.

[MissingLINC]

ekooke, Im not sure what you mean by "perceived handling deficiency".

I stated that I PREFER a stiffer ride and a handling package more along the lines of my 91 SHO.

Im sure the air suspension in my 92 Conti is operating as the factory intended it to, I just dont care for the ride.

Ive still got my stock SHO springs and struts in a foot locker back home. I havent looked at them in years, but since I will be there for xmas I thought I would check them out.

I like my Conti, I just want to change a few things to more suit my personal tastes.

[ekooke]

quote:Originally posted by MissingLINC:
ekooke, Im not sure what you mean by "perceived handling deficiency".

I stated that I PREFER a stiffer ride and a handling package more along the lines of my 91 SHO.

Im sure the air suspension in my 92 Conti is operating as the factory intended it to, I just dont care for the ride.

Ive still got my stock SHO springs and struts in a foot locker back home. I havent looked at them in years, but since I will be there for xmas I thought I would check them out.

I like my Conti, I just want to change a few things to more suit my personal tastes.

A Conti is a luxury passenger car with a smooth ride given priority from the factory, with handling biased towards understeer, forcing the target buyer age group drivers to slow down in curves and live, to come back and buy another Conti in 3~4 years. Fatter sway bars and new bushings will sometimes work wonders, but it is a relatively heavy car.

[MissingLINC]

I havent even looked at the sway bar bushings. I will have the car in a heated shop over xmas so I will look them over.

[Matt Noblick]

I'm not sure if it will be the same but 1997 continentals use a coil spring and strut assembly.