View Full Version : Air bags vs. Springs: Which is better?
MegasXLR
04-02-2014, 06:47 AM
First post on this site, but it's relaxing to see an unnoticed car get so much love! Anyway, I've got an '03 Mary(That's a 300A right?) with about 110k and a few things to fix. Long story short my air suspension stopped working and I'm wondering if I should fix it or go with the spring conversion kit https://www.arnottindustries.com/part_FORD_Air_Suspension_Parts _yid1_pid9.html I'm sure someone on here has done the swap, walk me through your pain or pleasure.
justbob
04-02-2014, 06:58 AM
You will find most here don't care for the spring downgrade. Most everything air wise is relatively cheap and easy to diagnose.
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whitey
04-02-2014, 07:01 AM
Well, first thing is to find out what failed. Check the button in the trunk. Next is to check the ride height sensor on the watts link. If the compressor on the car doesn't kick on, i recommend manually pumping up the system with a compressor to check that they're holding air. If they hold air, but the compressor has failed, and all youll need is a new one. If they dont hold air, you will need new bags and compressor. .notice how i never said springs:P comfort will drop with a spring conversion
MegasXLR
04-02-2014, 07:10 AM
Well, first thing is to find out what failed. Check the button in the trunk. Next is to check the ride height sensor on the watts link. If the compressor on the car doesn't kick on, i recommend manually pumping up the system with a compressor to check that they're holding air. If they hold air, but the compressor has failed, and all youll need is a new one. If they dont hold air, you will need new bags and compressor. .notice how i never said springs:P comfort will drop with a spring conversion
Ya i'm somewhat mechanically-inclined, so I know it's not the trunk switch. I'll give the manual pump a shot, since I don't hear the car's compressor kicking on. Besides the dealer, where's a good place for brand new air bags? I'd rather not go used.
justbob
04-02-2014, 07:14 AM
Arnott industries IIRC
Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.
Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"
whitey
04-02-2014, 07:18 AM
Heres the process for manually pumping up the bags:
Get a helper
Locate the air compressor under the air filter
Disconnect the air line going to the compressor by pushing the orange or red ring towards the compressor while pulling the air line away from the compressor.
Get an air compressor, like a pancake style one, and get one of those rubber dusting nozzles that you can blow air through.
With the switch on in the trunk, air compressor pluged in electrically, have your helper turn on the ignition.
Once ignition is on, you will hear a click, this means the solenoids have opened and you can now pump air into the bags.
Pump air into the line and you will see the rear end start to raise, you have a limited amount of time to do this until the solenoids close again.
Once you reach what you see as the proper height, have your helper turn off the switch in the trunk, this manually closes the solenoids and locks the air in the bags.
Take a measurement of the fender height from the ground.
Next day take another measurement and compare the 2, if your bags are leaky, youll see a substantial difference in measurements.
whitey
04-02-2014, 07:22 AM
Arnott industries is a good company, i think lifespeed is selling airbags in the for sale forum, it was posted a while back. And someone just posted a used compressor and drier unit for sale in one of the threads.
fastblackmerc
04-02-2014, 08:09 AM
Repair the air ride system FTW!!!!! :banana2:
MegasXLR
04-02-2014, 08:25 AM
Can't thank you enough Whitey, Justbob. I'll post the results once I'm done.
MOTOWN
04-02-2014, 09:14 AM
Don't turn your Marauder into a Taxi! just say "NO" to coil springs!
guspech750
04-02-2014, 06:41 PM
Don't turn your Marauder into a Taxi! just say "NO" to coil springs!
LOL! Nice! LOL!
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vkirkend
04-03-2014, 06:25 AM
The Air Compressor on my Black has stopped working also. Arnott Industries does not list the Marauder specifically. Are the bags for the Marquis the same?
BLACKMARAUDER04
04-03-2014, 11:29 AM
use this link:
https://www.arnottindustries.com/part_MERCURY_yid3_pid20.html
vkirkend
04-03-2014, 12:21 PM
use this link:
https://www.arnottindustries.com/part_MERCURY_yid3_pid20.html
I went to the link but called to verify that this fit the Marauder because it was not specifically listed. They said it does. Thanks!
crabby125
04-03-2014, 02:05 PM
Don't turn your Marauder into a Taxi! just say "NO" to coil springs!
THIS!
I made a rant on fb a while ago on how I hate when people convert to coils because they can't afford to spend a bit more for a proper fix.
Boy did a lot of people get pissed off at me.
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fastblackmerc
04-03-2014, 02:52 PM
THIS!
I made a rant on fb a while ago on how I hate when people convert to coils because they can't afford to spend a bit more for a proper fix.
Boy did a lot of people get pissed off at me.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
Amen brother.
At least you spoke the truth!
mnrauder
04-04-2014, 07:34 AM
don't both repairs cost about the same these days?
lifespeed
04-04-2014, 02:25 PM
That's right, I have a one-year-old set of OEM air springs for sale (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91428). Arnott springs are definitely not the same, although they will fit on the car.
lifespeed
04-04-2014, 02:27 PM
don't both repairs cost about the same these days?
Air suspension costs significantly more than a $120 set of coil springs.
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