Strut recommendations

[Zee1nonly]

My Marauder is in need of some new struts. I’m not sure what to buy as the typical parts stores and online show generic struts for these cars.
Are the struts and shocks specific to the Marauder or are they from a fellow panther?
I’ve installed the police package struts on my Previous Grand Marquis and it really stiffened the ride quality (not necessarily a good thing on my daily).

Tried a search and got nowhere.

Advice is appreciated!

[SilverPhoenix]

I had Monroe brand shocks/struts installed on my MM almost 10 years ago...they were called severe or super duty or something along those lines. Have put 100K miles on them and I don't have any complaints...

[RubberCtyRauder]

Marauder are specific and discontinued. They have grouped the CV, Marquis, Marauder under same part now.

[Prospect62]

Marauder are specific and discontinued. They have grouped the CV, Marquis, Marauder under same part now.

And because of that, many people are going for the Ridetech coil overs from ADTR to obtain the "right" ride and ride height. You're looking at an $800 bill, though.

[RubberCtyRauder]

And because of that, many people are going for the Ridetech coil overs from ADTR to obtain the "right" ride and ride height. You're looking at an $800 bill, though.

I've had Ridetech since 2017, sold my stock struts with only 47k miles on them. A few other companies make Front coil overs marketed for Crown Vic/F100 swaps, just like the Ridetech are.

[crouse]

Do not buy what Rock Auto shows for the Marauder. I installed the Monroe struts and the front end sat about 2" higher.

I ended up buying new KYB front shocks, and had a local shop swap out the shocks in my existing coils.

[1Marauder]

Yes^^^^^ This ^^^^^ above. Buy the extra "rubber" kit with pair. I think it was an extra $7.50-$10.00 in case they need them at installation. I think The Monroe were called "Severe Duty."

[offroadkarter]

You live in TX so you might as well get the ridetech setup from ADTR. They have an option now to maintain a factory ride height if you don't want to drop the car 1-1.5" over stock.

Back in 17 I had ordered Marauder spec shocks from Ford but it does appear they are NLA. (7w3z18124j Front NLA, 8w7z18125d rear exists / shows fitting all panthers. Can't remember if it was listed this way in 2017). All of the aftermarket shock options are cheap crap. The ridetech kit is not cheap but wow does it not only make the car handle amazing, it rides great. One of the best mods I did to my car by far.

Depending on how many miles are on your car, check the condition of the airbags as well. My black car around 155k when I did the suspension the rear airbags were dry rotted. 3U2Z5580AA is what I bought back then which were HPP / Marauder spec airbags, not the base air ride spec bags that came in crown vic sports.

[svtmerc]

Here's another option like the ride tech setup. QA1 came out with these specifically for all the guys bolting '03+ crown Vic frames and drivetrain under old f-150s. I've not heard from anybody who has used them, but I do know that they do make high quality parts

https://www.qa1.net/automotive/suspension/shocks-struts-coil-overs/stock-mount-coil-over-systemshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220412/0c151caff135b14e80a6e7bca5b4b9 45.jpg

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[BackNBlack]

Marauder / Crown Victoria Kits (naake.com) (http://www.naake.com/store/specials/mercury-marauder)

'Nuff said...

[Zee1nonly]

The coil over setup is probably the way I should go. That being said, it’s tough to bite the bullet and buy 1k worth of front shocks.

I might just swap the struts with the “performance” variants offered and see how I like them.

Also, my car developed a clunking noise over when hitting bumps last week. This weekend I installed replacement rear bushings on the lower control arms. The old ones had a lot of deflection in the material. I noticed when I removed the mount that the driver side had a large washer that centered the mount and the passenger side didn’t.

In summary, the noise is now worse. The ball joints, sway bar bushings and steering rack all feel tight. I guess I need to crawl under another panther to see if I’m indeed missing something.


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[daniel.drives]

Zee1only, check your front swaybar end links when looking for that kind of clunk. The nuts sometimes back off.

I've done work on panthers with Ridetech (mine), QA1, and Naake. I can't recommend QA1 or Naake, their kits come with some strange hardware choices, occasional missing components, and they dont fit in the space as well as Ridetechs. Bite the bullet, get the kit from ADTR, it'll come with everything you need and nice hardware choices, play with the adjustments to you liking, and don't look back. Chris's default spring rate is 650lb/in, that feels perfect on a stock car, if you have a blower or a big brake kit, look at 700 or 750 lb/in.

[1Marauder]

I have (Just recently had four) two MM's, and on Cv sport. My best set up the Monroe Severe duty in the front and the KYB in the rear. KYB a tad firmer and with the big beautiful rear on these cars... Need the tad firmer in the rear to make her squeal!

[justbob]

I rather liked the Monroe’s until I lowered the front. It rode like a brick after that.


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[offroadkarter]

Marauder / Crown Victoria Kits (naake.com) (http://www.naake.com/store/specials/mercury-marauder)

'Nuff said...


the Naake/QA1 kits have a history of premature failure going back 15 years on this site. Would not recommend.

[BackNBlack]

I have the VERY first set installed...still going strong ~20 years later...don't know what you speak of in failures with the Naake...
QA1 is quality stuff...and the springs were expertly developed...meanwhile when folks back in the day were cutting stock springs..."In the Ghetto.....In the Ghetto...."

[offroadkarter]

I have the VERY first set installed...still going strong ~20 years later...don't know what you speak of in failures with the Naake...
QA1 is quality stuff...and the springs were expertly developed...meanwhile when folks back in the day were cutting stock springs..."In the Ghetto.....In the Ghetto...."


https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?96129-lowering&p=1423380#post1423380

https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?87600-KYB-Eaton-vs-Naake-coilover-kit&p=1303595#post1303595

https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?27980-Problem-with-Naake-rear-shocks

https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?94024-Big-Brakes-on-a-not-so-big-Budget-YEP&p=1413462#post1413462

https://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?102952-Ridetech-Coilovers&p=1537886#post1537886

The Naake coilover setup wasn't "developed" for the Marauder, they took parts off a shelf and assembled em in a way that kind of worked. I wish I could find more threads about this but many of the early/old stuff has been lost to the sands of time after plenty of forum upgrades. I have friends who have/had the naake setup and talked about sagging progressive coil springs and blown shock seals with relatively low mileage. The ridetech setup uses hyperco linear coils and fox racing shocks.


The Naake setup was popular 15-20 years ago because it was the only coilover option on the market. Eibach lowering springs became unobtanium, eaton detroit coils were hit or miss and the last option, as you stated, was cutting the factory springs. Now with 3 different options from Ridetech (as well as the ability to select different spring rates) along with the front setup from aldan american (https://aldanamerican.com/year-make-model-search/?swoof=1&pa_vehicle-specific=coilover-kit&pa_vehicle-make=ford&pa_vehicle-model=crown-victoria) (can't speak to any experience with these but hot rod magazine installed them here (https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/aldan-american-crown-victoria-coilover-install/), I don't know why in 2022 anyone would even look at the Naake setup anymore.



QA1 does offer good products, I've long been looking to pick up a carbon fiber driveshaft from QA1 for my mustang. But in terms of coilovers for panthers, ridetech > naake when it comes to off the shelf offerings (can't comment on the probably awesome custom JRi setup that lifespeed had made for his car).

[BackNBlack]

Naake on my car for ~20 years...problem free...

Too bad others feel they had issues....and then i remember all those that whacked away at their factory springs...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beuMKRcdkzs&t=5s

[blazen71]

I can only comment on the Ridetechs. They ride waaaay better than the aftermarket shock/struts that are available. The cost is high, but if you plan to keep your Marauder you will never have to buy another shock or strut. Lifetime Warranty on Ridetechs, which are made by Fox, so you know they'll be around in the future if you ever need to warranty them. FYI, I have the stock ride height kit from ADTR.

[Jhutch]

You had the KYBs swapped over onto the original front springs or the Monroe springs?

[crouse]

The original front springs.

[Zee1nonly]

A few months ago I finally swapped the front struts with some replacements from rockauto. I ordered preloaded because I needed my car back on the road quick.
Well I regretted it the moment I took it for a test drive. Those aftermarket springs lifted my front end over an inch and a half. They ride like marshmallows and bounce like crazy.

I tried to exchange on rockauto but they would only replace with the same kind. When I did the rear 4 link with aftermarket aluminum I replaced the shocks with Monroe magnums. The rear rides incredible and the front even with new suspension bounces all over the road.

I bought some Monroe magnum struts that I’m going to load with my factory springs and I’ll report back with the results.


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[crouse]

Yup. I bought the KYB front shocks. Sold the Monroe's I bought from RockAuto on Craigslist for a loss.


Do not buy what Rock Auto shows for the Marauder. I installed the Monroe struts and the front end sat about 2" higher.

I ended up buying new KYB front shocks, and had a local shop swap out the shocks in my existing coils.

[Zee1nonly]

I ended up installing the Monroe magnums on my factory springs. Ride height went back to normal and the ride stiffened up to what I remember it was before the strut failed. I did the upper control arms and sway bar links at the same time.

The car rides great now. There is one concern still on the drivers side lower control arm. I think a previous owner had the arm repaired and the bushing replaced. I can hear a clunk but it holds alignment. I guess next time I have some downtime I’ll replace the lower control arms. Those are the only remaining original suspension parts.


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[GreekGod]

I just found this posting, and I am surprised that no one corrected the idea that our Marauders came with "struts", because they certainly did not!

Yes, "strut" replacements are available. Technically, struts are MacPherson struts. Our Panther chassis cars have the shock absorbers installed inside of the coil springs. The shocks can be readily replaced, separate from the coil springs.

In the past, when under an extended warranty, Marauder owners thought that their leaking "struts" were covered, only to find that they were not "struts".

When/if you go for the excellent "strut" replacements that are available, you can get an adjustable height, spring and shock combination.

re:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacPherson_strut