My 95 TC ride is stiffer than My 92 TC?? Why??

I have a very bad back and really need a soft ride. My 95 Towncar does not seem to ride as softly as my 92 Towncar and I don't know why. I thought the springs and shocks on both cars were the same but they seem to ride differently.

Are the springs, shocks or ride computer module different in the two cars?? Any comments or help greatly appreciated.

They shouldn't be any different. Some one has probably installed coil springs on your 95 in place of the air bags.

Mike, good point. So just to check I went out to the 95 and turned the key on and the compressor came on and in the rear mirror I saw it raise up some. When I got out and closed the door it lowered back down some. So I am still puzzled? Could the shocks make the difference? Or the computer module? I bought the car from the Lincoln dealer here about a year ago. It has about 91,000 miles. You did make me think and I checked my file and paperwork I got from the dealer shows both air springs replaced by the dealer in January of 09. Could the replaced springs be stiffer?

I don't know of any difference in the air bags or the RAS modules. It's probably the shocks. What kind of shape are the tires? New tires sure smooth out the ride. What psi do you run in them ? I run 32 in my cars 35 in the trucks.

Mike, thanks for your help. It may be the shocks or possibly even the tires. The 92 has Goodyears and the 95 has Michelins. The Goodyears have about half the original tread depth and the Michelins still look like new. I usually run about 30 psi hoping the slightly lower pressure gives a softer ride.

Currently the 92 is down in the back. I made the mistake of letting the battery get low and jump starting it. It started fine but when it sat out back on the turnaround for over a week it slowly went down. The compressor would not pump and I got a used one that turned out to also be bad. So my son and I then took the original pump apart and it was frozen up but after freeing it up it ran fine. Then upon connecting it up it pumped but seemed to just let air out of the air springs. I think the diode at the motor was blown by the jump starting. Then turning the system on and running the motor opened the solenoids at the springs letting more air out of them. I now know, per the repair manual, that you shouldn't jump start a Lincoln without turning off the air suspension as you risk blowing diodes at the motor and air spring solenoids.

This bring me to my second question. If the air springs have gone completely flat can you pump them up with a new pump or are the springs permanently damaged by being flat? I now have a new pump but am not sure if I should just pump up the springs.

The Michelins are typically a hard, long mileage rated tire. The Goodyear's are super soft and wear fast. I would say that is alot of the ride difference. Try swapping wheels on the cars.

I've had those pumps apart before too. The aluminum corrodes up to the point where the piston will stick in the bore. I thought I was the only one crazy enough to take one apart to try to fix, lol. You should be ok to re inflate the bags.

Mike, I think your comment about the tires is probably the explanation for the ride difference. We plan to swap the wheels and see. I will inflate the air springs first.

We really were surprised when taking the pump apart made it run again.

Thanks again for all the help.

Everyone says early 90's rode WAY better that 95,96,97...

Everyone says early 90's rode WAY better that 95,96,97...



Steven or others, do you know any mechanical reason why people would feel that the early 90's Towncars ride better? I think I have a pretty good sensor in my back and to me this seems true for both the Towncars and Continentals. I currently own a 94 Continental and have owned two other Continentals in the 90 to 94 range.

Currently my softest ride is the 1992 Towncar. I replaced it's suspension compressor this week and it is up and going again:smile:.

My only real problem is even Lincolns don't last forever.

I really don't know why people say that. All suspension components seem the same to me. I've had Town cars from 91 to 98 and they all seem like they rode the same. With the exception of the ones I converted to coil springs. The 96 Crown Victoria I just sold, had the air ride and it rode smooth as silk. I've always been partial to the 91 Cartier LTC, but it has the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in. Maybe the seats make them feel different. My signature series all had some hard ass seats in them. I guess I'm not that sensitive with ride quality. I'm used to driving a Silverado pick up, aka buck board. And other stuff like my 79 C 30 wrecker which feels like a brick on wheels. I wouldn't be able to give that good of an opinion on ride quality, to tell the truth.