Wanting a softer ride

[Larry Rivelli]

Greetings,

Now don't laugh or tell me to go buy an old "Grandpa Car", but I would like to know of any way to make our 94 SHO ride softer. It has 132,000 miles on the original struts. We love the car and don't want to replace it if possible. Any thoughts about changing springs or struts (shocks) to soften the ride would be much appreciated. Thanks for your time. Larry

 

[93rev2sev]

Easiest would be splashy tires.

And a Taurus IS a Grandpa Car.

 

[sperold]

Which part of the "ride" don't you like?
Do you have aftermarket rims like 18's or something that make the ride harsh?
The more "sidewall" your tires have, the softer the ride, but I don't know if you can retrofit 15's and get a bigger sidewall on a 94.
Do you have seperate winter / summer tires on different rims? If you do, which ones of those do you like better?
Try different tire pressures.
You can fiddle with the suspension, but I would start with tires.

 

[SHOtime2511]

Get yourself a nice set of mushy Michelin tires with a 60 profile side wall.

 

[mhoffman1981]

monroe quick struts

 

[jmpSHO]

I have a set of original Ford struts and springs with about 130k that will give you a nice soft ride, it won't get much softer than that.

 

[Larry Rivelli]

Thanks for the response. We only have one set of tires, currently Bridgestone Turanza's 215X60X16. As for the part of the ride we don't like, it's going over bumps, the jarring, etc. I know it will never ride like a Lincoln, but for us, more cushy would be nice. I also know this is a complete different direction than most here want to go with their SHO's so I appreciate your help. Thanks.

 

[jmpSHO]

x2 on the Monroe quick struts.

 

[bottonic]

x3 on the quick struts

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

No need for quick struts or even different coils.

The factory coils with 130k miles on them should be plenty soft.

Not being happy with the ride is probably 100% due to your struts and various bushings being worn out Which means all you need are struts and bushings. Id suggest Monroe Sensatracs and stock style rubber bushings.

 

[jmpSHO]

No need for quick struts or even different coils.

The factory coils with 130k miles on them should be plenty soft.

Not being happy with the ride is probably 100% due to your struts and various bushings being worn out Which means all you need are struts and bushings. Id suggest Monroe Sensatracs and stock style rubber bushings.

If he is going to replace the struts then most likely he is going to have to replace mounts and front bearing plates and maybe even a spring isolator or two. All that plus labor would add up to the price of a quick strut which is why we all suggested them.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

If he is going to replace the struts then most likely he is going to have to replace mounts and front bearing plates and maybe even a spring isolator or two. All that plus labor would add up to the price of a quick strut which is why we all suggested them.

Im well aware of what replacing the spring/strut assembly involves.

The original posted was concerned about RIDE

Mounts and bearings have nothing to do with ride. That is job 1 for coils and struts.

The quick strut is a great option, but is not a $$ saver if you do not need to replace coils.

And my 150k mile '89 is still rolling on the original isolators, bellows and bumpstops.

All this guy needs is mounts/bearings and struts. (for the strut assembly)

Front quickstrut $125 ea
Rear $115 ea

Thats $480

Front strut + mounts/bearings $95 ea
Rear strut + mount $95 ea

Thats $380


A $100 savings just in parts, and regardless of what a shop may charge, it takes less than 20 minutes to toss together 4 strut assemblies.


Food for thought.

 

[93rev2sev]

, it takes less than 20 minutes to toss together 4 strut assemblies.

Dude, puff puff pass.

 

[jmpSHO]

Im well aware of what replacing the spring/strut assembly involves.

The original posted was concerned about RIDE

Mounts and bearings have nothing to do with ride. That is job 1 for coils and struts.

The quick strut is a great option, but is not a $$ saver if you do not need to replace coils.

And my 150k mile '89 is still rolling on the original isolators, bellows and bumpstops.

All this guy needs is mounts/bearings and struts. (for the strut assembly)

Front quickstrut $125 ea
Rear $115 ea

Thats $480

Front strut + mounts/bearings $95 ea
Rear strut + mount $95 ea

Thats $380


A $100 savings just in parts, and regardless of what a shop may charge, it takes less than 20 minutes to toss together 4 strut assemblies.


Food for thought.

You're the man if you can disassemble and reassemble 4 struts in 20 min. Most shops will milk that for an hour labor and most shops around here get about $85 labor/hour. I would rather spend the extra $100 on parts than labor but that's just me.

 

[220ksho]

My 93 feels very rough over bumps even though it has newish mounts and stock struts/springs. The dash bounces up and down and rattles all the coins which makes it seem worse. My 90' , even though it has Eibachs and Koni's does not rack my brain like the 93 does.

I think the gen II dash is not supported in the middle enough. Anyone else experience this?

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

You're the man if you can disassemble and reassemble 4 struts in 20 min.

I guess Im the man. But nowhere did I say disassemble and reassemble. I said "toss together" assuming you have the oil coils (or new coils, whatever), bellows, isolators, struts and mounts on the bench ready to go.

All it takes is a good set of coil spring compressors and an impact gun.

Along with a 10mm socket w/ ratchet, and a 19mm (IIRC) end wrench for the front and a 19mm crows foot for the rear.

Even dismounting + remounting should take less than 45 minutes for all 4.

*Put the coil spring compressors on, hit them both with the impact gun to releave pressure on the mount.
*Remove nut and mount/hat
*Pull strut out of coil spring
*remove isolator, bellows and bump stop, and washer from strut

*install isolator, bump stop, bellows and new washer on strut
*Insert into coil spring (already compressed)
*Install hat/mount
*Install new washer and thread new nut onto strut until it bottoms out
*remove compressors

Done

Seriously, it doesnt take that long.

And if you do this ONCE yourself, you save enough to pay for that set of coil spring compressors you just purchased. As well as the trip into town to have a shop to do it.

Just be sure to get a set of compressors that are designed to use with an impact. IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

 

[sperold]

All new springs and struts sounds like a lot of effort on a quest for a softer ride. I have a 95, and it rides really softly with no jarring when I go over bumps (and believe me, with the frost-heaved roads here, we have lots of bumps).
Then I remember that I have all new quick struts on my car (well, new a few years ago), so maybe it is not so far-fetched. I notice that my car sits quite high with these quick struts, so maybe you get more travel, or you never bottom out, or something like that.
If you want a soft ride.... I can vouch for the monroe quick struts.
Try to buy them on sale or with a rebate (check Rockauto for prices); and start looking for a great shop that won't give you grief on the installation. Start with a pair on the front, as that is where all the weight is. And get a fixed price in advance.

 

[shobote]

With 132k, the struts, springs and rubber bushings (subfame, tension rods, control arms, etc..) have all worn, which together will deteriorate the ride and handling. To get the smoothest ride, you would need to replace all of those with OEM parts, along with new struts, springs and mounts. Full length subfame connectors also make the ride smoother and tighter, (not harsher) and rids the sqeaks and groans from chassis flex too. SHould be good for a lot more miles after those are done.

 

[tardboy21]

x4 on the QuickStruts. Not that I don't understand NotSoSlowSho's math, but if your 16 year-old 130k Taurus was anything like mine, by the time you work to get those struts out from the factory spot you won't feel like doing anymore work that you have to.

 

[shoon]

x4 on the QuickStruts. Not that I don't understand NotSoSlowSho's math, but if your 16 year-old 130k Taurus was anything like mine, by the time you work to get those struts out from the factory spot you won't feel like doing anymore work that you have to.

Agreed. Especially trying to get at those rear strut mount nuts in the trunk. Would also recommend getting new pinch bolts before hand.