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Thread: Getting ready to drop 1.5

  1. #31
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    Jan 2012
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    We're having a beautiful Easter Sunday here in MN. Perfect day to wash the car and snap a few pics.

    It has settled to -3.3cm, or -1.3" at the license plate bracket. Any more would be too much for appearance's sake, I think. Obviously dropped, not slammed.

    It goes in tomorrow for alignment...
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    Last edited by clmrt; 04-20-2014 at 11:25 AM.
    2003 300A, #5379 of 7838

  2. #32
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    Sitin nice
    03 300a. black #1695 of 7839 born 6/20/02.
    Adopted 3/31/11. Sold


    03 300a black #1199
    TERMINATOR SWAP
    430rwhp. Done by mo's

  3. #33
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    Oct 2004
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    Quote Originally Posted by clmrt View Post
    We're having a beautiful Easter Sunday here in MN. Perfect day to wash the car and snap a few pics.

    It has settled to -3.3cm, or -1.3" at the license plate bracket. Any more would be too much for appearance's sake, I think. Obviously dropped, not slammed.

    It goes in tomorrow for alignment...
    Looks good. The front tire appear to be right at the wheel well's opening.


    1. Black Sunshine (2003A F.I.T #3) (SOLD!)
    2. 2004 SAP P71 (Gone)
    3. The 2001 P71 (Flying Snow). (Sold)
    4. The 1998 P71 Jinbei. (Sold)
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  4. #34
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    Not quite a two finger gap.

    Older pics -
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    Last edited by clmrt; 04-21-2014 at 02:37 PM.
    2003 300A, #5379 of 7838

  5. #35
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    Apr 2013
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    SE NC
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    Looks good. What size tire are you running in the front?

    2004 SB, Born 8/26/2003, Adopted 5/14/2013. #145 of 3214 and #51 of 997 in SB -Built to be blown but still N/A!!
    Proud Carolina Marauder and Silver Birch Society member
    2001 F350 Oil Burner- tow pig
    2007 P71- daily hooptie

  6. #36
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    Richfield, MN
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    Stock all the way. The alignment is done, picking it up in an hour. It's at a friend's shop, I told him to take his time and dial in Carfixer's spec. He's concerned it may wander a bit, we'll see.
    Last edited by clmrt; 04-24-2014 at 04:49 AM.
    2003 300A, #5379 of 7838

  7. #37
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    Wander? Not a bit. Goes down the road like a sled.

    Raybestos bolts #6111222
    Carfixer spec

    If you are in the TC Metro, see Dan at Penn Auto Care in Richfield, near 66th and Penn.

    I'm going to drop the rear another 1/2" and then take a few more pics.
    2003 300A, #5379 of 7838

  8. #38
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    I've got the car dropped to where I like it visually, almost level front-to-back with only a slight rake when at rest. It seems to me the air springs don't have enough rate when dropped to absorb big hits like railroad tracks. There might not be enough pressure in the bags for them to do their job.

    Does anyone else with an aggressive drop run into this issue?

    I'm going to put some dabs of blu-tack (sticky play-doh) on the bump stops then drive the hell out of it on a bad road near my house to see if it's bottoming. If it is, I'll bring it up a hair and look into low-profile bump stops.
    2003 300A, #5379 of 7838

  9. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by clmrt View Post
    I've got the car dropped to where I like it visually, almost level front-to-back with only a slight rake when at rest. It seems to me the air springs don't have enough rate when dropped to absorb big hits like railroad tracks. There might not be enough pressure in the bags for them to do their job.

    Does anyone else with an aggressive drop run into this issue?

    I'm going to put some dabs of blu-tack (sticky play-doh) on the bump stops then drive the hell out of it on a bad road near my house to see if it's bottoming. If it is, I'll bring it up a hair and look into low-profile bump stops.
    Yes, the spring rate is lower with less air. For me this was a step in the right direction. The bump stops also need to be shorter. I used Energy Suspension 9.9154.

    http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forum...6&postcount=20

    http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forum...ad.php?t=88840
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    2004 Silver Birch Marauder 130K miles
    Wilwood Aero6 F, NMDP R brakes, Penske 7500DA shocks, Hypercoil 600lbs F and Grand Marquis R air springs, Addco tubular sway bars, Metco control & Watts, 31 sp axles, Stainless Works cat-back exhaust, Lidio tune, American Racing AR883 9.3" 50mm F 10" 59mm R 20" wheels, Pirelli P-Zero 265/35-20, 275/40-20 tires

    Coming soon: Livernois 5.0L stroker, ADTR/Vortech V2 intercooled SC, Silverfox trans and Circle D converter

  10. #40
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    Thanks! I'lll look into that.
    2003 300A, #5379 of 7838

  11. #41
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    Also make sure your sway bar is not binding as it travels through the range of axle movement. This is definitely a problem with Addco rear bars, I don't know about the stock bar. Changing the length of the end links so the bar is parallel with the ground is the solution. Unbolt the links, pivot the sway bar down and see how far it can go before hitting the axle cover.
    Lifespeed

    2004 Silver Birch Marauder 130K miles
    Wilwood Aero6 F, NMDP R brakes, Penske 7500DA shocks, Hypercoil 600lbs F and Grand Marquis R air springs, Addco tubular sway bars, Metco control & Watts, 31 sp axles, Stainless Works cat-back exhaust, Lidio tune, American Racing AR883 9.3" 50mm F 10" 59mm R 20" wheels, Pirelli P-Zero 265/35-20, 275/40-20 tires

    Coming soon: Livernois 5.0L stroker, ADTR/Vortech V2 intercooled SC, Silverfox trans and Circle D converter

  12. #42
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    Location
    Kansas
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    Looks good 'clmrt'.

    However, one of your posts has me thinkin'---I'm gettin ready to replace my front springs and was going to grab a pair of the MOOG 80668 part number---then I noticed they are also spec'd for the CV, as well. From what you've seen, will these put my MM back to stock height, or lift it up to the CV height?

    Thanks

  13. #43
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    Lift. I cut 1.75 coils and got the desired 1.5 drop. Others have reported a lift when using the 80668 even on CVs and GMs, so on a MM I would certainly expect a lift over stock.

    It seems the best way to get an OEM spring these days is to go with Eaton Detroit or Coilsprings.com. Either way, you pay custom prices of $200-250 delivered. I chose $95 delivered with a cut for a custom fit.

    So yeah, I'd expect a lift. I would imagine 1/2 to one cut coil would get you back to stock but that's just a guess. Once you've done this it's a half-hour job to get the strut out, another 15 min to swap the coil, then another half-hour to install so you could experiment in one day and get exactly what you want. Springs do indeed settle, and I got an additional .25 drop over the first week.
    2003 300A, #5379 of 7838

  14. #44
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    It's a bit bouncy in the rear.

    I have it set so that there's some compressor action, but just enough so that it gives a little lift and some airbag pressure. The height is just where I want it.

    With the bags set just so and the Monroe Severe Duty installed, it's too jouncy. This morning I did a spirited jaunt through our office park, rolling, twisting with some moderate bumps and heaves in the road. On the worst one, while accelerating uphill on a right-hand sweeper, the rear end took the hit (oof) but then launched into the air (boing) and I'm pretty sure I lost contact with the road. Not a good feeling.

    I think I need more dampening.
    2003 300A, #5379 of 7838

  15. #45
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    Quote Originally Posted by clmrt View Post
    It's a bit bouncy in the rear.

    I have it set so that there's some compressor action, but just enough so that it gives a little lift and some airbag pressure. The height is just where I want it.

    With the bags set just so and the Monroe Severe Duty installed, it's too jouncy. This morning I did a spirited jaunt through our office park, rolling, twisting with some moderate bumps and heaves in the road. On the worst one, while accelerating uphill on a right-hand sweeper, the rear end took the hit (oof) but then launched into the air (boing) and I'm pretty sure I lost contact with the road. Not a good feeling.

    I think I need more dampening.
    Make sure you aren't bottoming out on the bump stops or hitting the sway bar against the rear end cover when compressed.

    It is an easy enough experiment to raise the rear back up and see if the spring/damping combination is more correct. It is helpful to see which direction the suspension needs to go.

    My brother has a Marauder also, stock with 30K miles. He is completely dissatisfied with the rear suspension behavior. It is harsh and will tail wag when rapidly changing lanes. I don't have any tail wag issues with the upgrades I have done to mine, but have struggled to find the right damping adjustments in the rear. And I have adjustable shocks . . .

    I have contemplated switching to coils in the rear, but will try a while longer with the air springs.

    With non-adjustable shocks there is not much you can do about the ride if your problem is not related to hitting the bump stops.
    Lifespeed

    2004 Silver Birch Marauder 130K miles
    Wilwood Aero6 F, NMDP R brakes, Penske 7500DA shocks, Hypercoil 600lbs F and Grand Marquis R air springs, Addco tubular sway bars, Metco control & Watts, 31 sp axles, Stainless Works cat-back exhaust, Lidio tune, American Racing AR883 9.3" 50mm F 10" 59mm R 20" wheels, Pirelli P-Zero 265/35-20, 275/40-20 tires

    Coming soon: Livernois 5.0L stroker, ADTR/Vortech V2 intercooled SC, Silverfox trans and Circle D converter

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