air compressor or spring conversion?

[whitey]

well, my compressor died and i talked to musclemerc about a new compressor, because IMO, hes the shat and knows his shat. he pointed me to arnott, and while i was checking the new compressor out, i noticed they have the conversion kit to springs. i manually pumped the airbags last night, and from what iv'e measured, both airbags are holding pressure. so heres my thoughts, ...im laid off, i just had my tranny go out 300 miles ago, the car has 107,500 miles on it, and i dont think the bags have ever been replaced. should i spend $190 on a new compressor and install it myself, or get the springs for $189, and attempt to install those? i dont have a lift, just a jack, and a simple ~160 piece craftsman mechanics tool set, do i need any special tools, or any tips anybody could provide that has done this? im assuming the springs will be the same although theyre meant for a merc. gran marquis. money is tight, and i dont want to spend any more cash than i need to. thanks guys--whitey

[CBT]

Vroooom!

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24 259&thumb=1&d=1303231665 (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24 259&d=1303231665)

[MERCMAN]

salvage yard replacement would be a good alternative and less $$$$

[Bradley G]

Post up for a used compressor, someone here has got to have one for you.

[musclemerc]

The tool collection you have is more than adequate to do mosty anything on a MM let alone any other car, foreign or domestic.

I agree, put out a WTB ad for the compressor and then just put a new drier on it. Swap out the parts and keep your car the way it was intended to be from the Mfg.

You got my number if you need me.
Good Luck!

[cougar9150]

Another alternative is a company called American Air Suspension (I think). Dennis Reinhart posted about them awhile back but I'm on my phone and can't find the thread. They sell refurbished compressors for about $140-150 and they have 2 year warranty I believe.

[Krytin]

I cleaned up the printed circut board on mine over a year ago when mine went.
It's been working fine ever since. I believe there is a thread with pictures somewhere on the site.

[whitey]

mine looks pretty corroded, and when i removed the dryer, the tabs broke off. another question is, due to my ignorence on how the air line is supposed to be removed, i cut mine about 6" from the end that goes into the dryer. is there a way to reconnect the 2 pieces back together?

[Krytin]

Try a hardware store or one that deals in hydraulics and get a compression fitting union for the tubing - bring a piece for size.

They all look pretty corroded but if it doesn't work now what do you have to loose trying to clean it up!

[Marauderjack]

I would never convert to springs!!!:shake:

[zr271cuda]

I replaced mine with the Arrnott Industries replacement almost a year ago with no problems. http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=64390&highlight=air+compressor I love the air ride and I think after you install springs you will love the air ride too, and wish you would have fixed the air. I still have the old compressor minus the wiring harness. If it would help you out I will send you my old one free of charge. Maybe you can find someone that can rebuild one buy putting the two together. I know mine looks pretty bad but maybe there are some salvageable parts on it. Let me know if you are interested. :beer:

[FordNut]

I would never convert to springs!!!:shake:

Me too....

[whitey]

krytin: where is the board to clean up? i opened up the part where the green wire runs to and it has a blue cylindrical thing, the part where the red wire runs to is corroded, the bolts wouldn't come off, if i need to get into that i'll try some pb blaster or wd40.

sr271: i appreciate the offer, but i think i'll buy a new compressor, and save myself the time and possible dissapointment of it still not working...i can see it now...the wife "you've been spending all day on that compressor, and it didn't even work...when are you going to help w/ the baby..":P

to everyone else, if i cant fix the compressor myself with help from krytin, im going to hold out on purchasing one until i have the money, its pumped up and is holding pressure(even gained some height when i drove it and it warmed up). thanks for all the help.--whitey

[MOTOWN]

what ever you do do not convert to coil springs! thats like taking a porterhouse off the grill, only to replace it with a cube steak!

[whitey]

what ever you do do not convert to coil springs! thats like taking a porterhouse off the grill, only to replace it with a cube steak!

from ruth chris's to cracker barrel, lmao.

[Krytin]

krytin: where is the board to clean up? i opened up the part where the green wire runs to and it has a blue cylindrical thing, the part where the red wire runs to is corroded, the bolts wouldn't come off, if i need to get into that i'll try some pb blaster or wd40.




The 4 screws that hold the motor can/flange to the pump housing are probably too corroded to break loose. I know I broke one on mine and had to drill it out and use a larger screw when i put it back together.
The board is on the pump side of the flange and has the brushes mounted on it. It will have a lot of corrosion on it but most likely will clean-up fine.

Soak it down with the PB Blaster (Good Stuff!) or WD and I'll try to take some pictures and look for the thread(s) on this site - I think I remember looking at someone's how-to pictures but this set-up/problem is very much like the sequential turn singnal flashers in my '68 XR-7 that used to get wet in the left rear wheel well and had to be "cleaned-up" periodically.

I am going to be busy this week so I don't think I'll have the pictures done until after this w/e. Let the screws soak for a day or two anyway (or longer if you can only get the WD) and I'll see what I can get done.

[Mr. Man]

I would only replace the air suspension with springs if I were to road course race the MM.

Drill out the weep holes under the compressor while its out. I even added a few in spots that looked like they could hold water..

[tbone]

Springs? No ****ing way!

[Krytin]

Hey whitey,
Check out post #4 in this thread:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=45169&highlight=rebuild+air+compress or

Actually read the whole thread start to finish!

[whitey]

thanks krytin, if i could shake your hand, i would.

i just pulled it apart and i was disgusted at the amount of sand/salt/crap that in there. the motor housing had a boatload of debri also. cleaned it up the best i could with some QD electrical cleaner, and a pick, and a lot of tapping and shaking the debri out. 2 of the 4 phillips screws holding the board had to be dremeled off, i dont have a workbench or a huge variety of tools at my disposal, so i made due w/ what i did have. im now waiting for the silicone gasket maker to dry, and im hoping the silicone holds down the board good enough in place of the 2 screws that are missing, and that way the motor brushes housing wont rub the commutator of the motor(i didn't clean the commutator, it didn't look too bad). a strong neodymium magnet really helps with cleaning the ferrous ceramic magnets in the motor housing. 2 of the 4 torx screws(2.5mm) that hold the motor housing to the flange snapped off, so im going to attempt jb welding the 2 together, and clamp it down, figuring that the other 2 screws will be adaquate to hold it in place, and the jb weld will suffice. as soon as i can get this thing together, i'll give you guys a shout on whether it worked or not.--whitey

[whitey]

it did not work...oh well, i'll just have to wait to get money to order up a compressor

[Krytin]

Sorry to hear that.

[MarauderBoy]

I have a dead soldier that i have rebuilt twice if you would like to use it for parts. happy to send it to you.

[4play]

keep the air drier (black plastic thing air line goes into) if you go with arnott the line will be rubbed through in no time on the washer fluid tank, you will want to swap the new air drier with your old one.

[cougar9150]

keep the air drier (black plastic thing air line goes into) if you go with arnott the line will be rubbed through in no time on the washer fluid tank, you will want to swap the new air drier with your old one.

I believe the dryer should be replaced whenever you replace the springs or compressor. The desiccant does lose it's ability to absorb moisture over time but I'm not sure of the recommended service intervals for just general maintenance.

Order a town car dryer for the one with the 90° outlet. Got mine recently from Arnott through Amazon and it came with the correct angled fitting. I would call and verify what dryer your getting when you place your order.

Prior to replacing my air springs recenty I had the dryer with the straight outlet and just pulled the air line from the clip closest to the compressor. This gave me plenty of hose for a service loop with no rubbing issues. That dryer was installed for almost 20k.

[whitey]

thanks for the heads up cougar, it will be some time before i order one.

i think i'll just order another one marauderboy, but thanks for the offer.

4play, i've heard to replace the dryer, never to re-use it. as cougar said, the dryer will eventually get moist, especially if its been in the open atmosphere, which mine has been. when its on the car, ive heard when the airbags release pressure, it goes through the dryer, and out to the atmosphere through a valve....taking some of the dryers moisture with it.

[stryker]

I check the ARNOTT site and they have an offer that they sell the compressor and the two airsprings for $ 350.00, in fact I call them today and order the catalog. in mi opinion I will leave the air suspension the most important is maintain the system, in my new Panther I discover something Horrible and frightening :eek: but take a peek in my thread to see pics. :awe:

[4play]

I believe the dryer should be replaced whenever you replace the springs or compressor. The desiccant does lose it's ability to absorb moisture over time but I'm not sure of the recommended service intervals for just general maintenance.

Order a town car dryer for the one with the 90° outlet. Got mine recently from Arnott through Amazon and it came with the correct angled fitting. I would call and verify what dryer your getting when you place your order.

Prior to replacing my air springs recenty I had the dryer with the straight outlet and just pulled the air line from the clip closest to the compressor. This gave me plenty of hose for a service loop with no rubbing issues. That dryer was installed for almost 20k.

not in my case, I took that clip off and still the washer tank was pushing on the line. what does arnott sell an air drier for? 50 bucks? for 370 i can buy a ford replacement from the dealer

[cougar9150]

not in my case, I took that clip off and still the washer tank was pushing on the line. what does arnott sell an air drier for? 50 bucks? for 370 i can buy a ford replacement from the dealer

This is the one I bought when I replaced my Air Springs recently:http://www.amazon.com/Arnott-Air-Compressor-Dryer/dp/B002ZKM28Q/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=Town%20Car|712&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Lincoln|55&Year=2003|2003&newCar=1&carId=002 (http://www.amazon.com/Arnott-Air-Compressor-Dryer/dp/B002ZKM28Q/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=Town%20Car%7C712&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Lincoln%7C55&Year=2003%7C2003&newCar=1&carId=002)

Says it doesn't fit the MM but we all know it does/will. It is the exact dimensional match as stock even w/the 90° outlet. Just search for it via the Town Car on Amazon, EBay, or on their website. Arnott P/N D2156 ($42 on their website)

[johnnyrauder]

i went with a spring convertion on my 93 vic. and 97 gm didn't notice any differance. the cars rode great. imo