Any thoughts on suspension

[1Marauder]

I would skip the sway bars.

For the rear I would get control arms and a watts link from Sparta Motorsports. Monroe heavy duty shocks are great.

My front setup is Eibach springs, KYB shocks, and SPC camber bolts but the springs are in possible to find now.

I should mention my car is lowered front and rear. I have the exact same set up on another marauder, but it has sway bars. I feel the sway bars drastically take away from ride quality and make the suspension too harsh.

Interesting... You think they sway bars make the ride more harsh, vs the lower stiffer spring and shocks? Not being snarky here, just trying to learn. I have two Marauders and about to do suspension on the2nd... Would have never thought the sway bar would "harshen" the ride... Hmmmm.

[Comin' in Hot]

Interesting... You think they sway bars make the ride more harsh, vs the lower stiffer spring and shocks? Not being snarky here, just trying to learn. I have two Marauders and about to do suspension on the2nd... Would have never thought the sway bar would "harshen" the ride... Hmmmm.

They both have the exact same suspension setup with the exception one has Addco sway bars, one has the factory bars. Both suspensions are noticeably stiffer than stock (I also have a stock marauder). The one with the Addcos is ridiculously stiff, especially at low speeds It doesn’t soak up the small bumps like the stock sway bar car.

[fastblackmerc]

Interesting... You think they sway bars make the ride more harsh, vs the lower stiffer spring and shocks? Not being snarky here, just trying to learn. I have two Marauders and about to do suspension on the2nd... Would have never thought the sway bar would "harshen" the ride... Hmmmm.

They both have the exact same suspension setup with the exception one has Addco sway bars, one has the factory bars. Both suspensions are noticeably stiffer than stock (I also have a stock marauder). The one with the Addcos is ridiculously stiff, especially at low speeds It doesn’t soak up the small bumps like the stock sway bar car.

I think it may be the poly sway bar bushings instead of rubber. BTW..... I love the ride.... the wife not so much.

[Mr. Man]

They both have the exact same suspension setup with the exception one has Addco sway bars, one has the factory bars. Both suspensions are noticeably stiffer than stock (I also have a stock marauder). The one with the Addcos is ridiculously stiff, especially at low speeds It doesn’t soak up the small bumps like the stock sway bar car.

I agree with Derek. We have 2 MM's one with all the goodies and it's pretty stiff. Mine was stock till recently I added Watt's link and CA's. Went from cushy to borderline stiff. I'm keeping the stock sway bars.

[1Marauder]

I have one MM suspension fully "done" as you guys do. And I gotta admit on perfect pavement/asphalt it is amazing... Which means it is a little harsh on regular roads. I never tied this to the sway bars though. Very interesting. May not install the addco sway bars on next one. Thank you.

[RF Overlord]

I still don't understand how sway bars can contribute to ride harshness. When level, the sway bar essentially does nothing. It's only when the body starts to roll during a turn that the sway bar tries to twist, which transmits the force to the other side to help limit that roll. My Marauder has the upgraded Addco rear bar (stock front) and I didn't notice anything other than that the car remained flatter during curves, like on off-ramps. No change in ride quality.

I also have the Zack & Mac control arms...I don't know if that changes the equation...

[Mr. Man]

I still don't understand how sway bars can contribute to ride harshness. When level, the sway bar essentially does nothing. It's only when the body starts to roll during a turn that the sway bar tries to twist, which transmits the force to the other side to help limit that roll. My Marauder has the upgraded Addco rear bar (stock front) and I didn't notice anything other than that the car remained flatter during curves, like on off-ramps. No change in ride quality.

I also have the Zack & Mac control arms...I don't know if that changes the equation...

My guess is when you start taking flex out of the equation ride suffers. Like Sacramento said on perfectly flat smooth roads it's livable, but on roads that need attention Paula's car is hard on the bod..

[Aerocoupe]

Any of you guys running ADTR's front and/or rear sway bars? Just an option to the sometimes not in stock ADDCO's.

https://adtr.net/product-category/mercury-marauder/

[Mackdombles]

When you have a stiffer sway, and you hit a bump on one side, it xfers some of that energy through the sway and it acts as a torsion bar as the other side is essentially solid mounted to the wheel that didn't hit the bump. Think a Chevy suspension that only uses torsion bars. Same concept other than the other end of the bar is frame mounted instead of wheel/spindle mounted.

Sway bars can make a huge difference in stiffness as long as we are talking uneven bumps.
Over a bump that both wheels hit, it won't change anything really.

I still don't understand how sway bars can contribute to ride harshness. When level, the sway bar essentially does nothing. It's only when the body starts to roll during a turn that the sway bar tries to twist, which transmits the force to the other side to help limit that roll. My Marauder has the upgraded Addco rear bar (stock front) and I didn't notice anything other than that the car remained flatter during curves, like on off-ramps. No change in ride quality.

I also have the Zack & Mac control arms...I don't know if that changes the equation...

[BAD MERC]

Depends on the dollars you have, monroe quick strut is about the same as stock but lifts the front end about 1/2"(115$ each about), ride tech, (700$? a pair) I can't speak for but from what people say is unmatched performance and adjustability.

I did the easy struts on my 2006 Taurus and HATE them. It sits noticably higher and actually didn't make an improvement. I bought this car with 14 miles on it and there was zero difference after replacing my originals at 111K miles. I bought the Monroe Severe Duty for the Merc and haven't installed them yet.

[1Marauder]

When you have a stiffer sway, and you hit a bump on one side, it xfers some of that energy through the sway and it acts as a torsion bar as the other side is essentially solid mounted to the wheel that didn't hit the bump. Think a Chevy suspension that only uses torsion bars. Same concept other than the other end of the bar is frame mounted instead of wheel/spindle mounted.

Sway bars can make a huge difference in stiffness as long as we are talking uneven bumps.
Over a bump that both wheels hit, it won't change anything really.

Great explanation. Thanks