Softer Ride Wanted

[Bill Lalk]

Can someone tell me possitively if 04' Towncar shock/strut assembly will fit as a direct replacement on my DTR? I have tired of this harsh suspension. I can buy them for $260 but they are special order and not returnable. If this works out, then I need advice on the harsh rear suspension also.
Thanks!

[WI Fordguy]

You want a softer ride from a Marauder? Sell it and buy a Town Car. It's not just the suspension it's the rims/tires. How far do you want to de-Marauder your Marauder? I mean it's already a DTR.

[Bill Lalk]

I'm so tired of people telling me to sell the car if I don't like the ride. I love this car and there is one thing I can say that I bet no one else here can - I have a personal attachment with this MM as we both have the exact same birthday. That said, why is it such an insult to you fellows that I would like it smoother over the bumps. With the big sway bars it will still corner like a go kart, not a Lincoln. I carry around my 82 yr old in-laws in the back and when I see their heads bouncing/jarring I almost expect to find their false teeth on the carpet.
I have driven several cars with a heck of a lot more power that my MM and a few of them road noticably smoother, so I know this can be acomplished, I'm just trying to find the most affordable.
I have a friend who builds frames and suspensions around the country for off road racers and Baja. He can't do it cost effectively on my car, but he builds in a tremendous amount of travel in his vehicles for a super smooth and super durable ride. He gets like $20k a vehicle. When I talk to a driver/buyer of one of his builds, I never would ask them "why don't you just buy a Lincoln?" So, please, I would very much appreciate anyone's advice who may have accually done some of the work I am inquiring about.
Thanks!

[WI Fordguy]

Cranky much? And if you've upgraded your sway bars that's also making the ride rougher.

[Bill Lalk]

WI Fordguy - Thanks for all your help.

[jimlam56]

Not sure if just replacing the shocks/struts will help Bill.
The wheel tire combo on the MM adds a lot to the stiffness, along with the heavier sway bars.

[SC Cheesehead]

Not sure if just replacing the shocks/struts will help Bill.
The wheel tire combo on the MM adds a lot to the stiffness, along with the heavier sway bars.

^^^^^ What Jim said. ^^^^^

The MM was designed to incorporate a stiffer suspension system. If you want to make it ride softer swap out the wheels, tires, sway bars, shocks and struts with those components from a GM, CV, or Town Car. That oughta do it, but don't expect the same handling characteristics out of the car afterwards.

[RubberCtyRauder]

As others have noted, the rims and tires make up some of the stiffness in ride. You could switch rims to a 17 or 16 inch style which will add sidewall height to the tire creating more flex. A lot of mustang rims fit Marauders and there are usually plenty on ebay or your local area craigslist. If you have traction control, will have to keep the stagger front to back. Plus what SC Cheesehead said..changing the suspension components to that of a crown vic or marquis will soften the ride but will not react like the original marauder.

[Bill Lalk]

I have already switched to taller and softer sidewall tires. Do any of you know if the 04' Towncar struts are a direct replacement fit?
Thanks.

[MOTOWN]

You can cross reference the 04 town car struts on rock auto.com ,and see if both cars use the same part#

[fastblackmerc]

Swap out your factory sway bars for the CV or GM ones. Have you replaced the rear upper & lower control arms? If so go back to stock.

[Ktorres1]

I'm so tired of people telling me to sell the car if I don't like the ride. I love this car and there is one thing I can say that I bet no one else here can - I have a personal attachment with this MM as we both have the exact same birthday. That said, why is it such an insult to you fellows that I would like it smoother over the bumps. With the big sway bars it will still corner like a go kart, not a Lincoln. I carry around my 82 yr old in-laws in the back and when I see their heads bouncing/jarring I almost expect to find their false teeth on the carpet.
I have driven several cars with a heck of a lot more power that my MM and a few of them road noticably smoother, so I know this can be acomplished, I'm just trying to find the most affordable.
I have a friend who builds frames and suspensions around the country for off road racers and Baja. He can't do it cost effectively on my car, but he builds in a tremendous amount of travel in his vehicles for a super smooth and super durable ride. He gets like $20k a vehicle. When I talk to a driver/buyer of one of his builds, I never would ask them "why don't you just buy a Lincoln?" So, please, I would very much appreciate anyone's advice who may have accually done some of the work I am inquiring about.
Thanks!


you better hope your in laws dont see this thread lol i understand where your coming from.

[Bill Lalk]

You can cross reference the 04 town car struts on rock auto.com ,and see if both cars use the same part#

The part#'s are different because the parts are different. I just can't seem to find anyone, including my dealer/parts houses that can tell me if they will bolt in. I guess its just going to cost me $260 to find out.
By the way, the whole suspension is still factory, just went up 2 sizes on all tires.

[Ktorres1]

Good luck dude!

[TooManyFords]

Here is a thread I started years and years ago...

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4510&page=2

If you want to spend big bucks, you can get the NAAKE QA1 system and that too will make the Marauder ride smooth just by adjusting the shocks to the mushy setting. I've done both and the current marauders I own have this setup. I'm just saying that the shocks I found in the thread above did exactly the same thing but were not adjustable. They were, however, inexpensive!

You're welcome.

[finster101]

You can also swap out the air bags in the rear with the Lincoln bags. The Marauder uses Limo bags to get a little more firmness.

[Bill Lalk]

TooManyFords: Thanks a bunch!! Why do I need to buy 65' Galaxie shocks? Won't 04' GM or Towncar shocks fit?

[Bill Lalk]

You can also swap out the air bags in the rear with the Lincoln bags. The Marauder uses Limo bags to get a little more firmness.

Thanks, I'll check into that.

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Can someone tell me possitively if 04' Towncar shock/strut assembly will fit as a direct replacement on my DTR? I have tired of this harsh suspension. I can buy them for $260 but they are special order and not returnable. If this works out, then I need advice on the harsh rear suspension also.
Thanks!

The suspension is only harsh at low speeds. :burnout:

[NXSBOB]

All Grand Marquis suspension parts should be interchangeable. You cou get those at a boneyard.

[Bill Lalk]

All Grand Marquis suspension parts should be interchangeable. You cou get those at a boneyard.

Thanks!
So would you suggest I buy 04' GM frt strut assemblies rather than Towncar?

[burt ragio]

As mentioned there are a few things you neeed to change if you want a softer ride with out braking the bank. Why I am so confident is I have had oem set up, Naake QA1s f/r double adjust. I have had what I thought was oem & are Grand Marquis coil over shocks. I then had the last two combos with one coil cut. I now run one coil cut with KYB high pressure coil overs & Poly bushgings on bars.
These four sus parts play the largest roll tires, springs, shocks & sway bars. I would change in steps so you can feel the differance as you make changes. I would leave the f/r oem sway bars they keep the car level. I would also leave front coil over springs they are not to high lb rated. I would start with tires softer & taller side wall. Then different front coil over shocks start with fronts. I have some I will send you that I bought new used for two weeks & pulled. If you like them as I know you will I will charge you half fo what I paid plus shipping. If you don't like them just send them back. PM me if you want to try them.

[NXSBOB]

I emailed you. It was to much info to post.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/part-finder/slide-show/2004/Mercury/Marauder/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=Marauder%7C723&Make=Mercury%7C56&Year=2004%7C2004&brand=Motorcraft&partsNode=46325011&carId=010

[TooManyFords]

TooManyFords: Thanks a bunch!! Why do I need to buy 65' Galaxie shocks? Won't 04' GM or Towncar shocks fit?

I simply posted what worked for me. My friend worked at NAPA and we went through all the shocks and compared them. You can certainly try the 04 shocks to see if that works.

[TFB]

Check to see if the shocks and struts for a '07 Grand Marquis GS no handling pkg, will fit(I believe they should)... My '07 has what I think is the perfect compromise, it's firm without being mushy...It's not as firm as my Marauder but is far firmer than the mushy '98 that actually has less miles... In fact my mother in law complained it rode too rough when we got it and would only ride in the old '93 Grand Marquis we had back then...

BTW check part number from year to year, I rented a '11 Grand Marquis last year and it was far softer than my '07, I expected it to be similar...

[NXSBOB]

You can also swap out the air bags in the rear with the Lincoln bags. The Marauder uses Limo bags to get a little more firmness.

finster101, you are right. I noticed that when I was looking at an applications list.

[EMAS]

I second using the HPP front springs for a happy medium.