Front Spring Choices

[JohnE]

The original front springs on my Marauder are too weak for daily driving now. The car handles great on normal surfaces, however dips and bumps cause the suspension to bottom too easy. Old tired springs + extra weight of iron block with supercharger on top doesn't help.

What have you guys done and do you like the results? I want a daily driver that doesn't bottom out or drag the ground getting in and out of driveways. Also want great handling. I don't simply want to put Police firm springs on and have a higher than stock ride height.

I see Moog has 81098 springs listed for the Grand Marquis with a 10 inch ride height and 253 lbs/inch rate. They also have 80668 CV Police with a 11 inch ride height and 330 lbs/inch rate.

And then comes the shock question, as the original Marauder front shocks can't be bought. KYB and Monroe are both total crap, any other good choices?



John

[Curless]

I have the police springs in my car with one coil cut off, stock engine so my weight is slightly less than yours, grab a set and cut 1/2 of a coil off. See where it sits....

[Logizyme]

Monroe's are total crap. I've never seen one last more than 10k before leaking.

KYB's however are excellent shocks. I've never heard of anyone dissatisfied by them. They certainly outperform motorcraft replacement shocks, not by huge margins. The Marauder/Police spec ones are firm and sporty, and the civilian ones a little more comfortable. Highly recomended as the only choice by everyone on CVN.

But no, no other shock choices that I would consider for your demands.

Your iron block and supercharger add how much 85lbs for the block, 150lbs total? thats 75lbs each spring. at a softest rate of at least 250lbs/in your talking a 1/3" difference.

I would say your springs are fine and would suggest getting the new shocks first.

But if you insist on new springs there is nothing wrong with that. I suggest police springs, and cut to your liking.

I've got the Eibachs but they are certainly on the stiff side. If I were to do it agian I would go with police springs and cut until to my liking.

Keep in mind that new springs will take a while to settle. They may be as high as an inch over their final resting height until they settle, which may take several months and several thousand miles. I would grab some police springs from a newer vic at the junkyard and skip the settling stage - as their already broken in.

[james79stang]

Rock auto offers the Motocraft replacement shocks. I bought mine @ 164k and now have 250k and the are still doing good.

[Mr. Man]

Eaton spring company makes springs in a few different drops. They are the company some members have used since Eibach no longer makes drop springs for the MM.

I don't remember exactly the spring rate for the MM but I think it's around 300lb. Google MM spring rate, its here somewhere.

[MOTOWN]

I would go with Moog coils , and KYBs unless you want to get exotic and try some custom made setups.

[sflrainmaker01]

Eaton spring company makes springs in a few different drops.


Sounds like a cheap Eaton swap! :P


Sorry, now back on topic. Good info here! :)

[lifespeed]

No easy answers here. Our cars can benefit greatly from increased spring rate in the front, yours even more with the added weight. You can have custom springs made easily enough, although you have to make some good calculations on installed height, free height and weight. I run 600 lbs/inch with great results.

The problem is a stock shock won't work at all with a stiffer spring, they are all valved for soft CV and GM springs. Yes, even "police" shocks. If you're trying to stick with off-the-shelf probably the best you can do is cut police springs (stiff rate) and run the stiffer KYB. Should be better than what you have now, but I don't know that it will be "great", especially as you have added weight.

Such is life when you're trying to hotrod non-Mustang non-Camaro.

[bodabdan]

Been doing some research for my 05LX Sport. Found this that might help you-

http://www.naake.com/store/street-and-drag/mercury-marauder

Naake Suspension offers a MM QA1 setup.

[lifespeed]

Been doing some research for my 05LX Sport. Found this that might help you-

http://www.naake.com/store/street-and-drag/mercury-marauder

Naake Suspension offers a MM QA1 setup.

There are several members who have tried this setup. The results were not resoundingly positive.

If you want good shocks for a Panther go with custom-valved Penske Racing shocks. They are expensive, however.

[burt ragio]

The front springs in the Marauder stock are rated at 330 lbs.
I have had many combinations. From stock to one coil cut with motorcraft then kyb. Later Naake Qa1s double adjust but would bottom out to easy & eye bushing would wear out. Recently last month I just replaced fronts with springs from Rock auto & severe duty coil over shocks. If I did it last combo over I would cut one coil along with servere duty. I like toe set at 1/16th toe in.
If you have the coin go with Penske.

[burt ragio]

There are several members who have tried this setup. The results were not resoundingly positive.

If you want good shocks for a Panther go with custom-valved Penske Racing shocks. They are expensive, however.

Do you recall you final valving ?

[lifespeed]

Yeah, I have the dyno graphs and shock piston type info. Not too many people are able to go all-in on the shocks and springs with that much cash, but I'll provide the specs if anybody wants to duplicate my setup.

[MOTOWN]

Yeah, I have the dyno graphs and shock piston type info. Not too many people are able to go all-in on the shocks and springs with that much cash, but I'll provide the specs if anybody wants to duplicate my setup.

What exactly does this setup cost?

[lifespeed]

About $3,500.

[burt ragio]

Lifespeed did all the trial & error on his Marauder. A custom tuned penske front & rear suspension would be the ultimate. When it comes time I will start with the fronts on my red.

[Blackmobile]

Just had to R & R my QA1 Double adjust setup while installing the camber kit due to a new set of front tires needing to go on and see no issues with them. I do like the ability of adjusting the front ride height to accommodate different tire sizes.

[tbone]

Monroe's are total crap. I've never seen one last more than 10k before leaking.



There are plenty of members here with Monroe's and no one to my knowledge has this issue.

[bodabdan]

Not sure how this relates to OP's car, but I recently took one coil off of my 05 LX Sport factory springs and it resulted in about a 3/4" drop in front. So far, no issues with it but it does seem to ride slightly firmer and definitely feels better.