Hey all, I have an '04 MGM that I bought and the factory shocks/struts were shot so I purchased new Motorcraft standard duty units for it (rear: ASH24538, front: ASH24531). At the same time I had a Dorman 15mm anti-sway bar installed in the rear as the car had nothing and leaned like a fishing boat in the corners.

Since then the rear end seems lower and the suspension seems to bottom out once the kids get in the back. The exhaust drags on the driveway approach. The local Ford dealer said the rear springs needed replacement. So they replace them with factory standard units. It is a tiny bit better now as far as handling weight, also rides a hair stiffer, but otherwise no difference in the ride height and still squats to all hell with the kids in the backseat.

I'm considering the KYB 555601 (rear) and KYB 551600 (front) and hoping they will help with the ride height and weight handling with people in the rear issue. My questions are 1) has anyone used these shocks with factory springs on their panthers and, 2) is the ride overly stiff? I don't want "too stiff" where it's jarring my teeth or uncomfortable for long drives. Thanks in advanced.

Shocks won't change ride height.

^^^what alumarine said^^^

Shocks also have no effect on load carrying capability, unless they're coil-overs.

Then what would be the recommended solution to prevent the severe squatting with weight in the back? Coil over shocks? I work for a government agency and our CVPIs with all the gear they carry around in the trunk all the time (along with all the other LE bits) seem to have a level ride height and handle the weight well and they aren't running coil overs from what our fleet manager says.

That’s the P71 rear springs. Can pull em from a yard for 20 bucks if you need them.

I have about 300 pounds of crap in the back, and it sits about level. I recently installed KYBs in the rear and it seemed to help ride quality in my head at least.

There's different p71 springs too some slightly firmer. If you find one with an fss sticker in the rear windows. That should be the most recent with highest rate. Although any of the p71 cars all have springs which should sit a bit higher than civilian models. They use an insane amount of salt in my area so I got rear coils from coil spring specialists. Just give them the codes listed here below. They can go up or down from that as well. I just replaced my 66 pink code ones (fire suppression system) equipped. The right rear was sagged a few inches. Rides and sits great now.


https://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2802266.

I think the larger issue is why the car sits so low with just a couple of kids in the back, unless they're all like Honey Boo Boo.

My experience is here, https://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3109450#Post3109450. The missing photo of a diagram explaining my air line plumbing, which when open lets the bags exhaust on compression so the ride is then OEM like. I have a ball valve I intend to put in placed of the 3/8" open end.




AirLift # 60798. They do not jack the car higher than an inch or two, maybe 3 if pumped all the way up, but even at just 5 psi they stiffen up and prevent the soft coils from sagging.

It's all in that thread. Pulling a trailer or hauling a packed trunk, even 10 forty pound bags of salt pellets (calcium chloride) ... never yet needed over 12-15 psi.

HA! Luckily my kids are not Honey Boo-Boo types. They're an average 12 and 14 year old. I had the car to the local Ford dealership and they compared it parked side-by-side to some of their mechanics CVs (non-CVPI models) and said it sits the same.

I'll give Coil Spring Specialist a call and see what I can get worked out. Thanks for the info.

That being said an alternative if the shocks are in need of replacement anyways is air shocks. Same setup as above except it's just a bit of extra assistance in ride height from small air bags on the shocks. It allows you to maintain a soft ride yet increase ride height.