The new cast-aluminum crossmember - which serves as the mounting platformfor the engine mounts, steering rack and the front suspension's lower controlarms - also provides a more precise mounting surface and better alignmenttolerances than the previous welded steel crossmember.
For improved ride, the new Grand Marquis front suspension now featurescoil-over-shock springs with monotube shock absorbers. Monotube dampers were-selected because they are more efficient and "tunable" than conventional twin-tube shocks because the damping pistons have more than twice the effectiveworking area. Heat dissipation is also improved.
Engineers also replaced the previous recirculating ball steering gearwith a new rack-and-pinion system that weighs 10.2 kilograms (22.5 pounds)less. Rack-and-pinion systems tend to be more precise because they have fewerlinkages than recirculating ball systems.
The new Grand Marquis steering has a variable ratio gear, as well asspeed-sensitive power assist. The variable ratio gear improves bothmaneuverability and straight-ahead controllability.
Steering turn-in is improved and body roll is reduced by a newGripper(TM) front stabilizer bar. The design prevents the stabilizer bar fromtwisting in its bushings under load, which provides a quicker, more linearresponse rate.
Upper and lower control arms and a lateral Watt's linkage locate theGrand Marquis' live-axle rear suspension, which also employs coil-over-shocksprings with monotube dampers. Load-leveling air springs replace the coilsprings on the Grand Marquis Ultimate.