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Thread: Control arms were a little worn

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Clermont Florida
    Age
    57
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    2,044

    Control arms were a little worn

    Been hearing a clunk for a year now when braking or shifting into OD. Thought it was in the trans or maybe the universals. Got under the car an noticed I could see light where rubber was supposed to be in the read control arms. Embarrassing I let tit go this long. Got new stock arms from Taxiparts.com along with a new watts link. They look just like the originals but seem to be a little heavier gauge steel.
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    If you’re in control, you’re not going fast enough. – Parnelli Jones

    If your wife's having a good time and you're not, you're still having a better time than if you're having a good time and she's not. - Red Green

    2004 Marauder 300A - Garage Queen

    1025 of 3213. It is one of 1237 in black and one of 2000 w/o the moonroof option.

    Performance
    4:10's, rear Adco, front Eibachs w/ KYB shocks, Working oil pressure gauge, JLT CA Kit, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, TCE SS Brake Lines, Zack big brake kit.
    Dress
    Power by Ford coil covers, Maruder sill plates, God's head steering wheel emblem, spoiler, front and rear splash gaurds, Custom dead pedal, LED lights for engine bay, interior and gauges. 64' Marauder Sail Panel for rear badge, custom God's head badge in grill.

    LOC: Clermont Florida

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Location
    Santa Rosa, Texas
    Age
    41
    Posts
    26
    Quote Originally Posted by BigCars4Ever View Post
    Been hearing a clunk for a year now when braking or shifting into OD. Thought it was in the trans or maybe the universals. Got under the car an noticed I could see light where rubber was supposed to be in the read control arms. Embarrassing I let tit go this long. Got new stock arms from Taxiparts.com along with a new watts link. They look just like the originals but seem to be a little heavier gauge steel.
    Dang… now I gotta crawl under mine to check


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    174

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Marietta, GA
    Age
    89
    Posts
    542
    Taxi,Police Interceptor, and Lincoln Limo are stronger than original Marauder arms. Also, you can use Metco arms, much better.
    Bill
    03 Mercury Marauder, 300A
    SOLD
    2005 Lincoln Town Car, ADTR Supercharger, TCE Brake Lines, MO's Tune
    2022 Lincoln Aviator Reserve AWD

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Timbuk3, MI
    Posts
    2,441
    Black Terror... Police Interceptor, and Lincoln Limo are stronger than original Marauder arms...
    Installed back in 2006...


    *In case the image is a no-show ... <PIC>

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Clermont Florida
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    2,044
    I considered the Metco but they are so much more expensive. The other thing I had to replace was my air bags and compressor. I ended up with Grand Marquis air bags. They aren't quite as stiff as the limo bags that were the original. If I can find the limo bags I may swap them out but this is what Westar sent me. https://autobuffy.com/kit/2003/mercu...saAmvMEALw_wcB
    If you’re in control, you’re not going fast enough. – Parnelli Jones

    If your wife's having a good time and you're not, you're still having a better time than if you're having a good time and she's not. - Red Green

    2004 Marauder 300A - Garage Queen

    1025 of 3213. It is one of 1237 in black and one of 2000 w/o the moonroof option.

    Performance
    4:10's, rear Adco, front Eibachs w/ KYB shocks, Working oil pressure gauge, JLT CA Kit, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, TCE SS Brake Lines, Zack big brake kit.
    Dress
    Power by Ford coil covers, Maruder sill plates, God's head steering wheel emblem, spoiler, front and rear splash gaurds, Custom dead pedal, LED lights for engine bay, interior and gauges. 64' Marauder Sail Panel for rear badge, custom God's head badge in grill.

    LOC: Clermont Florida

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Lehigh Valley, PA
    Posts
    5,976
    Quote Originally Posted by Black Terror View Post
    Taxi,Police Interceptor, and Lincoln Limo are stronger than original Marauder arms. Also, you can use Metco arms, much better.
    I know which arms you're talking about but I've never seen a P71 or taxi with those upper arms, I think that was only a limo pkg thing.


    Quote Originally Posted by BigCars4Ever View Post
    I considered the Metco but they are so much more expensive. The other thing I had to replace was my air bags and compressor. I ended up with Grand Marquis air bags. They aren't quite as stiff as the limo bags that were the original. If I can find the limo bags I may swap them out but this is what Westar sent me. https://autobuffy.com/kit/2003/mercu...saAmvMEALw_wcB
    You should still be able to get the proper airbags from Ford, 3u2z5580aa. The Marauder used the same airbags as the HPP optioned panthers. Base rate bags went in normal cars with air ride but not HPP, including the CV sport.


    2016 Ford Mustang GT PP - Lund nGauge, BMR vertical links, MGW Shifter, BMR CB005

    2004 Mercury Marauder - Eaton M112, Billetflow 3.4, Accufab SBTB + Plenum, T-56 Magnum, 4.10s, Stainless Works LTs, 2.5" Exhaust, Borla Stingers, Ridetech Coilovers + Adj rear shocks, FX-R projectors, Wilwood 13" BNSL6 + FNSL4 BBKs, S55 Gauge Cluster
    440rwhp & 406rwtq Tuned by Adam @ Revolution Automotive
    2063/3214

    (Sold) 2003 Mercury Marauder - Stainless Works LT's, Stainless Works 2.5" Catback, JLT Intake, Mo's Xcal4 Tune
    5377/7838

    2000 BMW M5 - Evolve Intake, Evolve Alpha-N tune, Stoptech ST-40 BBK, UUC SSK, Dinan front STB, Dinan RSB

    1996 Ford Bronco - 4" lift, 35" BFG A/T's, Punisher Valve Body, MH1 Projectors

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Southwest Florida, Lee County
    Age
    54
    Posts
    3,449
    While hooking the 'ol peepers on my Town Car I noticed the rear CA's looked like that. There didn't seem to be any noise and there was no difference in the driving feel....
    Or so I thought. New OE upper and lower ones took the 'lane hunt' out of the driving feel and returned straight-line stability back to driving. Also steering wheel corrections were minimalized. Amazing what a wee bit of axle deviation can do.

    I replaced the Marauder CA's with Metco Heinous billet ones and that made a HUGE difference.
    Many say there was no difference but for me I noticed it while driving on I-4 where there were a lot of lane shifts and the rear seemed more compliant and felt lighter. Also for me, the strong upshifts were now MUCH more snappy with all the pinion deflection removed on the 1-2 and the 2-3. In spirited acceleration far from WOT an audible chirp is present and that's only with a Lidio tune and 4.10 gears.

    For my Lincoln though, I wanted to retain the stock characteristics of ride and handling and chose to leave it as smooth and comfortable as possible.
    But IMHO dropping some coin on solid arms was a net improvement and I am sure it will be more pronounced once I am under boost.
    '04 Silver Marauder w/ sunroof - HID lighting, JL Audio / Eclipse DVD/NAV/iPod/camera, 4.10's, 2" drop, Progard Bumper Baffle, Delete tips, Billet Pedals, BC4E dead pedal, Lidio Tune, Mach1 chin spoiler, K&N CAI, TCE lines, Super40's, tinted tails, SS Inserts, Heinous Control Arms, Real oil gauge, lighted door handles. Currently installing Eaton M112.

    2004 Mercury Marauder
    Born March 2004, adopted October 2005. Sold January 2012, adopted AGAIN January 2016
    2,187 of 3,214
    997 in Silver Birch
    448 with light flint interior
    304 with heated seats
    336 with sunroof

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    3,757
    YES, My son and I noticed the difference in the control arm(s) and Watts link swap, before turning the key while getting INTO THE CAR... and closing the doors. He/we were amazed that after each closed our respective doors the car didn't sortly sway or waggle. We each instictively started wiggling in our seats trying to move the car... and the auto mechanics all started laughing as we were still on the lift. The Marty tune... and these parts switched out are IMHO by far the best first upgrades. I was sorry I waited so long to do both.


    2003 300A Black, #4918 of 7838, 17,400 Miles
    Tune, KYB's, JLT, FlowMaster 42441, Res Delete, New BFG's, 8 coats of zymoil Titanium

    2003 300B Silver Birch, #21 of 419, 29,800 miles
    Tune, JLT, FlowMaster 42441 Res Delete, New Nitto 235/255 Bigcarsforever dead peddle & custom SRP peddles, 5 coats Zymoil Titanium, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYBs, 1/2 inch coil cut, Sparta Watts link and Control Arms, Carfixer alignment.

    2003 CV Sport Matador Red, 19,280 Miles, DD, Curless Full Service Royal flush, Marto Tune, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires, NEW OEM Sport Springs -1 coil & Monroe Severe Duty (front) shocks, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYB rear Shocks, Carfixer Alignment.

    2004 CV HPP Silver Birch, 93,000 miles. Son's DD, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires (thank you Lowndex!)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Location
    Santa Rosa, Texas
    Age
    41
    Posts
    26
    I replaced my control arms and watts link with metco. NIGHT and DAY difference in ride quality, stability and acceleration.

    My control arms were just as badly worn as the OP. I can’t believe I never noticed it when working on the brakes.

    The metco components are expensive but worth it. I figure it will be the last set I’ll need for the life of the car.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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