At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Topic: At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps (Read 6617 times) previous topic - next topic

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #15 – October 31, 2006, 03:45:10 PM

I know, a little off subject here, but how do TC springs compare, as far as cold weather stiffness/harshness?
(I havn't got to drive mine in the cold with the TC stuff under it..)

to hijack...

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #16 – October 31, 2006, 05:04:01 PM

My mechanic replaced the struts in the front and the shocks in the rear back in September 2005, but asking him - I might as well ask Paris Hilton what grade motor oil she uses. These guys are a Sunoco Station right under the Queensboro Bridge on the Queens side of the East River. They're ok for Oil Changes and nuts-and-bolts jobs, but they aren't very techincal. The guys on these boards are MUCH more savvy when it comes to technical debugging.

I'm going to start pursuing the LS V8 options. I will start with the springs, then work my way over to maybe replacing the ball joints/bushings, then last but not least the struts and shocks (again). I just need to convince Grok the Mechanic to order what I want.

The V6 LS I had between 1987 and 1999 was a solid handling car and it transmitted a SLIGHT bit of road feel to the steering wheel - and that was just enough. Prior to that I had a 1981 Grand Prix - and THAT thing rode like the Queen Mary :)

Thanks for the assistance guys.

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #17 – November 01, 2006, 12:29:26 PM

Eric (And Others):
I just got off the phone with Queens Plaza Auto Parts. Their parts book for Springs, Struts and Shocks all list "1986 - 1988 Mercury Cougar - All Models EXCEPT XR7" - Meaning LS V6 and V8 all use one model, and XR7 uses another model.

I tend to believe the guys on this board more than anyone else - is the above possibly correct? If so I will order the non-XR7 Springs and Shocks and have the mechanic install them into my XR7. All four springs, two struts and two shocks will run a total of $300. Labor extra.

What do you think?

Update

Reply #18 – December 15, 2006, 10:43:24 AM

I went for another $400 in parts and $150 in labor yesterday. the mechanic undercharged me for the labor again - I'm guessing the real labor cost should have been around $300. Banner day too - that $550 I spent yesterday vaults me over the $10,000 mark (yeah you read that right).

I don't have the paperwork with me today - I will itemize this better in another post on Monday, but here are the parts replaced:

- Ball Joints - Both Sides
- Lower Control Arm Bushings
- Front springs - the R/S one was broken into two pieces. I kept the smaller piece and it's now a paperweight on my desk at work.

Today, the car gets an alignment (no time to do that yesterday) and I want the rear springs replaced as well. I'm GUESSING I may have a broken spring on the Rear R/S since I hear this metallic squeal back there every time I hit a severe bump.

Generally speaking, The car's ride and handling have improved tremendously (now do you see what $2000 worth of work will do for you??). All I've ever wanted was for that car to ride like a 2007 Chrysler 300 (half-kidding here). Whereas before yesterday, I would have rated the ride and handling no higher than a "4" on a scale of 1 - 10, I would now rate the ride around a 7 or 8. Maybe I can rate it a little higher once the rear has been improved. It still doesn't handle as well as my 1999 Dodge Intrepid, and I can't see why it doesn't. Certainly the front end is vastly improved. I may finally be able to shut up about this car - just in time to turn it over to my heir-apparent.

I'll post more later this weekend assuming the rear springs get installed today.

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #19 – December 15, 2006, 12:37:14 PM

Well cool, I'm glad things are progressing in the right direction for ya. The alignment will help things, too. Now out back, squeaks could be from missing spring isolators, bad shock bushings, or even bolts that are backing out. Hopefully they'll figure it out without too much trouble.

Let us know the final results.

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #20 – December 15, 2006, 03:18:03 PM

I'm just curious, what tire pressures are you running?

Still Not Good Enough. No Way.

Reply #21 – December 18, 2006, 09:02:49 PM

Here's the breakdown of what was spent on Thursday and Friday last week:

Friday 12/15/2006 ($311.53):
Replaced Rear L/S & R/S Coil Springs ($147.95)
Front-End Alignment ($55.00)
Labor ($84.50)

Thursday 12/14/2006 ($550.00):
Replaced L/S & R/S Lower Control Arm Bushings (52.95)
Replaced L/S & R/S Ball Joints (139.90)
Replaced Front L/S and R/S Coil Springs (147.95)
Replaced STR Gear Bushing (28.28)
Labor (175.00)

And yet - The car still handles a rough road like an army jeep. I know I said the car was running better, but after taking it over some rough road surfaces, the car still beats the out of it's occupants.

I am going to have the tire pressure checked on each tire - that may help. But the fact remains that despite spending more than $1400 on the suspension alone, this car isn't nearly as good as my mother's 1972 Maverick was 20 years ago. It is STILL The worst ride I have ever owned.

Next up - I am seriously considering swapping out the XR7 struts and shocks. I will get a quote from the Long Island mechanic Tuesday, since I 've gone ahead and temporarily given the car to my son, who lives out there with my Ex.

I can't believe I'm still dealing with this.

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #22 – December 18, 2006, 09:32:12 PM

Quote from: 87CougarDude;119160

And yet - The car still handles a rough road like an army jeep. I know I said the car was running better, but after taking it over some rough road surfaces, the car still beats the out of it's occupants.

I am going to have the tire pressure checked on each tire - that may help. But the fact remains that despite spending more than $1400 on the suspension alone, this car isn't nearly as good as my mother's 1972 Maverick was 20 years ago. It is STILL The worst ride I have ever owned.

DUDE!!Dude lol your profile says you live in the Bronx

you need a jeep to drive threw those streets..
and the last time they paved those streets was about 20 years ago..and thats why your moms maverick road so much better..

New York City is known for meny things.. i will list three!

Tolls!
Traffic jams!
and Hugh crators in the road!!! "pot holes!"

i know i lived in the Bronx for allmost 3 years and worked in Brooklyn for 5 years..

you really can't tell from this picture but you see a mass of water..

on the right is the throggs neck bridge. and on the left is the whitestone bridge..

this car is and allways was my daily driver..

Nick

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #23 – December 19, 2006, 07:27:11 AM

If you are running the stock 225/60x15s you should set your tire pressures at around 32# in the front and 29-30 rear. That will smooth things out quite a bit.

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #24 – December 19, 2006, 08:41:15 AM

B306: I understand what you mean - but this car runs like on ANY rough road - all five boroughs and Nassau & Suffolk too. It is inexplicable, and I'm not the only one who notices this - my wife hates this car, and my 17 year-old son noticed how poor it handles the road as well. I've never seen anything like it.

Mayhem: I thought stock on this car was a 70, not a 60. Regardless, I will have to check the pressure, which is harder this week since my son has it out on LI this week.

I don't regret what I've done with this car, but I am very dissapointed with it thus far.

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #25 – December 19, 2006, 10:02:58 AM

I don't know man. I think you might just be expecting too much out of it. Either that, or your ass is incredibly sensitive.

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #26 – December 19, 2006, 10:42:18 AM

I wish that were the case. But right now - I hate it, my wife hates it, and even my son notices how it beats the shiznit out of passengers over a rough road. My son weighs all of 120 pounds, so it isn't a "fat ass" issue either.

Add to that I know my LS felt 10 times more solid than this XR7. I'm not expecting enough out of this car. This car should be riding like a Mark VII by now.

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #27 – December 19, 2006, 11:21:32 AM

This is killing me. Either my 83 (and 88 before lowering) rides like poo or you just got the lemon. My 83 realy does ride like a cushy grandma car. I hit speedbumps in parking lots and it doesn't jar you at all. Now my 88 (after lowering), you want a bad ride? Take that car for a spin. 90mph around any corner but your ass hates it.

Now I'm sorry to ask this as I'm sure you've mentioned it but have you had the sway bar end links and bracket bushings replaced? They broke on my 88 and are bad on my 83.

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #28 – December 19, 2006, 11:41:32 AM

If you equate "sway bar end links" to "Stabilizer Bars" - Yes.
If you equate "bracket bushings" with "Lower Control Arm Bushings" - Yes again.

If you do NOT mean those parts, please let me know.
BTW Kirchman- You me more than a "Sensitive Ass" comment!! :)

Here's the complete list of suspension parts that been replaced since September 2005:

Replaced Rear L/S & R/S Coil Springs ($147.95) (12/2006)
Front-End Alignment ($55.00)(12/2006)
Replaced L/S & R/S Lower Control Arm Bushings (52.95) (12/2006)
Replaced L/S & R/S Ball Joints (139.90) (12/2006)
Replaced Front L/S and R/S Coil Springs (147.95) (12/2006)
Replaced STR Gear Bushing (28.28) (12/2006)
Tire Rotation (10/2006)
Speed Balance (10/2006)
Replaced Rear Horizontal Shocks (5/2006)
Replaced Front L/S & R/S Stabilizer Bars (5/2006)
Replaced Front L/S & R/S Tie Rod Ends (5/2006)
Front End Alignment (5/2006)
Front Struts (9/2005)
Front Brakes (9/2005)
Front Rotors (9/2005)
Rear Shocks (9/2005)
Rear Brakes (9/2005)
Rear Drums (9/2005)
L/S Wheel Cylinder (9/2005)
R/S Wheel Cylinder (9/2005)

At Wit's End...This Cat SHUDDERS on Bumps

Reply #29 – December 19, 2006, 02:40:41 PM

The only thing left would be to change out the shocks and struts, I suppose. Maybe to a non-gas-charged type, though...the gas shocks/struts will definitely transmit more road feel and make things "bumpier" than non-gas shocks/struts. I hate to see you spend even more money now but that's about all I can think of. For all practical purposes you now have an LS suspension under your car.