Crown Vic Shocks and drop links - front end fixes
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2022
- My P71 Crown Victoria needed a front shocks (dampers) and drop links after they were MOT advisories, so with a box of bits from Rock Auto I got the front suspension up to scratch!
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My next-door neighbor owns a 20 year old Crown VIc. It's spent its entire life here in Hawaii and hasn't been abused. Good for another 20 years.
The 1 thing I love about your videos is the positivity you show in all that you do.
I like how you used the saw on it before opening the box of the new one. That's confidence.
Rock Auto are great. And Ive got a few weeks before its going anywhere
Love this car. First job I'd be doing though is disconnecting the warning chime! Definitely a bit of painting and waxoyl underneath would be in order. That might be good for a rust belt car but I reckon a couple of winters here would not bring good news.
Well....I don't think I'd fool around with that. In the owners manual there is a procedure for silencing the warning buzzer. You can find this info also on u-tube.
“How hard can it be?” Have the TG/GT boys not taught us to never say that! 🤣🤣 Nice to see the Crown Vic on the mend.👍
Love seeing this. These are becoming somewhat rarer in the US now since many forces switched to Challengers etc.
Most are Dodge Chargers or an SUV, whether Ford or Chevrolet.
@@frothe42 Yes, you're right of course. I always get my Dodges mixed up 🤦♂️
@@frazzleface753 Actually, both Dodge vehicles are on the same platform, one that dates back to the Mercedes-Benz E-class.
I replaced the shock absorbers (both front and back) on my 2007 Grand Marquis as well last month, so I knew what you were in for :D I also replaced the upper control arms & sway bar end links. Took me evenings on end to finish the job. It was way more difficult than you'd think, especially working alone. I ended up using the grinder for some bolts! I also thought the other side would be easier since I had done one side, but it didnt materialize, damn just happy the job is over haha
I went through the end links/drop links on my Freelander a couple of weeks ago - after spending way too long on that I wasnt going to waste a day even trying to undo these!
my neighbor has a 2009 silver Crown Vic in my car park, sat for two months covered in Snow. (Canada) Has not moved. Drives me round the twist to see it like that. Cheers Matt.
Rock Auto are excellent and so is their customer service. What I like about buying through them is you usually have a choice of buying economy, daily driver quality or genuine parts. Sometimes even performance grade. Used them when I lived in the UK and use them here in the US as they can be considerably cheaper than auto parts stores
@Nick Name when I visited Sweden for The Big Power Meet several years back pricing was interesting lol
Brake fluid is the best release fluid, it wicks it’s way into the thread very quickly and it penetrates right the way down to the bottom of the threads. The Crown Vic is a really beautiful big car, i can’t get enough of them.
That air filter change was a snap. Good go.
Baldwin filters are top quality and mostly used for industrial use, which probably is why their used on government vehicles in America...you can even get them in UK, I use their oil filters
Cool!
Not far away from being as mint as you can find for a utilitarian car from that era. A good dose of rust prevention on the underside and that old girl just might outlast you!
Got to love a Ford. Not spectacular or "sophisticated", but generally very robust and reliable. That one has a bit of cool factor being an ex cop car from America. There may be method in your madness exporting an aging Ford from North America because an extremely rare car like that will probably just appreciate in value over time.
Good luck with it pal👍
Love the videos, man!! So cool to see the genuine excitement about such a common car here in the US. True love of cars. 🙌🏼
There are less that 100 recorded by the DVLA here, so a rare beast, and they are pure hollywood Americana, it might just be a big Ford saloon but its one of the most unusual cars on the road here
@@furiousdriving Never seen one in the flesh here or the UK, one person's common piece of coal is someone else's rare Diamond.
As South Main Auto says "If I can do it, you can do it" though he makes it look easier!
Well done, mate. Nothing's ever simple, hey.
I just can't get enough of Furious content and especially the CVPI 😍 Thanks for another great video, Matt 💪🏻
Great video Matt. I enjoy your no frills honest videos and can’t wait for the vic to be on the road. 👍👍
Great little tinkering video and seeing the Crown Vic getting some love, know that experience when you have to dig the drill out to drill something out on a car.
You are so lucky. They changed the shock design in later years. My 2004 Vic has a coil-over front shock where you need to compress and remove the spring to change the shock cartridge; basically just like a strut. Yours is so much easier.
Great job, Matt. These cars are so very easy and rewarding to work on. So you know, there were small hub caps to fit those wheels, they just are not the traditional hub caps. They should be easy enough to find, but not worth the bother. With the P-72 and P-72 Police Package cars I itch to see one redone so the trim is more like an LS or better. In my youth a car with that little trim was a taxi or police cruiser, and few aspired to them. Still, great to see the old girl getting loved.
Easy to work on, DOH, I bet Matt had to do a lot of editing on the sound with no effing and blinding, well it would be if I was doing it.
Here in the u.s the vic was a work horse ,good on yah for getting over to the uk
Good work Matt. I always put lithium grease on the new hardware just so it doesn't get stuck too soon. This reminds me to change the shocks on the cortina. :)
Great video, I'd definitely keep an eye on the rust on those strut towers over the next year or so, I had an old Ford with ones in similar condition a few years back, went over a bump and BANG, the offside front shock went straight up into the bay and took the tower with it... Scary
Nah this is a body on frame car, it's pretty much impossible for that to happen.
@@melvinharris7859 Yes, impossible to happen if there's no rot, I've seen it happen, with my own eyes. Rust can seriously weaken a cars structural strength - hence why I said keep an eye on it... "Body frames".. "On a car" aren't immune to the forces of nature
nice video. picked up my 08 P71 with 100k miles for 2k recently. Has the 3.55 rear, all black, clean, just replaced all the AC, new monotube shocks, BFG comp gs on steel 17s, doing the stereo and it has rubber floor so I'm installing carpet, got some leather seats from a LX sport model. Love it, no holes, nice car. Looks like yours only steels with the center caps
Cracking motor Matt and what a great platform for doing your own wrenching (rusted-on bolts notwithstanding.)
The hood didn't want to open because you kept calling it a "bonnet"!
IT HAS TO LEARN!!
Matt also bought AC Delco parts for a Ford! What a maverick! :P
Is that the reason the boot wouldn’t open? Hope he never has to remove the mudguards lol. Especially using a spanner, oops! Mean a “wrench”. At least a wheel is always a wheel.
Had the same issue with the hood and lubing everything helped, I ran the rubber bumper stops up a few threads which put them under a bit of compression when the hood is closed.
Ironically the ACDelco is GM OEM so at least it's OEM. great job keeping it on the road.
Since I'm actually considering getting one of these, this is a pretty helpful video. Thanks for uploading and documenting this car!
Glad it was helpful! And good luck finding a good one!
Love the car. I’d be spending a few hundred quid having it professionally rust treated and under sealed though!
05:13 Just a heads up Matt, but those ratchet spanners aren't really meant to be flogged, sooner or later it ends in tears 😂😂
Great content, keep em coming 👍
When I did my drop links on my tvr it was a pain 😪 nice video again
This is one really cool car, with all the improvements it’s getting better by the day❤️.
Love your work on cars especially your yank ,reminds me when I had a Chevy Nova II 4 door only one in the Uk and got write in Classic American Magazine
Nice work. Rock Auto's delivery is amazing. I needed a 1995 Mazda 323 cambelt kit - had to be certain chassis numbers - found it on there, delivered within 3 days. Can't fault them, I think I've had one dodgy part, and that was my fault for going for the cheapest option.
I’ve just bought a 2004 CVPI and I’m in Essex. Hope to see yours at some shows.
Just did the drop links on my xsara picasso, 30 mins on one bolt, so I didnt even try with the rest just cut them off, 10 mins, so much easier when you are throwing it away anyway. crown vic certainly looks nice.
I can vouch for Rock Auto. They got me parts I need for my 1992 Fairway Taxi (London Black Cab) which could not be found in the U.K.
Tire Rack and State Farm are good too.
@@paulie-Gualtieri. wonder if they have cab stuff!
I just love the simplicity of the Vic. And car parts are so much cheaper in the States. Even stuff for European cars is better - for example Volvo tuning parts are plentiful and cheaper over there than here. As always, a great video Matt!
might have to import some 740 parts as well next time!
I am utterly impressed how clean and NOT rusted out this Crown Vic is. I grow up in Cleveland Ohio, and the cities in Ohio salt the roads like no tomorrow during winter months.
The engine bay looks immaculate I have to say. Really enjoying this series 😊
Beautiful Commitment. ty
My ‘99 Mustang is a combo of Metric and SAE. Engine and front brakes are Metric, rear brakes and suspension SAE, as its chassis was designed in the 70s. You kind get used to it and make sure you have what you need haha.
You’ll soon get used to using odd size spanner’s on the crown vic, the 9/16 spanner is just a 14mm as you probably know. Been driving yanks over here since 1990, have a look at my Dodge Charger, Chevy El Camino and Ford ranchero on my channel, great video as always
I just want to remind you, that you have a W123 in your driveway who needs your love & attention :)
These cars are perfect. Fun and relaxing to drive, reliable, cheap to maintain, and easy to work on. Of course, my car is from Texas, so everything comes off easily with no rust.
Well done Matt looks like a hell of a job but what will transform the crown vic for the better such a lovely car and every video it is getting better and better Daniel
Next to the Volvo it's my favorite car! Great work, as usual.
Shock absorber mounts the same way as on an Volvo 140, but those lower arms had a flare for cracking around the lower bolts.
Definitely consider Duralac when assembling dissimilar metals (steel bolt and alu nut) particularly where salt from the roads will come into contact as it should make it easier to disassemble next time (no saws). Copper grease/slip apparently accelerates the corrosion of alloys in this environment so shouldn’t be used (except on brake pads to stop squeaking).
Thanx fur the tip
Gotta love droplinks for what they are, they can be a proper pita.
Allways be careful when cutting close to a spring, any nick in the surface will make it break there one day or another! Good work! :)
Now I was sure you'd have spent a week dowsing those fasteners with release agent even before lifting the car. Maybe next time just cut everything off! Awesome Vic!! Thanks for sharing.
I'd have thought you'd learnt by now not to say or even think "how hard can this be". Murphy is always listening and he is also telepathic.
Beautiful car beautiful condition and you’ve even got the same annoying buzzer as my Chrysler
Strong, simple, Heavy Duty.
Why do we need aluminium suspension links, adjustable shocks, air springs ?
This Crown Victoria is superb. Still very similar to the mid 90s Smiley Face Ford Transit which was simple but superb.
You are indirectly steering me towards the Blue Oval. Saw a New Shiny Ford Kuga Vignale at the supermarket last and I though, gorgeous. Did I really just say that out loud ? I did, didn't I ?
Good job alround, I think you should treat the surface corrosion in the engine bay. Would really smarten it up.
The Crown Victoria police interceptor is also my dream car I'm going to look at some this weekend
good luck, hope you find a good one!
@@furiousdriving thanks man
Thats it Mat when in doubt cut it out after the luck you had with the alfa good job well done
John
You do have fun with drop links matt lanoguard the underneath doing the rangerover soon great tinkering vid all the best donny
Bro, I used a cutting wheel to cut the top of the shock off and it still took forever and I went through so many cutting disks and pretty much fried my cutter. Now I know to just break out the saws all next time for maximum time management and efficiency.
Pro tip on the rear shocks, if you ever change those, you don't have to cut through the trunk (tho you can). You just need to take a big adjustable wrench and go from the bottom. There's a big "nut" shaped deal atop the rear shock where it butts up against the trunk sheet metal.
Thanks, great tip for the future!
I have had an 87 Grand Marquis, 88 Crown Victoria, 88 Grand Marquis, 89 Grand Marquis, and a 92 Crown Victoria. Nobody has ever suggested cutting through my floor to do rear shocks. Not even been suggested on any of my 4 Torino Birds.
More fine improvement tinkering 👍
Loving the content on this car i look fprward to a first road legal drive video hopefully
I have to get one of those saws . . .!
Well done for persisting and getting both drop links done . You really do need to get rid of those hub caps though at some point, they may be growing on you but really they are hideous imho .
Matt it looks awesome
Love your videos! Watching all the way from America lol for future reference, you don't need to remove the wheel or even lift the car to do the shock absorbers. I understand why you did tho. Rust and the swaybar endlinks
Yes, US cars are a combination of metric and Imperial, we never went metric, unlike the rest of the world, with the exception of Libya 🇱🇾.
Great job!
The UK never went fully metric either.
@@stephenholland5930 Most of your measurements are metric; kilos, litres, etc. We still use gallons, inches, feet, etc.
Great video.
Why does this remind me of dental work? Conditioned fear response, probably! 😁
When I do these types of jobs I grease everything to death. Good work.
I love and enjoy watching your videos, so down to earth and know what ya doing !!
Apart from using a socket extension as a punch!
Front shocks in pre-03 are easy as can be. 03-11 are struts which require brake and UCA disassembly.
Interestingly, 03-11 rear shocks are easy as can be. Top nut for 02 minus rear shocks are part of the fun.
Crown Vic hoods just dont like to open lol. Gotta love it
Motor Craft Ford parts for the shock absorber , and a GM Delco air filter
Where the front shock absorbers go, should be rust proofed for added protection
I hate drop links - they always give me grief and its good to know that I am not the only one
they are the worst!
I know all that binging noise is weird (and annoying) to UK viewers, but you can easily avoid all of that noise by doing 2 simple things: 1) don’t have the key in the ignition when the car is turned off AND the driver’s door is opened, and also 2) put your seat belt on BEFORE you start the engine. Do those two things and you won’t hear it. The rationale behind the buzzer or bong noise is to remind the driver to remove the key when getting out of the car, and also to remind the driver to wear a seatbelt when the car is started. Common sense of course these days but back in the late 1960s when the law went into effect some drivers didn’t wear seatbelts, and in rural locations and in small towns people would often leave keys in the car because car theft was not a concern.
#1 isn't possible when you're doing jobs like this as you have to keep turning the wheel so the key stays in the ignition and the door opening an closing, and on these cars its a 2 stage turn to remove it, yes to us its the most annoying thing in the world!
Out of interest do you use grease on the new bolts for the new suspension compartments?
It is strange for us in Australia, how surface rust is accepted as normal in the UK. I have a 20 year old GMH Holden Statesman as my daily drive. A similar size to the Ford. I look underneath and except for normal dirt, no rust coloured metal in sight. Is it the weather the causes it there? Why don’t they seal everything out of the factory?
Love this car, and getting better with each fix!
Also your daily Mercedes estate, what are the common issues on them? Looking at a petrol one as a second car for us.
There arnt many issues with the W204 chassis, they did well to make a really well engineered long lasting car. The drivers seat bolster splits and apparently dashboard LEDs fail. Theres a recall on the airbags
@@furiousdriving that's great to hear, thanks!
been here since you got it, what are your plans once its got a plate and driving?
The Goodyear Eagle RSA tires are terrible in wet conditions. Just an FYI.
It is still common to find a combination of Imperial (i.e., SAEin the Sates) and metric nuts and bolts on American cars, even new ones. Go figure.
Metric threads on imperial head bolts is a bit much though. That's what land rover used to do.
@@rimmersbryggeri I thought they were Whitworth heads on metric bolts, so owners and mechanics could keep using their old Whitworth tools? :)
@@TassieLorenzo Might be but its still kind of the same even if not exactly. Whitworth is a thread though not a head?
3:28 Rusty hole in shock tower top. Worth looking at these areas both sides.
I haf to go check this outside - its just a shadow!
@@furiousdriving The hole will be in next years video.
Hope you had more than one biscuit 😁
Hope your bringing it to Fordfair Silverstone this year
I hadn't thought of that! I guess Ill have to!
@@furiousdriving awesome
I wouldn't read much into the air filter date, just fitted a 2007 oil filter... That I bought last week from my local VW dealer. Ironically it replaced one manufactured in 2012. Just luck of the draw.
So awesome!
Did I spy a hole in the shock tower at 3.30? Looks like it could use some attention at some point
no its just a shadow
@@furiousdriving phew!!
Did you have to pay import duty on the parts as well? Congratulations by the way on keeping your driveway free of oil spills or stains 👍🏻
If the supplier states a value on the package or custom's doc ( not sure but something like under £80) then there should be no import duty.
Yes, theres an all inclusive price option, tick that and it just arrives
Everything on the car should be metric; they were built in Canada. If you need Imperial sized sockets then you must be using a non-Ford Motorcradt after-market part from Rock Auto.
I was watching the video trying to work out why your corner had got so badly scraped with huge white gouges?
Then I realised it's cause your car is so damn shiny that's the reflection of your tools ... :D
Yeah I thought that too for a second, then realised it was the tools reflection.. 😅
Think you need some parking sensors or a reversing camera
Ive been thinking that, I have to leave a block of wood on the drive as I cant see where it ends!
That's rust from my home state of Ohio for ya! Rust proof it!
More brake fluid for penetrating oil.why not put penetrating oil on the day before you start working on it, maybe make it a bit easier.
Exactly
This should last forever! [Get it waxed] I think hubcaps that are bolted to the wheel - as on my Hyundai - are much more sensible!
Any plans to fit a tachometer dash from Crown Vic LX Sport
No, Id want to keep it original in that respect
@@furiousdriving
I guess it best to keep it stock as possible
Can it go around corners?
Yup, uprated cop suspension