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Thread: Rear Leaf Springs

  1. #1
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    Rear Leaf Springs

    Help wanted please

    my MK1 2 door is a SA import with nothing that seems to be standard
    decided to replace all the rear bushes because they were all perished.

    first thing. The springs are 60mm with 5 leafs
    Ordered new polyurethane bush kit for 60mm spring MK2 Escort
    all going well until I try and fit the spring back
    The front bush doesn’t fit as they are too wide
    Whereas before the bush was flush with the spring, the new ones have a shoulder and stick out about 5mm each side.
    What can I do
    1 Do I trim the new bush down and bodge it in for the 60mm springs
    2 Buy some 50mm springs and use the new bushes trimmed down

    If I buy new 50mm springs, the saddle pad bush will be too wide
    Will the saddle pad bracket need replacing with MK1 or are they universal for 50 & 60mm springs

    so is it better to trim new bush or buy new spring and saddle pads

    The rest of the new bushes can be trimmed to suit the 50mm springs

    Any other ideas for my screwed up arrangement welcomed

    Thanks

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    Get normal rubber bushes especialy if it's a road car.

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    Finding new Mk1 springs will be difficult and v. expensive. Mk2 springs are easier to get hold of and i'd suspect this has happened with yours - mk2 spring with front end narrowed to fit the mk1 mount. I'd cut the polyurethane shoulder & ferrule down or buy mk1 poly bushes and hope they fit better? ps. its not particularly uncommon and is regarded as an acceptable 'bodge'

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    Racer Decade Plus User wildo105e's Avatar

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    I fitted mk2 springs to my mk1 no issues. You need to trim 5mm both sides of the front eye. I used mk1 front bushes and mk2 rear bushes with new mk2 spring hangers as the accommodate the wider spring by having a dog leg in them. The saddles will take a 60mm spring no problem. I never fitted the spring pads.

    As said mk1 springs are available but very pricey compared to mk2 why who knows ? I luckily had a set of mk2 single leafs. If you get poly bushes they are split so easy to trim etc. without issue.

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    Mechanic beeRS's Avatar

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    I wouldn't call it a 'bodge' to cut down the bushes. Its a perfectly acceptable modification, as long as you can cut it neatly and accurately.

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    I would think the neatest way to trim your bushes would be get them turned down in a lathe.

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    Quote Originally Posted by Forest_rallying View Post
    I would think the neatest way to trim your bushes would be get them turned down in a lathe.

    I would've thought the neatest way to trim your bushes would be with a hedge trim...

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    Quote Originally Posted by Forest_rallying View Post
    I would think the neatest way to trim your bushes would be get them turned down in a lathe.
    yes, done it myself, it works well provided you use a pretty high speed and very sharp tool

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    Hi all

    Great advice there and thank you for your time
    First option will be to source some 50mm springs
    There is a few on eBay and Facebook at the moment

    Many thanks

    Paul

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    Racer Decade Plus User wildo105e's Avatar

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    Rear Leaf Springs

    Tbh your springs fit just adjust your bushes if the are poly ones or buy some new mk1 ones.

    A lot cheaper


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    I got some 50mm springs from Motorsport Tools, Gartrac Grp 1 single leaf for £142 each if that helps, de-cambered and standard height available.

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    Thanks waverunner
    That’s a bit out of my price range at the moment
    Got some offers on Facebook for around the £80 per pair so quite lucky

    What does de-cambered mean
    What does it do for you

    Thanks

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    Thanks waverunner
    That’s a bit out of my price range at the moment
    Got some offers on Facebook for around the £80 per pair so quite lucky

    What does de-cambered mean
    What does it do for you

    Thanks

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    Racer Decade Plus User rallyrob's Avatar

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    Quote Originally Posted by starting grid View Post
    What does de-cambered mean What does it do for you Thanks
    It means they're lowered already so you wont necessarilly have to use lowering blocks, depending on how low you want to go. Some of the bend, or camber is taken out of them.
    Last edited by rallyrob; 22-10-2019 at 05:24.

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    In 1987 I bought a set of genuine Ford 146lb single leaf rear springs from a retailer. Before me taking delivery of them they sent the springs to Gartrac to be decambered. How they did what they did I am still not sure.

    The springs did many years service both on Tarmac and Forest events until I stupidly sold the car as the Mk2 Escort was losing it's popularity. Little did I know at the time.

  16. #16
    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: Rear Leaf Springs

    The springs did many years service both on Tarmac and Forest events until I stupidly sold the car as the Mk2 Escort was losing it's popularity. Little did I know at the time.[/QUOTE]


    Doh!......................

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