Section 7 (Suspension - Rear): Description
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 1999 Mercury Mystique, 1999 Mercury Cougar, 1999 Ford Contour, 1998 Mercury Mystique, and 1998 Ford Contour. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Contour, Cougar and Mystique use a MacPherson strut independent rear suspension. Each side consists of a gas-pressurized shock absorber strut assembly, 2 parallel control arms, tie rod, forged spindles, shock bumper, and dust shield. See Fig 1.