What is the difference between 03-06 crown Vic front suspension compared to the 08 crown vic

 

Not much. IIRC there were some minor engineering tweaks but basically the same.

What prompted the question/differentiation?

 

Don't the older ones have aluminum lower control arms or something? I think they are the same dimensionally, but there is something like that that makes the salvage yard interchange different after '06.

 

IIRC the track width is slightly wider on the later years.

I believe that's why they also changed the backspacing of the wheels. It's been a while since I did the swap but I seem to remember that for some reason.

They also went to a 17" wheel on later years and you can clearly see the difference in backspacing on them. They have almost none compared to the 16" wheels on earlier years.

 

Aluminum subframes started in 03. Before that it was integral to the frame. Dunno about control arms.

Here's a slew of info on CV swaps... maybe you can deduce and let us know what changed.

Crown Victoria Subframe Retrofit
FTE Thread: davewild's '78 F150
FTE Thread: elgemcdlf's '70 F100 CV IFS & MN-12 IRS
Fordification Thread: Crown Vic in a'71 F100
Fordification Thread: JG_F100's '72 LWB to SWB Conversion & CV Retrofit
FTE Thread: carcrafter's 67 F100

 

I was at the junk yard today and they had a 08 crown vic cop car that was hit in the rear and the front was fine and they had a 04 crown vic taxi that was hit in the front but it looks like the front suspension was not hurt. so i can't decide which one would work best. I couldn't tell a difference between the years.

 

Go for the 08.. it probably has less miles and had been serviced regularly until it met its demise.

Have you ever seen or ridden with taxi drivers? They drive it hard and put it away wet. Maintenance? Heck no.. that would cut into profits.

 

that, and a lot of cabs are old cop cars that have been retired.

 

Ok thanks guys I was thinking about going with the 08 now I am for sure. And the junk yard quoted me $225 for the whole thing and that's a hell of a deal.

 

Make sure you get the sway bar, all of the bolts (especially the 4 long ones that go through the frame) and the steering shaft when they pull it.