Spring Conversion Kit-Considering it...

[SavLSCage]

I have a 1991 Lincoln LSC… The rear springs deflate within 3 hours of turning off the car. If it sits for 2-3 days, without starting, the whole system go's flat. I was considering just doing to the Strutmaster, Arnott or Suncore Industries Coil Spring Conversion for about $339+ tax & shipping. It seem like a good fix for my daily driver.

Would it be ok to just to the read and leave my air in the front?

What system is the best to go with or are they all about the same?

Thanks for the advice!

[90LSC]

Replacing rear bags is an easy job.

Your money, your car. But I believe you will ultimately be disappionted with a coil conversion.

[kelevanwinkle]

very true. i seem to be the only one who didnt really care if my bags deflated when i wasnt driving the car, i just thought it was cool when people saw my car drop when i got out haha. if you do get the coil conversion, your daily drive is going to get less comfortable, but it is true that you wont have to keep replacing air spring parts when they go out, plus you free up some energy in your car

[Hensley]

There are strong opinions on either choice. I converted an 88 LSC to Arnott coils, and was very happy. The ride was smooth, and the big selling point to me was that I never (NEVER) had to worry about coming out to a car sitting on the ground - - it was my daily driver. However, if you are mechanically inclined, and have access to the tools, the air system is easy to fix.

[skarhed]

This one of the most rehashed subjects on here.
Don't want to fan the flames too much but here is the way I feel about it.
The air suspension is what makes it a Lincoln. It is extremely robust, and if you read the tech articles here and are willing to learn it is very straight forward to diagnos and repair.
The quality of the various spring conversions seems to vary a lot from brand to brand and within brand depending on when they were manufactured.

Back to your immediate problem.
You have a leak, find it. It can be simple; o-rings at solinoid valves and dryer vent.
It could only be one spring for now at the rear, easier to swap out that one than start tearing the car apart for now.
Bagmasters can rebuild all four of them for about the same price as the conversion.
Don't let it go, take care of it now and you won't waste the compressor as well.
The originals have lasted 17 years, the replacements will most likely go as long.

[95pres]

This one of the most rehashed subjects on here.
Don't want to fan the flames too much but here is the way I feel about it.
The air suspension is what makes it a Lincoln. It is extremely robust, and if you read the tech articles here and are willing to learn it is very straight forward to diagnos and repair.
The quality of the various spring conversions seems to vary a lot from brand to brand and within brand depending on when they were manufactured.

Back to your immediate problem.
You have a leak, find it. It can be simple; o-rings at solinoid valves and dryer vent.
It could only be one spring for now at the rear, easier to swap out that one than start tearing the car apart for now.
Bagmasters can rebuild all four of them for about the same price as the conversion.
Don't let it go, take care of it now and you won't waste the compressor as well.
The originals have lasted 17 years, the replacements will most likely go as long.
+1, I agree, bags are what makes it a Lincoln, easy fix.(at least WAY easier than converting to coils anyway)

[Dave 92 LSC]

Air Bags are what makes the car so cool. You only have to replace bags once every 5 years or so. 250 for both bags in not a bad deal at all. Plus its safer than some hacked coil spring installation.
Thats my opinion.

[OneWayStreet]

IF you can repair your car yourself - - -

It is much easier to diagnose and fix what you already have than to buy that kit and re-engineer your car.

If someone has to perform the repairs for you, my guess is labor will be more to install the kit than to replace air springs.

[joeythefixer]

One more voice for keeping the air suspension. It's really easy to repair and maintain.

[1989LSC]

The coils bent my upper airspring perches in the front. To do it properly you should either weld in some reinforcement or get a tbird k member that has the coil perches. Do a search on here, lots of old threads about it.

[SavLSCage]

You guys have never done me wrong in the past. I am going to keep the Bad A$$ air ride. Sounds like a spring kit will not make it the Lincoln it is ment to be!

So what it the best place to buy to new rear bags?

I remember it being possible to adjust the ride height sensors to give it a lower stance, is this true? Can it be overall harmfull to my system. I had the dealer replace the front bage a few years back. RIP OFF!

[cason1]

Avoid the dealerships. I'd go with American Air Suspensions or Strutmasters for everything. I have been let down by Arnott's quality on their air compressors as of late. You can adjust the ride height with the sensor. Most call it sensor lowering. You will need to get an alignment done after you have done this. If you have new components it won't harm anything. If the air springs are near the end of their life, this may speed that end up by making the spring fold at a different place than it had been used to and stressing the rubber in a weaker spot. If you have new or nearly new springs, they will get used to this ride height and you won't have any issues except for maybe a few curbs if you get too close.

[OneWayStreet]

You guys have never done me wrong in the past. I am going to keep the Bad A$$ air ride. Sounds like a spring kit will not make it the Lincoln it is ment to be!

So what it the best place to buy to new rear bags?

I remember it being possible to adjust the ride height sensors to give it a lower stance, is this true? Can it be overall harmfull to my system. I had the dealer replace the front bage a few years back. RIP OFF!

I can't speak for the other vendors, but Arnott gives very specific instructions on air spring replacement. Click on the Quick Links above (under the Lincolns on Line header) for their web site.

[LJS30]

Keep the air ride!!!!!!!!!! As I stated many times in the past, I'm a perfect example of a former coil spring conversion blasphemer who returned to the flock. Stay with the air and save yourself the grief.

[cason1]

I can't speak for the other vendors, but Arnott gives very specific instructions on air spring replacement. Click on the Quick Links above (under the Lincolns on Line header) for their web site.


You can print off the instructions from Arnott and they are extremely well written but I won't buy from them again.

[SavLSCage]

So it sounds like American Air Suspensions or Strutmasters are the way to go. Has anyone had problems either of these companies products?

[joeythefixer]

used both and Arnot. never had a problem.

[90LSC]

Bagmasters is who you need to talk to.

Their prices are very competetive. If they don't have NEW bags in stock (getting very scarce BTW) their remans are quality pieces.

PLUS, when you ask for it, you will recieve a bag with an LSC base.
Kieth at Bagmasters is -to the best of my knowledge- the only retailer that understands that there IS a spring rate difference. All the others mindlessly mouth the "There's no difference" mantra. Idiots.

Bagmasters. Ask for Kieth. 1-800-589-3409

Armond

[blacklsc1]

i used arnott for my convertion kit on my mark 8. The car rides and handles great, i just ordered the convertion kit for my 7. Soo im hoping for the same results.

[blacklsc1]

just received the convertion kit for the 7, and it does have the aluminum stands for the springs, and not the b.s plates.

[harryrezz]

Did a conversion on my '90 - but I can't remember the brand. I had no issues with it. Car sat just a bit lower and handled a bit stiffer, but I liked it. Drove it that way for nearly 100K!

However, that said, I wouldn't do it again. Now that I'm back in an air suspension Mark I can appreciate the difference and it is well worth any little agrivations. If (when) I have bag problems with the '88 I'll replace the bags. They are easy to do. Keeping everything clean is important during the process. I've used Bagmasters products with good results.

[JBLSC]

i use arnott bags with no problems...customers like them too

[LJS30]

The coils bent my upper airspring perches in the front. To do it properly you should either weld in some reinforcement or get a tbird k member that has the coil perches. Do a search on here, lots of old threads about it.

That's exactly what happened to my due to the Strutmaster coil conversion I used. I had to get a guy to weld some extra support in order to get my air springs back in. To me, it's very simple. Only blasphemers go with the coils.....J/K. When it comes down to it the air suspension is very dependable and really is nice to have on these cars. You will not beat the ride or the functionality of air.