how much $ to replace air bags with springs

[yardman]

hello i have a bad air bag and thinking of haveing springs put in so i wont have another problem , has anyone done this and what was the cost ...thanks

[junk yard doggie]

You can buy those spring kits at you local discount auto parts stores for cheaper than I can sell used ones. I just replaced the air bags on my 94 with springs. You will need to disconnect the air suspension module in the trunk it's behind that switch, or the air susp. light will stay lit on the dash.

[yardman]

is it just a set of springs or does the kit have additional parts

[junk yard doggie]

All I've seen is the springs with rubber pads to set them on. If you have the money the air bags are great to up keep. If you want cheep, and not to hassle with that sort of thing again, springs are the way to go.

[mrfix]

I replaced the air bags on my 92 TC and it was no problem if you follow the procedure in the shop manual. I got my new bags from airbagparts.net. Pretty reasonable, especially compared to what a dealer or shop would charge.

[DolfnFrk]

I was wondering if you have to have a tool to compress the springs?

[junk yard doggie]

Not on the rears. You need to take the shocks loose and let the rear end hang down.

[homeskillet43]

If you do not have to replace the airbags please don't. The ride is not the same, especially when you have a load of people in the car. You will be going from the ultimate roadtrip vehicle to the worst vehicle. If you have to replace try strutmasters.com, they have technicians that can help you if you have any problems. They have helped me with my conversion kit on my Continental.

The kit is going to include springs and shocks. The car is going to need stiffer shocks to deal with the added pressure the air bags used to absorb.

AGAIN DO NOT CONVERT, YOU CAN GET AIRBAGS FROM STRUTMASTERS.COM AS WELL. THEY ARE ONLY $84.

[michelthapa]

It will take very less price, it will be near about $100.

[All2kool]

Parts are $82 at Autozone. A 'kit' is not needed; Coil Springs for a 1990-1993 LTC, Grand Marquis, Crown Victoria, etc. all use the same suspension. If your LTC did not come with ARS, it came with Coil Springs which is why these parts are available at auto parts stores. '94 and newer LTC's all had the ARS. This retro-fit is cheaper than replacing any of the many components that can be wrong with the ARS and this is by far the easiest fix, and a very easy DIY project. Anyone suggesting you repair the ARS is not giving you good advice, the system can & will continue to fail over time.

1. Turn OFF the ARS in the Trunk.
2. Remove the 30A Fuse for the ARS in the Fuse Panel that is under the Hood (this will prevent the Compressor from ever coming on again).
3. Set the PARKING BRAKE, loosen lug nuts for rear wheels, chock front wheels.
4. Jack car so wheels are at least 3" off the ground, secure vehicle on Jack Stands, remove both wheels.
5. Remove Shock retaining nut from bottom of shock, knock Shock loose. Air Bags should be loose to the touch. Removal of Shocks can be avoided if using a Coil Spring Compressor.
6. Remove the clip that holds the Air Bag in place at the top, a bladed screwdriver will achieve this, just push it off the top of the Air Bag. It's a small space but removal of the clip is easily achieved.
7. Remove the two connectors at the top of the now quite loose Air Bag; one is a plug, the other must be turned to be removed. Secure these to something as far from the exhaust using Zip Ties (no need to remove any of the ARS hardware, it will not interfere with anything).
8. Install Coil Springs (don't forget the donut bushings), a pry bar may be needed to assist in leverage (careful not to pinch a brake line), reattach Shocks and retaining nut. Reattach wheels. slowly lower car back to ground.
9. Disabling the Check Air Suspension light on the Instrument Cluster depends on your model year:

For 1995-1997: Open & Unhook the Glove Box from the right, squeeze the sides to release and let it hang out of your way. Behind the Glove Box, mounted to the Heater Unit is a connection with two plugs, one GRAY, one BLACK, each about 2". On the BLACK connector, midway, is a GREEN wire (this is pin #11). Cut this wire to disable "Check Air Suspension" light. Reattach Glove Box.

For 1990-1994: This same plug/wire is behind the ARS Switch located in the TRUNK.

For 1998-Present: The 'Check Air Suspension' light cannot be Disabled.

[junk yard doggie]

80 some bucks at auto zone is the best cost effective method to replacing air bags. It's a permanent fix for the whole system. Once the conversion is done, definitely pull the fuse or relay for the suspension pump. I don't know anything about cutting any green wires. I would stay away from cutting any wires unless yo know exactly what you are doing. I just un plug the connectors on the suspension module. It's located in the trunk behind the switch on 91 to 94 and behind the glove box starting in 95 or 96. Doing this will turn off the check air suspension light on the dash.

[All2kool]

Originally Posted by junk yard doggie

80 some bucks at auto zone is the best cost effective method to replacing air bags. It's a permanent fix for the whole system. Once the conversion is done, definitely pull the fuse or relay for the suspension pump. I don't know anything about cutting any green wires. I would stay away from cutting any wires unless yo know exactly what you are doing. I just un plug the connectors on the suspension module. It's located in the trunk behind the switch on 91 to 94 and behind the glove box starting in 95 or 96. Doing this will turn off the check air suspension light on the dash.

All true to a point - the fix is permanent, quite easy and inexpensive. But unplugging the Module as you say will also disable the Speed Sensitive Steering if your vehicle is so equipped. On the very (GREY) plug you speak of, at about the halfway point, cut or remove the pin for #11. Do this after unplugging if it makes you feel better, then plug it back in.

[junk yard doggie]

There are 4 things that go bad on these air suspensions. The most common is the air bags, the second the compressor, third the ride height sensor, fourth the RAS module. Any one looking at converting to springs should try to figure out what the problem is first. If it's a ride height sensor that just came loose that's an easy fix. If the pump relay is bad, an easy fix as well. If you suspect the pump is bad. It's easy to test by unplugging the connector and finding the two power wires. It's really obvious which ones they are by tracing them down to the motor. Jumper 12 volts from the battery to the two wires and see if the pump runs, simple. As far as testing the ride height sensor and RAS module, I don't know of a good method. All of the air suspension problems I've run into have been either the pump or air bags, with the ocational ride height sensor becoming disconnected.

[junk yard doggie]

Never made the conversion on one with the speed sensitive steering, good to know.

[All2kool]

Originally Posted by junk yard doggie

There are 4 things that go bad on these air suspensions. The most common is the air bags, the second the compressor, third the ride height sensor, fourth the RAS module. Any one looking at converting to springs should try to figure out what the problem is first. If it's a ride height sensor that just came loose that's an easy fix. If the pump relay is bad, an easy fix as well. If you suspect the pump is bad. It's easy to test by unplugging the connector and finding the two power wires. It's really obvious which ones they are by tracing them down to the motor. Jumper 12 volts from the battery to the two wires and see if the pump runs, simple. As far as testing the ride height sensor and RAS module, I don't know of a good method. All of the air suspension problems I've run into have been either the pump or air bags, with the ocational ride height sensor becoming disconnected.

You see the inherent problem here - no way to test two of the components. You also missed the Dryer. By the time you have done as you suggest, Coil Springs could have been installed. And if you have a defective Air Bag or Compressor or any other one of the 5 parts, the cost to replace will likely exceed that of the cost of the permanent fix Coil Springs.