Senior Member
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.
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
Junior Member
Dang… now I gotta crawl under mine to checkOriginally Posted by BigCars4Ever
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Senior Member
Contributing Member
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
Member
Installed back in 2006...Black Terror... Police Interceptor, and Lincoln Limo are stronger than original Marauder arms...
Senior Member
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
Public Enemy #1
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.
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
#2,187 out of 3,214
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
Senior Member
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!)
Junior Member
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.
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