1969 FORD MUSTANG air suspension

03-02-11
Suspension

03-02-11

nuts to specification. Make sure that

the joint is completely filled with the

specified lubricant.

9. Guide the ball joint stud into the

spindle. Install the stud nut and tor-

que it to specification. Continue to

tighten the nut to line up the cotter

pin hole. Install the cotter pin.

10.
Install the wheel and tire. Tor-

que the wheel nuts to specification.

STABILIZER REPAIR

FORD, MERCURY,

METEOR, THUNDERBIRD,

CONTINENTAL MARK III

To replace the end bushings on each

stabilizer link, use the following pro-

cedure.

1.
Raise the vehicle on a hoist.

2.
Remove the nut, washer and in-

sulator from the lower end of the sta-

bilizer bar attaching bolt.

3.
Remove the bolt and the remain-

ing washers(3) insulators (3) and the

spacer.

4.
Assemble a flat washer and a

new insulator on the bolt.

5.
Insert the bolt through the stabi-

lizer bar then install a new insulator

and a flat washer on it.

6. Install the spacer, flat washer

and another new insulator on the bolt

(Fig. 1).

7.
Insert the bolt through the lower

arm and install a new insulator and a

flat washer. Install and torque the at-

taching nut to specification.

COUGAR, FAIRLANE,

FALCON, MONTEGO,

MUSTANG

1.
Raise the vehicle high enough to

provide working space, and place sup-

ports under both front wheels.

2.
Disconnect the stabilizer from

each link. Disconnect both stabilizer

attaching brackets, and remove the

stabilizer.

3.
Coat the necessary parts of the

stabilizer with RUGLYDE or a com-

parable lubricant, and slide new insu-

lators onto the stabilizer.

4.
Secure each end of the stabilizer

bar to the lower arm making sure that

the bolt head is at the top (Fig. 2) to

eliminate interference with the brake

hose.

5.
Remove the supports and lower

the vehicle.
FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER

ARM STRUT AND/OR

BUSHING

FORD, MERCURY,

METEOR, THUNDERBIRD,

CONTINENTAL MARK III

1.
Remove the cotter pin from the

lower arm strut at the frame front

crossmember and remove the nut,

washer, and bushing from the strut.

2.
Remove nuts, washers, and bolts

attaching the strut and rubber bumper

to the lower arm (Fig. 1).

3.
Pull the strut from the frame

crossmember.

4.
Remove the crossmember rear

side bushing and washer from the

strut.

5.
Place the crossmember rear side

washer and bushing on the strut and

position the strut to the frame and

lower arm.

6. Position the rubber bumper on

the strut and install the bolts, washer,

and nuts attaching the strut to the

lower arm. Torque the nuts and bolts

to specification.

7.
Install the bushing, washer, and

nut on the strut at the front cross-

member. Tighten the nut and install

the cotter pin.

8. Check caster, camber, and toe-in

and adjust if necessary.

LOWER ARM STRUT AND/OR

BUSHING REPLACEMENT

COUGAR, FAIRLANE,

FALCON, MONTEGO,

MUSTANG

1.
Position the support as shown in

Figs.
8 and 9 under the upper arm.
2.
Raise the vehicle, position safety

stands, and remove the wheel and tire.

3.
Remove the cotter pin, castelated

nut and the adjustment nut from the

front of the strut.

4.
With two pry bars approximately

18 inches long, one at each side and at

the rear of the front washer, pry it

forward to separate the inner sleeve

from the outer sleeve. Remove the

front insulator from the strut (Fig.

26).

5.
Install the new rear washer

(large ID), outer sleeve and insulator

bushing on the forward end of the

strut rod.

6. Position the strut into the

crossmember and to the lower suspen-

sion arm. Install the strut-to-arm at-

taching bolts and nuts, and torque

them to specification.

7.
Install the forward insulator

washer (small ID), inner sleeve and

adjustment nut on the forward end of

the strut. The inner sleeve need not be

crimped to the outer sleeve.

8. Install the wheel and tire, re-

move the safety stands and lower the

vehicle. Remove the tool supporting

the upper arm.

9. Adjust the caster and camber to

specification.

10.
Install the castellated nut and

cotter pin.

DRIVE SHAFT PINION

ANGLE ADJUSTMENT

FORD, MERCURY,

METEOR, THUNDERBIRD,

CONTINENTAL MARK III

The pinion-drive shaft working

angle must be checked and adjusted to

ADJUSTING

SCREW

F1432- A
F1503-A

FIG. 14—Alignment Spacer

Installation
FIG. 75—Positioning Tool On

U-Jointprocarmanuals.com

03-02-13

Suspension

03-02-13

BALL JOINT BOLT HEAD

STABILIZER

F1370-A

FIG. 18 —Removing or Installing Front Spring

TURN TO COMPRESS

NUT
•

Tool T 63 P-53J0-A

SHAFT SCREW

Lower Adapter Plate

CAVITY
Upper Adapter Plate

T67P-5370-A

FIG. 79—Spring Tool Installation

through the lower arm. Install and

torque the nut to specification.

3.
Secure the lower end of the

shock absorber to the lower arm with

the two attaching bolts.

4.
Secure the strut and the rebound

bumper to the lower arm with the two
F
1492.
A

attaching bolts. Torque the bolts to

specification

5.
Connect the sway bar to the

lower arm with the attaching washer

and insulators as shown in Fig. 1.

Torque the nut to specification.

6. Check the front end alignment
and adjust it to the recommended

specifications if required.

COUGAR, FAIRLANE,

FALCON, MONTEGO,

MUSTANG

Removal

1.
Remove the shock absorber and

upper mounting bracket as an assem-

bly.

2.
Raise the vehicle on a hoist, in-

stall safety stands, and remove the

wheel cover or hub cap.

3.
Remove the grease cap from the

hub;
then, remove the cotter pin, nut

lock, adjusting nut and outer bearing

from the hub.

4.
Pull the wheel, tire and the hub

and drum off the spindle as an assem-

bly.

5.
Install the spring compressor

tool as shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21.

6. Remove 2 upper arm-to-spring

tower attaching nuts and swing the

upper arm outboard from the spring

tower (Fig. 21).

7.
Release the spring compressor

tool and remove the tool from the

spring. Then, remove the spring from

the vehicle.

Installation

1.
Place the spring upper insulator

on the spring and secure in place with

tape.

2.
Position the spring in the spring

tower. Install the spring compressor,

(Fig. 19) and compress the spring.

3.
Swing the upper arm inboard

and insert the bolts through the holes

in the side of the spring tower. Then,

install the attaching nuts and torque

them to specification.

4.
Release the spring pressure and

guide the spring into the upper arm

spring seat. The end o! the spring

must seat against the tab on the

spring seat.

5. Remove the spring compressor

and position the wheel, tire, and hub

and drum on the spindle.

6. Install the bearing, washer, ad-

justing nut and lock nut. Adjust the

wheel bearing as outlined in Part 3-12

and install the cotter pin, grease cap,

and hub cap or wheel cover.

7.
Lower the vehicle and install the

shock absorber and upper mounting

bracket.

8. Check caster, camber, and toe-in

and adjust as necessary (Part 3-1).procarmanuals.com

03-02-14
Suspension

03-02-14

FRONT SPRING AND

LOWER ARM

LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

Removal

1.
Raise the vehicle. Place a sup-

port under each underbody side rail to

the rear of the lower arm in the lifting

pad area.

2.
Remove the wheel and tire from

the hub.

3.
Remove 2 bolts and washers that

attach the caliper to the spindle. Re-

move the caliper from the rotor and

wire it to the underbody to prevent

damage to the brake hose.

4.
Remove the hub and rotor from

the spindle.

5.
Loosen the splash shield to pro-

vide clearance at the end of the arm

when it is lowered.

6. Remove the shock absorber.

7.
Disconnect the stabilizing strut

(drag strut) from the lower arm.

8. Disconnect the stabilizer bar

from the suspension bar.

9. Remove the cotter pin from the

slotted nut attaching the lower ball

joint to the end of the spindle boss.

Loosen the nut one to two turns.

10.
Place a box wrench over the

lower end of the ball joint remover

tool, and position the tool as in Fig.

13.
The tool should seat firmly against

the ends of both studs, and not

against the lower stud nut.

11.
Turn the wrench until both

studs are under tension, then, tap the

spindle with a hammer near the lower

stud to loosen it from the spindle. Do

not loosen the stud with tool pressure

alone.

12.
Place a jack under the outer

end of the lower arm and raise the

arm several inches.

13.
Install the spring compressor

Tool 5310-A (Fig. 23) inside the

spring with the jaws of the tool

toward the center of the vehicle.

14.
Remove the nut from the ball

joint stud. Lower the jack until the

spindle and spring are free, and re-

move the spring and insulators.

15.
Remove the lower arm- to-

crossmember nut, bolt, washers, and

spacer, then remove the arm.

Installation

1.
Connect the inner end of the

lower arm to the underbody

crossmember. Do not tighten the at-

taching nut at this time. Refer to Fig.

22.
Basic Tool Adapter F 1288-B

FIG. 20—Spring Compressor Tool Installed—Upper View—Typical

DETAIL NO 3 T63P-5310-A DETAIL NO.4
DETAIL
NO.
I

21 —Compressing Spring—Lower View—Montego, Falcon

and Fairlaneprocarmanuals.com

03-02-17
Suspension

03-02-17

BOLT

REAR
ADJUSTMENT
5A486

NUT

BUSHING
OUTER
SLEEVE

3A187 3B282

CASTELLATED
FRONT
ADJUSTMENT

NUT
NUT
LOWER BALL JOINT

3042

F
1152-
E

FIG.
25—
Front
Suspension Assembly

COUGAR, FAIRLANE,

FALCON, MONTEGO,

MUSTANG

Removal

1.
Position a support between the

upper arm and side rail as shown in

Figs.
8 and 9).

2.
Raise the vehicle, position safety

stands,
and remove the wheel and tire.

3.
Remove the stabilizer bar and

link attaching nut. Disconnect the bar

from the link, and remove the link

bolt

4.
Remove the strut to lower arm

attaching nuts and bolts.

5.
Remove the cotter pin from the

nut on the lower ball joint stud, and

loosen the nut one or two turns. Do

not
remove the nut from the stud at

this
time.

6.
Straighten the cotter pin on the

upper ball joint stud nut. Position the

ball joint remover tool between the

upper and lower ball joint studs in the

reverse position from that shown in

Fig.
10. The tool should seat firmly

against the ends of both studs and not

against the stud nuts.

7.
Turn the tool with a wrench until

the tool places the studs under consid-

erable tension, and hit the spindle
near the lower stud smartly with a

hammer to break the stud loose in the

spindle. Do not loosen the stud in the

spindle with tool pressure only. If

both arms are being removed, loosen

the upper stud in the same manner as

the lower stud.

8. Remove the nut from the lower

ball joint stud, and lower the arm.

9. Remove the lower arm to under-

body pivot bolt, nut and washer. Re-

move the lower arm.

Installation

1.
Position the lower arm to the

underbody bracket and install the

pivot bolt, washer, and nut loosely.

2.
Raise the lower arm, guide the

lower ball joint stud into the spindle

bore,
and install the stud attaching

nut loosely.

3.
Install the stabilizer link bolt,

washers,
bushings and spacer. Connect

the stabilizer bar to the link. Install

the attaching nut and torque to speci-

fications (Fig. 25).

4.
Position the strut to the lower

arm. Install the attaching bolts and

nuts,
and torque to specification.

5.
Torque the lower ball joint stud

nut to specification, continue to tight-

en the nut until the cotter pin hole

and slots are aligned, and install a

new cotter pin.
6. Torque the lower arm- to

underbody pivot bolt and nut to speci-

fication.

7.
Remove the safety stands and

lower the vehicle.

8. Remove the support from be-

tween the upper arm and frame.

9.
Check and, if necessary, adjust

caster, camber, and toe-in.

FRONT
SUSPENSION

UPPER
ARM

FORD,
MERCURY,

METEOR,
THUNDERBIRD,

CONTINENTAL
MARK III

Removal

1.
Raise the front of the vehicle and

position safety stands under both sides

of the frame just back of the lower

arm.

2.
Remove the hub cap or wheel

cover.

3.
If equipped with drum type

brakes—remove the wheel and tire

and brake drum as an assembly (Part

3-12).

4.
If equipped with disc brakes—re-

move the wheel and tire from the hub.procarmanuals.com

03-02-18
Suspension

03-02-18

5.
Remove the cotter pin from the

upper ball joint stud nut.

6. Loosen the upper ball joint stud

nut one or two turns. Do not remove

the nut from the stud at this time.

7.
Install tool T57P-3006-A be-

tween the upper and lower ball joint

studs with the adapter screw on top

(Fig. 13). The tool should be seated

firmly against the ends of both studs

and not against the nuts or lower stud

cotter pin.

8. With a wrench, turn the adapter

screw until the tool places the stua

under tension. Tap the spindle near

the upper stud with a hammer to loos-

en the stud in the spindle. Do not

loosen the stud from the spindle with

tool pressure only.

9. Remove the tool from between

the ball joint studs and place a floor

jack under the lower arm.

10.
Raise the floor jack to relieve

the pressure from the upper ball joint

stud nut and remove the nut.

11.
Remove the upper arm inner

shaft attaching bolts. Remove the

upper arm and inner shaft as an as-

sembly (Fig. 1).

12.
Remove the bumpei from the

upper arm.

Installation

1.
Position the bumper to the upper

arm and install the nut and washer.

Torque the nut to specifications.

2.
Position the upper arm inner

shaft to the frame side rail and install

the 2 attaching bolts and washers

snug.

3.
Connect the upper ball joint stud

to the spindle and install the attaching

nut. Torque the nut to specification

and continue to tighten the nut until

the cotter pin hole in the stud is in

line with the nut slots. Then, install

the cotter pin.

4.
If equipped with drum type bra-

kes—Adjust the brakes as outlined in

Part 2-2. Install the wheel, tire, and

drum to the spindle and adjust the

wheel bearings as outlined in Part

3-12.

5.
If equipped with disc brak-

es—Install the wheel and tire on the

hub and adjust the wheel bearings as

outlined in Part 3-12.

6. Install the hub cap or wheel

cover.

7.
Remove the safety stands and

lower the front of the vehicle.

8. Check caster, camber, and toe-in

and adjust as required (Section 2, Part

3-D.
COUGAR, FAIRLANE,

FALCON, MONTEGO,

MUSTANG

Removal

1.
Raise the front of the vehicle,

position safety stands under the

frame, and lower the vehicle slightly.

2.
Remove the wheel and tire.

3.
Remove the shock absorber

lower attaching nuts and washers.

4.
Remove the shock absorber

upper mounting bracket attaching

nuts,
and remove the shock absorber

and bracket as an assembly (Fig. 26).

On all 8-cylinder vehicles, remove

the air cleaner to obtain access for

tool installation.

5.
Install the spring compressor

tool and compress the spring (Figs.

19,
20 and 21).

6. Position a safety stand under the

lower arm.

7.
Remove the cotter pin from the

nut on the upper ball joint stud, and

loosen the nut one or two turns. Do

not remove the nut from the stud at

this time.

8. Position the ball joint remover

tool between the upper and lower ball

joint studs as shown in Fig. 10. The

tool should seat firmly against the

ends of both studs and not against the

stud nuts.

9. Turn the tool with a wrench until

the tool places the studs under consid-

erable tension; then, hit the spindle

smartly near the upper stud with a

hammer to break the stud loose in the

spindle. Do not loosen the stud in the

spindle with tool pressure only. If

both arms are being removed, loosen

the lower stud in the same manner as

the upper stud.

10.
Remove the nut from the upper

stud and lift the stud out of the

spindle.

11.
Remove the upper arm inner

shaft attaching nuts from the engine

compartment, and remove the upper

arm.

12.
Wipe off all loose dirt from the

upper arm parts. Do not wash the ball

joint with a solvent.

Installation

1.
Position the upper arm on the

underbody mounting bracket, and in-

stall the nuts and lock washers on the

two inner shaft attaching bolts. The

specified keystone-type lock washers

must be used. Torque the nuts to

soecification.
2.
Position the upper ball joint stud

in the top of the wheel spindle, and in-

stall the stud nut. Torque the nut to

specification, and continue to tighten

it until the cotter pin hole and slots

line up. Install a new cotter pin.

3.
Release the coil spring, remove

the tool, and install the front shock

absorber and the wheel and tire.

LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

Removal

1.
Place a jack under the outer end

of the suspension lower arm and raise

the arm. Refer to Fig. 22.

2.
Remove the wheel and tire.

3.
Remove the cotter pin from the

upper ball joint stud. Loosen the nut

one or two turns.

4.
Place a box wrench over the

lower end of the ball joint remover

tool, and position the tool as in Fig.

13.
The tool should seat firmly against

the ends of both studs, and not

against the upper stud nut.

5.
Turn the wrench until both studs

are under tension, and then, tap the

spindle with a hammer near the upper

stud to loosen it from the spindle. Do

not loosen the stud with tool pressure

alone. Remove the nut.

UPPER MOUNTING BRACKET

LOWER RETAINING BOLTS F 1490-A

FIG. 26—Removing or Installing

Front Shock Absorber—Typicalprocarmanuals.com

03-02-20
Suspension

03-02-20

hub and rotor on the spindle. Position

the caliper over the rotor and install

the attaching bolts. Torque the bolts

to specification (Part 3-13). Install the

wheel and tire on the hub and adjust

the wheel bearings as outlined in Part

3-12 .

7.
Install the hub cap or wheel

cover. Then, remove the support stand

and lower the vehicle.

8. Check caster, camber, and toe-in

(Part 3-1) and adjust as necessary.

COUGAR, FAIRLANE,

FALCON, MONTEGO,

MUSTANG

Drum Brakes

Removal

1.
Position a support between the

upper arm and frame as shown in

Figs.
8 and 9; then, raise the vehicle

and position safety stands.

2.
Remove the hub cap or wheel

cover.

3.
Remove the grease cap from the

hub;
then, remove the adjusting nut,

washer, and outer bearing cone and

roller assembly.

4.
Pull the wheel, hub, and drum

assembly off the wheel spindle.

5.
Remove the brake backing plate

from the spindle. Support the plate to

prevent damage to the brake hose.

6. Disconnect the spindle connect-

ing rod end from the spindle arm

using Tool 3290-C.

7.
Remove the cotter pins from

both ball joint stud nuts, and loosen

the nuts one or two turns. Do not re-

move the nuts from the studs at this

time.

8. Position the ball joint remover

tool between the upper and lower ball

joint studs (Fig. 10). The tool should

seat firmly against the ends of both

studs and not against the stud nuts.

9. Turn the tool with a wrench until

the tool places the studs under consid-

erable tension, and, with a hammer,

hit the spindle smartly near the studs

to break them loose in the spindle. Do

not loosen the studs in the spindle

with tool pressure alone.

10.
Remove the stud nuts and re-

move the spindle from both studs.

Installation

1.
Position the spindle on the lower

ball joint stud and install the stud nut

(Fig. 25).
2.
Raise the lower suspension arm

and guide the upper ball joint stud

into the spindle. Install the stud nut.

3.
Torque the upper stud nut and

then the lower stud nut to specifica-

tion. Continue to tighten both nuts

until the cotter pin holes and slots line

up.
Install new cotter pins.

4.
Connect the spindle connecting

rod end to the spindle arm.

5.
Install the brake backing plate

on the spindle, and torque the bolts to

specification.

6. Install the wntel and drum and

adjust the wheel bearing (Part 3-12).

7.
Remove the safety stands, and

lower the vehicle.

8. Remove the support from be-

tween the upper arm and frame.

9. Check and, if necessary, adjust

caster, camber, and toe-in.

Disc Brakes

Removal

1.
Remove the hub cap or wheel

cover, and remove the wheel and tire

from the hub.

2.
Remove two bolts attaching the

caliper to the spindle. Remove the cal-

iper from the rotor and wire it to the

underbody to prevent damage to the

brake hose.

3.
Remove the grease cap from the

hub,
then, remove the adjusting nut,

washer, and outer bearing cone and

roller assembly.

4.
Pull the hub and rotor assembly

off the wheel spindle.

5.
Remove the three caliper shield

attaching bolts and remove the shield.

6. Disconnect the spindle connect-

ing rod end from the spindle arm

using Tool-3290-C.

7.
Remove the cotter pins from

both ball joint stud nuts, and loosen

the nuts one or two turns. Do not re-

move the nuts from the studs at this

time.

8. Position the ball joint remover

tool between the upper and lower ball

joint studs (Fig. 10). The tool should

seat firmly against the ends of both

studs and not against the stud nuts.

9. Turn the tool with a wrench until

the tool places the studs under consid-

erable tension, and, with a hammer,

hit the spindle smartly near the studs

to break them loose in the spindle. Do

not loosen the studs in the spindle

with tool pressure alone.

10.
Position a floor jack under the

lower suspension arm.
11.
Remove the upper and lower

ball joint stud nuts; lower the jack

and remove the spindle.

Installation

1.
Position the spindle on the lower

ball joint stud and install the stud nut

(Fig. 25). Torque the nut to specifica-

tion and install the cotter pin.

2.
Raise the lower suspension arm,

and guide the upper ball joint stud

into the spindle. Install the stud nut.

3.
Torque the nut to specifications

and install the cotter pin. Then, re-

move the floor jack.

4.
Connect the spindle connecting

rod end to the spindle arm and install

the attaching nut. Torque the nut to

specification and install the cotter pin.

5.
Position the caliper splash shield

to the spindle and install the attaching

bolts and nuts. Torque the nuts and

bolts to specification.

6. Install the hub and rotor on the

spindle.

7.
Position the caliper to the rotor

and spindle and install the attaching

bolts.
Torque the bolts to specification

and install the safety wire.

8. Install the wheel and tire on the

hub and adjust the wheel bearing

(Part 3-12).

9. Install the hub cap or wheel

cover.

10.
Before driving the vehicle,

pump the brake pedal several times to

obtain normal brake lining-to-rotor

clearance and restore normal brake

pedal travel.

LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

Removal

1.
Raise the vehicle. Place a sup-

port under each side rail to the rear of

the lower arm in the lifting pad area.

2.
Remove the wheel and tire from

the hub.

3.
Remove 2 bolts and washers that

attach the caliper to the spindle. Re-

move the caliper from the rotor and

wire it to the underbody to prevent

damage to the brake hose.

4.
Remove the hub and rotor from

the spindle.

5.
Remove the splash shield and

gasket from the spindle.

6. Disconnect the spindle arm con-

necting rod from the spindle arm with

Tool 3290-C. See Fig. 23.

7.
Remove the cotter pins from

both ball joint stud nuts. Loosen the

nuts one to two turns.procarmanuals.com

03-02-21
Suspension

03-02-21

8. Place a box wrench over the

lower end of the ball joint remover

tool, and position the tool as in Fig.

13.
The tool should seat firmly against

the ends of both studs, and not

against the stud nuts.

9. Turn the wrench until both studs

are under tension, and then, tap the

spindle with a hammer near the studs

to loosen them from the spindle. Do

not loosen
the
studs with tool pressure

alone.

10.
Place a jack under the outer

end of the lower arm, and raise the

arm several inches. Remove both ball

stud nuts, and remove t^e spindle.

Installation

1.
Position the new spindle onto the

upper and lower ball joint studs, in-

stall the stud nuts and tighten the nuts

to specifications. Continue to tighten

both nuts until the cotter pin holes

line up with the slots, then install new

cotter pines.

2.
Connect the spindle connecting

rod to the spindle arm. Install the re-

taining nut and tighten the nut to

specification. Continue to tighten the

nut until the cotter pin hole lines up

with the slot, then install a new cotter

pin.

3.
Install the gasket and splash

shield on the spindle. Tighten the at-

taching bolts to specifications.

4.
Install the hub and rotor on the

spindle.

5.
Install the caliper to the spindle

and tighten the attaching bolts to spe-

cifications. Check for the correct flex-

ible hose routing (Part 2-2).

6. Install the wheel and tire and ad-

just the wheel bearings (Part 3-12).

7.
Lubricate the steering stop on

the lower arm and the mating flat on

the spindle with the specified lubri-

cant.

8. Remove the safety stands, lower

the car and check camber, caster and

toe-in.

FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER

REPLACEMENT

FORD, MERCURY,

METEOR, THUNDERBIRD,

CONTINENTAL MARK III

1.
Remove the nut, washer, and

bushing from the shock absorber

upper end.

2.
Raise the vehicle on a hoist and

install safety stands.
3.
Remove 2 bolts attaching the

shock absorber to the lower arm and

remove the shock absorber.

4.
Place a washer and bushing on

the shock absorber top stud and posi-

tion the shock absorber inside the

front spring. Install the 2 lower at-

taching bolts and torque them to spe-

cifications.

5.
Remove the safety stands and

lower the vehicle.

6. Place a bushing and washer on

the shock absorber top stud and in-

stall the attaching nut. Torque it to

specification.

COUGAR, FAIRLANE,

FALCON, MONTEGO,

MUSTANG

Removal

1. Raise the hood and remove 3

shock absorber upper mounting

bracket-to-spring tower attaching

nuts.

2.
Raise the front of the vehicle and

place safety stands under the lower

arms.

3.
Remove 2 shock absorber lower

attaching nuts and washers.

4.
Lift the shock absorber and

upper bracket from the spring tower

(Fig. 26) and remove the bracket from

the shock absorber.

Installation

1. Install the upper mounting

bracket on the shock absorber and

torque to specification.

2.
Position the shock absorber and

upper mounting bracket in the spring

tower, making sure the shock absor-

ber lower studs are in the pivot plate

holes.

3.
Install the 2 washers and attach-

ing nuts on the shock absorber lower

studs and torque to specification.

4.
Install the 3 shock absorber

upper mounting bracket-to-spring

tower attaching nuts and torque to

specification. Then, remove the safety

stands and lower the vehicle.

LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

Removal

1.
Remove the stud nut at the

upper eye of the shock absorber. Re-

move the upper eye stud bracket to

crossmember attaching bolt and re-

move the stud bracket. Refer to Fig.

22.
2.
Remove the bolts which attach

the shock absorber to the suspension

lower arm. Lower, and remove the

shock absorber.

3.
Examine the shock absorber unit

and rubber bushings. Replace parts

that are defective, deteriorated, or

worn.

Installation

1. Fully extend the shock absorber

and position it inside the coil spring.

Connect the lower end of the shock

absorber to the suspension lower arm.

Torque the attaching nuts to specifica-

tion.

2.
Insert the upper bracket stud

through the bushing in the shock ab-

sorber upper eye. Install the stud

bracket to crossmember attaching

bolt. Do not tighten the bolt: at this

time.

3.
Install the upper eye bracket

stud nut. Torque the nut to specifica-

tion.

4.
Torque the stud bracket- to-

crossmember attaching bolt to specifi-

cation.
The
shock absorber upper
eye

stud
nut
must
be
tightened
to com-

press
the
rubber bushing before
the

stud bracket
is
bolted
to the

crossmember;
otherwise,
the
upper
at-

tachment could
be
loose
and
noisy.

REAR SHOCK ABSORBER

REPLACEMENT

FORD, MERCURY,

METEOR, THUNDERBIRD,

CONTINENTAL MARK 1(11

1.
Raise the vehicle on a hoist.

2.
Remove the shock absorber at-

taching nut, washer and insulator

from the upper stud at the upper side

of the spring upper seat. Compress the

shock absorber to clear the hole in the

spring seat, and remove the inner in-

sulator and washer from the upper at-

taching stud.

3.
Remove the self-locking attach-

ing nut, and disconnect the shock ab-

sorber lower stud from the mounting

bracket on the rear axle housing (Fig.

4).

4.
Expel all air by performing step

3 On Vehicle Tests in Part 3-1.

5.
Place the inner washer and insu-

lator on the upper attaching stud, and

position the shock absorber so that

the upper attaching stud enters the

hole in the spring upper seat. While

holding the shock absorber in this po-

sition, install the outer insulator andprocarmanuals.com

03-02-22
Suspension

03-02-22

washer and the nut on the upper stud

from the upper side of the spring

upper seat. Torque the nut to specifi-

cations.

6. Extend the shock absorber and

locate the lower stud in the hole in

mounting bracket on the rear axle

housing. Install a new self-locking at-

taching nut and torque to specifica-

tion.

MUSTANG AND COUGAR

Removal

1.
Disconnect the shock absorber

from the spring clip plate (Fig. 30).

2.
Remove the shock absorber ac-

cess cover from the luggage compart-

ment (Fig. 28).-(On convertible mod-

els,
remove the rear seat and seat

back to reach the access cover.)

SHOCK ABSORBER ACCESS COVER
SHOCK ABSORBER UPPER ATTACHING NUT

LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT

FLOOR PANEL

F 1489-A

FIG. 28—Rear Shock Absorber

Access Cover

3.
Remove the shock absorber

upper attaching nut.

4.
Compress the shock absorber

and remove it from the vehicle. Re-

move the bushings and washers from

the shock absorber studs.

Installation

1.
Place the bushing and inner

washer on the shock absorber stud.

2.
Connect the upper stud to the

mounting, and install the bushing,
ACCESS COVER

F 1488-A

FIG. 29—Rear Shock Absorber

Upper Mounting

outer washer, and new nut on the

stud. Torque the nut to specification,

and install the cover.

3.
Connect the lower stud to the

spring clip plate, and install the bush-

ing, outer washer, and new nut on the

stud. Be sure that spring clip plate is

free of burrs. Tighten the nut to speci-

fication.

MONTEGO, FALCON, AND

FAIRLANE (EXCEPT

CONVERTIBLE)

Removal

1.
Open the luggage compartment

door, and remove the spare wheel and

tire.

On the Ranchero, remove the at-

taching screws, and lift the forward

half of the floor panel from the body;

then, remove the access cover from

the opening in the floor pan over the

shock absorber.

On station wagons, remove the ac-

cess cover from the opening in the

seat riser over the shock absorber.

2.
Fold back the floor mat and re-

move the shock absorber access cover

from the floor pan. Remove the nut,

outer washer, and rubber bushing that

attach the shock absorber to the upper

mounting in the floor pan (Fig. 29).

3.
Raise the vehicle and remove the

attaching nut, outer washer and bush-

ing from the shock absorber at the

spring clip plate (Fig. 30). Compress

the shock absorber and remove it

from the vehicle.

4.
If the shock absorber is service-

able and requires new bushings, remove

the inner bushings and washers from

the shock absorber studs.

Installation

1.
Place the inner washer and bush-

ing on each shock absorber stud.
2.
Expand the shock absorber and

position it to the spring clip plate and

to the mounting in the floor pan.

3.
Connect the lower stud to the

spring clip plate, and install the bush-

ing, outer washer, and new nut on the

stud (Fig. 30). Be sure the spring clip

plate is free of burrs.

On the Ranchero, after tightening

the nut to specification, install the for-

ward half of the floor panel.

4.
From the luggage compartment,

install the bushing outer washer and

new attaching nut to the upper mount-

ing stud (Fig. 29). Torque to specifica-

tion. On a station wagon, replace the

floor bed panel (14 screws).

5.
Place the spare wheel and tire in

the luggage compartment, and secure

it in the storage position.

MONTEGO AND FAIRLANE

CONVERTIBLE

Removal

1.
Remove the rear seat cushion

and seat back.

2.
Partially raise the vehicle on a

hoist. With an assistant under the ve-

hicle holding the shock absorber, re-

move the nut from the top of the

shock absorber.

3.
Remove the lower shock absor-

ber attaching nut and remove the

shock absorber.

Installation

1.
Position the washers and bush-

ings on the shock absorber and posi-

tion the shock absorber to the lower

attachment. Install the bushing, outer

washer, and new attaching nut and

torque the nut to specification (Part

3-13).

2.
Lower the vehicle and install the

bushing, outer washer, and new at-

taching nut on the top of the shock

absorber. Torque the nut to specifica-

tion.

3.
Install the rear seat back and

seat cushion.

LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

Removal

1.
Lift the vehicle and place support

stands under the axle housing. Posi-

tion the vehicle with a hoist to relieve

tension on the shock absorbers.

2.
Remove the screws that attach

the shock absorber mounting plate to

the crossmember (Fig. 31).procarmanuals.com