Replacement Front Struts

[curterj145xr]

I am back from a long hiatus. Sold my '97 a few years ago, so I lost interest, but my dad has recently bought a '98 and he is unhappy with how stiff the ride is.

I searched and learned a lot about this topic but nothing specific to my situation. As far as SARCs go, I have only been able to find the left front strut for replacement (Rock Auto). Also, the price is a bit higher than what he wanted to spend.

The car is stock - original springs and ride height. If he were to go to a normal strut, is there anything else that won't be a direct bolt-up. For example, will it still be able to use the original SHO springs, strut mounts, strut bearings, etc or will some of that need to be replaced?

Like I said, this is my dad's car and all he is really looking for is a smoother ride and is not interested in spending a bunch of money and definitely doesn't want to have to modify anything.

Has anyone found struts that they can recommend that give a decent ride but don't absolutely **** the handling?

ETA: Apparently most auto part stores are showing normal SLO struts for replacement for this car - he seems to not believe me when I tell him that those are not the right struts for that car.

The other thing that I have noticed, it seems that the regular struts have the same part number for left or right. Why are the SARCs side specific?

 

[kevinspann]

I am back from a long hiatus. Sold my '97 a few years ago, so I lost interest, but my dad has recently bought a '98 and he is unhappy with how stiff the ride is.

I searched and learned a lot about this topic but nothing specific to my situation. As far as SARCs go, I have only been able to find the left front strut for replacement (Rock Auto). Also, the price is a bit higher than what he wanted to spend.

The car is stock - original springs and ride height. If he were to go to a normal strut, is there anything else that won't be a direct bolt-up. For example, will it still be able to use the original SHO springs, strut mounts, strut bearings, etc or will some of that need to be replaced?

Like I said, this is my dad's car and all he is really looking for is a smoother ride and is not interested in spending a bunch of money and definitely doesn't want to have to modify anything.

Has anyone found struts that they can recommend that give a decent ride but don't absolutely **** the handling?

ETA: Apparently most auto part stores are showing normal SLO struts for replacement for this car - he seems to not believe me when I tell him that those are not the right struts for that car.

The other thing that I have noticed, it seems that the regular struts have the same part number for left or right. Why are the SARCs side specific?

Struts sold for the regular Taurus will work fine, no issues with spring incompatibility. The SARCs are side specific because of the plug that is on them, which regular struts do not have. How many miles are on the SARCs now. You could try unplugging them to stiffen them up, if they still have any life left in them

 

[jimtash]

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=124237

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=124241

The part numbers in the second link are no longer showing up for the seller but that doesn't mean they haven't been re-listed under another part number.

 

[sam drouth]

SHOs are performance sedans, which are not known for having a smooth ride.
Maybe a Lincoln would be smoother.
And FWIW, SHOs are money pits.

 

[intimdatr]

Lol one my of my brothers Lincolns is a lot stiffer than my car.. Tokico 1in drop springs with around a 500lb spring rate, and Cobra Bilstein shocks.

SHOs like any other old performance low volume car is going to be expensive. Every ones obsession with cheap performance doesnt exists. The newest SHO is is now FIFTEEN years old. With mine be 25 years old. Stuff wears our and needs maintenance. And you think your SHO is a money pit, go look at what car payments are today, you are in for a real shocker.



EDIT: Also my Gen 3 road amazing, one of the best riding and driving cars ive ever been in, up there with some top line sedans, Germans included.

 

[jimtash]

My '98 is one of the most comfortable cars I've ever driven. It's why I still have it. Don't get me wrong because I like my Probe GT and it's Tokico suspension, my lowered '89, and now an '86 SVO, but there's no way I would want to drive any of them everyday. The suspensions would be a pain to deal with eventually and not because they'd wear out, but they'd wear me out.

 

[stephen newberg]

SHOs like any other old performance low volume car is going to be expensive. Every ones obsession with cheap performance doesnt exists. The newest SHO is is now FIFTEEN years old. With mine be 25 years old. Stuff wears our and needs maintenance. And you think your SHO is a money pit, go look at what car payments are today, you are in for a real shocker.

EDIT: Also my Gen 3 road amazing, one of the best riding and driving cars ive ever been in, up there with some top line sedans, Germans included.

Excellent post hitting on target on a number of points.

pax, smn

 

[curterj145xr]

Thanks for the replies - and you are preaching to the choir.

I told him that it won't ride like a Lincoln. Funny thing is, the guy that did the cams was the one that mentioned the harsh ride. If he had never said anything, I doubt that my dad would have even noticed.

 

[V84SHO]

Excellent post hitting on target on a number of points.

pax, smn

Is the money pit one if them?

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[stephen newberg]

Is the money pit one if them?

Not really. But it does depend on the condition of the vehicle when you get it, obviously, and then on how you treat it from there on in your normal driving. Mine has been second lowest in cost per mile driven of all the cars I have owned since the mid '60s, beaten only by my '81 VW Sirocco, though the '05 Jimmy is a close third. And that is a huge pile of cars. But as was pointed out in the post that mentioned 'money pit', the Gen III SHOs are, at this point, getting pretty old, at a minimum of 17 and as old as 21 possible, with that all just a couple of months from clicking over into another year older. Expecting them to be a cheap ride is really not hugely realistic, under a lot of circumstances.

pax, smn

 

[V84SHO]

Not really. But it does depend on the condition of the vehicle when you get it, obviously, and then on how you treat it from there on in your normal driving. Mine has been second lowest in cost per mile driven of all the cars I have owned since the mid '60s, beaten only by my '81 VW Sirocco, though the '05 Jimmy is a close third. And that is a huge pile of cars. But as was pointed out in the post that mentioned 'money pit', the Gen III SHOs are, at this point, getting pretty old, at a minimum of 17 and as old as 21 possible, with that all just a couple of months from clicking over into another year older. Expecting them to be a cheap ride is really not hugely realistic, under a lot of circumstances.

pax, smn

Sucks but I choose this car so like my wife IM just ganna have to live with it and make it work lmao but as for money that's why IM here for! Someone's already paid the price..dam IM just too funny

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[V84SHO]

Seriously though I've have the funds to try and bring the SHO out!

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