Any thoughts on suspension

[rsdunphy]

Howdy all,

I am going to replace my swaybars with some larger Addco's, then some drilled and slotted rotors to replace my warped ones. Any thoughts on some good performance shocks? I'm into back road performance. Also need to have most of suspension rebuilt to tighten things up (and stop that embarassing creak up front)

[NorthShoreChiMM]

Depends on the dollars you have, monroe quick strut is about the same as stock but lifts the front end about 1/2"(115$ each about), ride tech, (700$? a pair) I can't speak for but from what people say is unmatched performance and adjustability.

[RubberCtyRauder]

monroe heavy duty is common swap when doing shocks

[BUCKWHEAT]

monroe heavy duty is common swap when doing shocks

Agree. I have them, but ride is firm.

[Comin' in Hot]

I would skip the sway bars.

For the rear I would get control arms and a watts link from Sparta Motorsports. Monroe heavy duty shocks are great.

My front setup is Eibach springs, KYB shocks, and SPC camber bolts but the springs are in possible to find now.

I should mention my car is lowered front and rear. I have the exact same set up on another marauder, but it has sway bars. I feel the sway bars drastically take away from ride quality and make the suspension too harsh.

[rsdunphy]

Not a good thing for my suspension to raise... also, I have a watts linkage and I thought that was stock for the Marauder. Any info on that?

[Mr. Man]

Not a good thing for my suspension to raise... also, I have a watts linkage and I thought that was stock for the Marauder. Any info on that?

:confused: The Marauder has a stock Watt's Link. Are you saying you have an aftermarket Watt's? Aftermarket is Metco, Sparta/CHE, and Heinous if they still make one. Not sure what your question is.

[rsdunphy]

No, it's stock, it was more of a thought i reckon. Did not know that the shocks could raise my suspension tho. Should I get stock motorcraft to not have that happen?

[rsdunphy]

I have 315s on the rear and the fenders have been rolled, so don't want to affect the ride height, it's juuuuuuuuuust right

[RubberCtyRauder]

shocks dont change height, springs do. Theyno longer make factory front marauder springs and shocks, they use grand marquis rated parts now. you may need to cut a partial coil or full coil to get desired height. stock shocks do nit like a cut spring, need to use kyb or monroe severe duty. kyb has had quality issues and often leak inless than a year, yes the ride will he firmer. upgrading rear control arms and watts link is recommended

[NorthShoreChiMM]

I should of mentioned that the 1/2" raise with the monroes will settle over time, hardly noticeable.

[rsdunphy]

Good info, thanks all

[fastblackmerc]

Haven't replaced the front shock / struts yet.

I'd recommend replacing the front & rear sway bars with Addco's solid bars.

Replace the rear upper & lower control arms with aftermarket pieces (I prefer Metco) and also the Watts link (Metco again).

When upgraded you will have a 2 ton slot car.

The ride will be a little bit more harsh.

BTW---- you can get greasable bushing for the front & rear sway bars. The Metco rear control arms and Watts link are greasable.

[rsdunphy]

Haven't replaced the front shock / struts yet.

I'd recommend replacing the front & rear sway bars with Addco's solid bars.

Replace the rear upper & lower control arms with aftermarket pieces (I prefer Metco) and also the Watts link (Metco again).

When upgraded you will have a 2 ton slot car.

The ride will be a little bit more harsh.

BTW---- you can get greasable bushing for the front & rear sway bars. The Metco rear control arms and Watts link are greasable.

WOW, you just made my day!

[Serge]

I would not install Monroes on anything. Used a few on other cars in the past. They rode worse than worn out factory shocks with over 100000 miles on them. KYBs although ride great have been iffy quality lately. A set my dad installed on his 2003 GMQ both started leaking within 30000 miles. Mine are still doing ok.

Next time around I will likely go with police spec Motorcrafts.

[1Marauder]

I would skip the sway bars.

For the rear I would get control arms and a watts link from Sparta Motorsports. Monroe heavy duty shocks are great.

My front setup is Eibach springs, KYB shocks, and SPC camber bolts but the springs are in possible to find now.

I should mention my car is lowered front and rear. I have the exact same set up on another marauder, but it has sway bars. I feel the sway bars drastically take away from ride quality and make the suspension too harsh.

Interesting... You think they sway bars make the ride more harsh, vs the lower stiffer spring and shocks? Not being snarky here, just trying to learn. I have two Marauders and about to do suspension on the2nd... Would have never thought the sway bar would "harshen" the ride... Hmmmm.

[Comin' in Hot]

Interesting... You think they sway bars make the ride more harsh, vs the lower stiffer spring and shocks? Not being snarky here, just trying to learn. I have two Marauders and about to do suspension on the2nd... Would have never thought the sway bar would "harshen" the ride... Hmmmm.

They both have the exact same suspension setup with the exception one has Addco sway bars, one has the factory bars. Both suspensions are noticeably stiffer than stock (I also have a stock marauder). The one with the Addcos is ridiculously stiff, especially at low speeds It doesn’t soak up the small bumps like the stock sway bar car.

[fastblackmerc]

Interesting... You think they sway bars make the ride more harsh, vs the lower stiffer spring and shocks? Not being snarky here, just trying to learn. I have two Marauders and about to do suspension on the2nd... Would have never thought the sway bar would "harshen" the ride... Hmmmm.


They both have the exact same suspension setup with the exception one has Addco sway bars, one has the factory bars. Both suspensions are noticeably stiffer than stock (I also have a stock marauder). The one with the Addcos is ridiculously stiff, especially at low speeds It doesn’t soak up the small bumps like the stock sway bar car.

I think it may be the poly sway bar bushings instead of rubber. BTW..... I love the ride.... the wife not so much.

[Mr. Man]

They both have the exact same suspension setup with the exception one has Addco sway bars, one has the factory bars. Both suspensions are noticeably stiffer than stock (I also have a stock marauder). The one with the Addcos is ridiculously stiff, especially at low speeds It doesn’t soak up the small bumps like the stock sway bar car.I agree with Derek. We have 2 MM's one with all the goodies and it's pretty stiff. Mine was stock till recently I added Watt's link and CA's. Went from cushy to borderline stiff. I'm keeping the stock sway bars.

[1Marauder]

I have one MM suspension fully "done" as you guys do. And I gotta admit on perfect pavement/asphalt it is amazing... Which means it is a little harsh on regular roads. I never tied this to the sway bars though. Very interesting. May not install the addco sway bars on next one. Thank you.

[RF Overlord]

I still don't understand how sway bars can contribute to ride harshness. When level, the sway bar essentially does nothing. It's only when the body starts to roll during a turn that the sway bar tries to twist, which transmits the force to the other side to help limit that roll. My Marauder has the upgraded Addco rear bar (stock front) and I didn't notice anything other than that the car remained flatter during curves, like on off-ramps. No change in ride quality.

I also have the Zack & Mac control arms...I don't know if that changes the equation...

[Mr. Man]

I still don't understand how sway bars can contribute to ride harshness. When level, the sway bar essentially does nothing. It's only when the body starts to roll during a turn that the sway bar tries to twist, which transmits the force to the other side to help limit that roll. My Marauder has the upgraded Addco rear bar (stock front) and I didn't notice anything other than that the car remained flatter during curves, like on off-ramps. No change in ride quality.

I also have the Zack & Mac control arms...I don't know if that changes the equation...My guess is when you start taking flex out of the equation ride suffers. Like Sacramento said on perfectly flat smooth roads it's livable, but on roads that need attention Paula's car is hard on the bod..

[Aerocoupe]

Any of you guys running ADTR's front and/or rear sway bars? Just an option to the sometimes not in stock ADDCO's.

https://adtr.net/product-category/mercury-marauder/

[Mackdombles]

When you have a stiffer sway, and you hit a bump on one side, it xfers some of that energy through the sway and it acts as a torsion bar as the other side is essentially solid mounted to the wheel that didn't hit the bump. Think a Chevy suspension that only uses torsion bars. Same concept other than the other end of the bar is frame mounted instead of wheel/spindle mounted.

Sway bars can make a huge difference in stiffness as long as we are talking uneven bumps.
Over a bump that both wheels hit, it won't change anything really.





I still don't understand how sway bars can contribute to ride harshness. When level, the sway bar essentially does nothing. It's only when the body starts to roll during a turn that the sway bar tries to twist, which transmits the force to the other side to help limit that roll. My Marauder has the upgraded Addco rear bar (stock front) and I didn't notice anything other than that the car remained flatter during curves, like on off-ramps. No change in ride quality.

I also have the Zack & Mac control arms...I don't know if that changes the equation...

[BAD MERC]

Depends on the dollars you have, monroe quick strut is about the same as stock but lifts the front end about 1/2"(115$ each about), ride tech, (700$? a pair) I can't speak for but from what people say is unmatched performance and adjustability.

I did the easy struts on my 2006 Taurus and HATE them. It sits noticably higher and actually didn't make an improvement. I bought this car with 14 miles on it and there was zero difference after replacing my originals at 111K miles. I bought the Monroe Severe Duty for the Merc and haven't installed them yet.

[1Marauder]

When you have a stiffer sway, and you hit a bump on one side, it xfers some of that energy through the sway and it acts as a torsion bar as the other side is essentially solid mounted to the wheel that didn't hit the bump. Think a Chevy suspension that only uses torsion bars. Same concept other than the other end of the bar is frame mounted instead of wheel/spindle mounted.

Sway bars can make a huge difference in stiffness as long as we are talking uneven bumps.
Over a bump that both wheels hit, it won't change anything really.

Great explanation. Thanks