As a Paraplegic I have achieved a lot but in the end have fallen way short.

A Bloody Paraplegic
Ford Cougar SW MY99 Eibach Parts 115,000ks

May 2011: I had my Cougar Eiback checked over at 115,000ks and I need the following but did I get fuc'd around first.

I took the car to a local Ford Dealer for a service but they couldn't get a jack under it so I got them to just check the Air Conditioner -
see story on the side

I then took it to Titan Ford who did a $280 check over. They told me that the front Lower Control Arms were buggered and that I shouldn't drive the car until they were replaced. The parts cost R/H $800 L/H $700. I wasn't too happy about that so got a second opinion from Pedders who told me that there was nothing wrong with them and that all I had wrong was the following:

Front Suspension:

CV Joints: LH Boot torn: Needs Replacing.

Rear Suspension:

Sway Bar Bushes: D Bushes Worn: Requires Replacement.

RAYBESTOS Part # 5501545 More Info Professional Grade; Sway Bar Bushing; Sway Bar Frame Bushing Kit; Contents: (2) Bushings - Rubber 16.75mm ID
Rear ; To Frame; 17mm Sway Bar Diameter AU$9.73

Also available in

Need the right ones for the Cougar Eibach. Not sure these are they.

Replacement Airconditioner Compressor.

Right: Apparently there are a few different Air Conditioner Compressors that came with various Cougars but this is the one out of my car. Click on photo.

My air conditioner started blowing warm air so I took it to my local Centre Ford Dealer where they tested everything and came up with a leaking schreder valve. A replacement and re-gas set me back $260. That worked on the way home but next time I got in the car it was blowing warm air again.

I had a service booked in at Titan Ford because Centre Ford weren't able to get a jack under the car so I had them check where the leak was coming from. They suggested it was the Air Compressor and that it would cost me $2,000 for another if I could get one.

I sent some emails out and got a second hand one from a wrecker over east for $400 delivered. So far so good.

I rang Centre Ford and asked how much it would cost me to have the compressor fitted and was told that they weren't sure as the Ford book suggests that the exhaust pipes had to be removed!

I then got in touch with the people who sold me the compressor and they said it was a bastard of a job and that you had to undo the front cross member bolts and probably the back ones making sure that you didn't undo them (back ones) all the way.

Okay...now I wasn't sure what to do so I got in touch with John Shugg at Eazy Drive Mobility who fitted my Hand Controls and Wheelchair Roof Hoist. While John doesn't do car repairs he is a mechanic and an engineer and if I could trust anyone it would be him. He agreed to have a look at my car.

First he had a look under the bonnet and then he took the right hand wheel off. After a couple of minutes he said " I think it will come out under here...". He undid the bolts from underneath. He then made a spanner to undo another bolt from under the bonnet and after undoing the hoses the compressor came out from the bottom.

The new second hand one went in the same way and once everything was tightened up it was re-gassed. Time taken: Around about an hour.

But bugger it still had a leak however this was tracked down to a hose so I ordered one from RockAuto.com on the 8th May 2011.

(9th June 2011 to be continued)

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Body Kits.

Just a little note here: I am going to try and get a mould of the front lip and side skirts off mine in case I lose them. The other option would be to get a body kit from the USA.

Click on photos below:

Below: Mercury Cougar Extreme Dimensions Duraflex Body Kit.