2006 500 AWD Rear Issues

[co500]

I bought a 2006 AWD 500 with 94K miles about a month ago. It had brand new tires when I bought it, and now I know why. The springs are sagging so much that the inside of the rear tires are going bald already. This thing is going to eat tires.

I read through this site and found a pointer to the Ford parts site. It looks like the springs are very cheap at $37.02 each.

However, the shocks are another story. It says that if the build data of the car is prior to 12/05/05, the shocks are $205 each! But if the build is 12/05/05 or later, the shocks are $41.85!

Of course, mine was built before 12/05/05.

Can I use the cheaper shocks?

[todd]

Make sure you are getting the correct struts and springs.

The AWD models have the Nivomat rear struts and the suspension sits approximately 1" higher than the FWD models (front and rear).

The Nivomat rear struts provide 'load leveling' capability.

[co500]

The part numbers were for AWD springs and shocks, but the question is whether I can use the shocks designed for cars built after 12/05/05 on my car built before 12/05/05?

What on earth could be so different that the prices are $40 vs. $205????

[todd]

Not sure...
I'm guessing the Nivomat struts were added after 12/05/05.

Prior to that date they may have had normal struts.
Nivomat struts are not cheap, but well worth the money in my view.
I can load up my trunk and drive a little bit and the car is level.
No headlights pointing at the tree tops with a load in the trunk.

[co500]

Todd,

You have it backwards. The struts for cars built BEFORE 12/05/05 are the really expensive ones. Struts for cars built after that date are cheap.

I really don't care about the self-leveling.

The question is, can I use the later, cheaper struts on my car. which was built 09/05?

[co500]

This is funny. I made the original post over five years ago. A little more investigation at that time revealed that one of the rear control arms was bent, probably from being towed out of a ditch at some point, and that was what was causing the tires to wear unevenly at the time. I had that replaced, and kept the old struts.

Fast forward 5 1/2 years and 82,000 more miles, and the struts were really gone. I had totally forgotten about the issue with the rear struts, and ordered the cheaper ones that only fit on AWD 500s made after 12/05. Oooops.

I had to get the correct ones from the Ford dealer. Sachs brand, but made in Mexico. Now they are $350 EACH. The cheaper ones absolutely will not fit and earlier car. By the way, the installation on the rear is a major PIA, also.

This has been a good car, but with 176K on it, I can only see 2-3 more years. I hated to spend $1000 on struts (I had to have the fronts replaced, also), but it was starting to bottom out on some relatively small dips at highway speeds. Not good. The new ones made a huge difference, as they should have!

The car is now good, other than the CVT and PS pump whining when hot. Hopefully I can get it to 200K miles without having to replace either of those. I had the CVT fluid replaced twice since I've had it.

[The Bone]

$1,000 for struts thats a Ford Fail.
I am a Ford fan but when a strut cost $250 that's just stupid.

[donrautter]

hello, Monroe is supposed to have an O E replacement Nivomat self leveling dampner 4000 series out for vehicles with self leveling systems. ; so says the shockwarehouse.com As of yet they not forwarded me any prices or availability,

[donrautter]

talked to the guys at the shock warehouse, guess what, it's bs and no deal on their nivomat for the 500. all I can suggest is keep a check on your ride height and watch for leaks, keep stash on hand.

[Deckard_Cain]

In case anyone finds this thread years later like I did, you can indeed replace nivomat shocks with standard shocks for the five hundred/montego ID, AND ONLY IF you also replace the springs with the non-nivomat springs.

Since as of this year, 2019, the rear springs are largely discontinued by Ford, you have to go aftermarket. I bought complete rear assemblies with the shock, spring, upper spring seat and mount. I replaced everything. No problem once assembled.

It's a pain in the a$# job to do... Mostly getting the knuckle to realign with the front trailing arm...