Ford Capri Mk1 rear axle problems.

[Vermilion]

Hello!

Anyone fitted aluminium bushing with single leaf springs? Anyone way to make then road suitable? They might make more noise than poly pushing.
Polypushing don't seem to survive in my car.... 7 years old and maybe driven like 5k miles and they are ready for throwing to thrash bin.

Did anyone offer "coil" rear dampeners that fit directly to Mk1 Capri, with leaf springs?. (Atlas axle)
I need to make my ride height higher, because car will to too low with the mods that I have fitted.

[Graham]

i used to have a race car which used to chew up poly bushes, i simply turned up some replacements in nylon job done. i also nylon pivot buses for the rears suspension linkage on my TL1000 to replace the worn creaking factory needle roller bearings

[Vermilion]

This is street car, pretty stock body, litte bit overpowered V6. 500+bhb, narrow street tires.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ak0ev910-aPVgYJTnK2J97qrDHkl6Q
Bushing look like that.....

I don't have four links, Panhard rod + Now ordered Calvert Caltracs that have aluminium pushing and worried about those...
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ak0ev910-aPVgYJFlLPYEurIfmkEjA

[piekey]

Remove the panard rod, this will stop pushing the axle from side to side.
As the car moves up & down (probably 100 to 125 mm overall) the panard rod moves through an arc, this in turn tries to pu.l the axle from side to side, this puts major pressure on all bushings.
Now you know why the bushes are not lasting long.
Hope this helps.

[Vermilion]

I will be having this kind of kit in about two weeks.
https://d3d71ba2asa5oz.cloudfront.ne...mages/6400.jpg

I wonder if that will make rear axle work better. Those leaf springs aren't supposed to work well with that kind of power.
Need to have heigth adjustable rear dampeners though need like 20mm more right height.... because of those caltracs.

I was thinking maching a place for O-ring to those aluminium bushing so I would maybe manage to get grease to stay inside of bushing.

[wildo105e]

I had to replace my bushes on my AVO shocks. They had done 0 miles and just stood in the garage on the car. The issue may be age related

[Vermilion]

Atleast according to wikipedia Panhard should help.... maybe wattlinkage would be better not sure. Atleast Tickford Turbo didnt use wattlinkages.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ak0ev910-aPV_GCdz5YFLlPZg8gz
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ak0ev910-aPVyUDBfTjT8HJ0TPf6
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ak0ev910-aPV8S_gHKfR7lNSUI22
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ak0ev910-aPV8T-zf8EJnVh2ZWS_

[therealpinto]

I agree, the panhard rod is not the problem (unless it is too short, or not horizontal at ride height). Caltracs will be a good solution for keeping the axle planted under acceleration.

The V6 turbo Capri I was involved in during the early 2000s was on leafs for a while, we tried both making radius rods like the early Capris (but bent the mounts) and the we had classic traction bars/slapper bars. These actually worked great, no wheel hop and sub 2 second 60ft on the strip with road tires. We also used a panhard bar with the leafs for a while before going 4-link.

I would say that MkI Escort rear coilovers would probably almost fit, at least. You can then use soft springs to add spring rate, the downside is you cant go below what the leaf springs have. That's ultimately why we went 4-link on our Capri, to be able to choose spring rates.

Gustaf

[Vermilion]

I agree, the panhard rod is not the problem (unless it is too short, or not horizontal at ride height). Caltracs will be a good solution for keeping the axle planted under acceleration.

The V6 turbo Capri I was involved in during the early 2000s was on leafs for a while, we tried both making radius rods like the early Capris (but bent the mounts) and the we had classic traction bars/slapper bars. These actually worked great, no wheel hop and sub 2 second 60ft on the strip with road tires. We also used a panhard bar with the leafs for a while before going 4-link.

I would say that MkI Escort rear coilovers would probably almost fit, at least. You can then use soft springs to add spring rate, the downside is you cant go below what the leaf springs have. That's ultimately why we went 4-link on our Capri, to be able to choose spring rates.

Gustaf

Great answer!
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ak0ev910-aPVgYJp...F3diA?e=cRKC2K

I will machine O-rings to aluminium bushing (inside) and make the alloy bushing inner bush to stainless steel.
Then drill 5mm holes and make M6x1 grasease nipless to leaf springs. I have 60mm wide Mk2 escort leafspring fitted to my car so they are "tougher than capris 52mm wide" springs.
https://www.burtonpower.com/single-l...ide-ls230.html

I have a query going to GAZ. They suggested me GP6-2055, shock but that seems strange number and I got no spring info, I was thinking as small LBS springs as possible to rear, since there is atm. no springs.
At the moment I am using bilstein dampeners.

[therealpinto]

The panhard rod looks nice and long, hard to see if it is horizontal at ride height though.

I would probably not use aluminium bushings in the leaf spring eyes, they need to be able to rotate a little when the car rolls. If they are solid, any roll needs to be taken up by the springs twisting. Maybe it works but roll stiffness will increase (you can probably remove the anti roll bar).

Is the GAZ number a misprint? GT6-2055 is listed as a Capri rear shock, but I don't think that one has the coilover threads?

Gustaf

[Vermilion]

The panhard rod looks nice and long, hard to see if it is horizontal at ride height though.

I would probably not use aluminium bushings in the leaf spring eyes, they need to be able to rotate a little when the car rolls. If they are solid, any roll needs to be taken up by the springs twisting. Maybe it works but roll stiffness will increase (you can probably remove the anti roll bar).

Is the GAZ number a misprint? GT6-2055 is listed as a Capri rear shock, but I don't think that one has the coilover threads?

Gustaf

Polyurethane bushing won't work sadly with Caltracs...
https://d3d71ba2asa5oz.cloudfront.ne...mages/6400.jpg
(picture has standard model, I will go with low-pro model)


I didn't get what they meant with these (from gaz)


We make a coil over damper to assist the leaf springs part no. GP6-2055 at £92.96 each.
Springs are £26.25 each extra. All plus carriage and Vat if you are in the UK.

Regards,
Brian Gazzard


These dampers only assist the leaf spring and will not alter the height.
You will have to turret the rear support an link the rear axle to do this.
They have a side mounted knob to adjust the bump and rebound damping.
You can adjust the spring height by the adjustment rings.
Regret we do not have any pictures of the damper.

Regards,
Brian.

eh? turret the rear support and link??

[therealpinto]

Ah, go with alloy bushings then.

It seems GAZ makes a specific damper to use with the leafs, it will work to raise the suspension if you use a high enough spring rate. To me it seems to be what you are looking for.

Gustaf

[wildo105e]

It seems GAZ makes a specific damper to use with the leafs, it will work to raise the suspension if you use a high enough spring rate. To me it seems to be what you are looking for.

Gustaf

I thought a similar plan with my turreted anglia. I thought the springs were too soft and thought about using coil overs to assist the leaf springs. You can then fine tune it then on the spring rate.

[Vermilion]

What is supposed to be length of original Mk1 Capri dampener? Is it 20" or 22"
I think Escort has 20"?

[therealpinto]

I simply don't know ;-)

I might have a set of MkII/III dampers to measure if you would like me to.

Gustaf

[Vermilion]

I simply don't know ;-)

I might have a set of MkII/III dampers to measure if you would like me to.

Gustaf

From Gaz suspension "Our normal Capri rear coilover is 20” open long but we can build them 22” if this is what you need."

Please check, if you could measue them.

[Vermilion]

This what Gaz offers to Capri. Isn't these dimensions same as in Escort ones?

https://gyazo.com/dcfa4236ea96f4ac8f5df90a95506e95

GP6-2055

I think total lenght should be 22" if you want same height as stock, am I right?

[Vermilion]

Yep, the lenght has ~2" difference.

[therealpinto]

Sorry, I have no Capri rear dampers left to measure from :-(

Gustaf

[Vermilion]

Has anyone made "rear dampener strut brace"?
The bar between front struts and use same kind design at rear?
I was wodering if that would make chassing better and less stressed. Since I won't be using any rollcage in my car.
It would not take much space from boot.

[therealpinto]

I have looked into it and it's not a bad idea. To make a real difference it should not just be a bar across the turrets, I would make it an X shape so it adds some torsional stiffness as well.

Gustaf

[Vermilion]

I have looked into it and it's not a bad idea. To make a real difference it should not just be a bar across the turrets, I would make it an X shape so it adds some torsional stiffness as well.

Gustaf

Just need to remind that Mk1 Capri orginal fuel tank is behind backseat. Not sure if there possible to make like that.
Shaped like this might be possible to fit.
https://www.jdmaster.net/wp-content/..._1-510x510.jpg

Like this would be possible to make.



I Know it won't be as good as it would be if it would be X or double bar supported.
But would be it better than nothing or is that geometry so bad it is worthless?

In front, I DIY made one like this from thickwall AISI 316 tube.

[therealpinto]

Ah, yes, MkI :-)

Remind me, how much of the turrets are tied into the back seat?

I wouldn't say a straight brace is worthless but it will not make a huge difference.

The thing with a straight brace, like the one you have in the engine bay, is that it can only stop the damper mounts from moving in and out. So it will only have an effect in straight up and down loads, where it can stop the towers from flexing in or out as the suspension compresses.

When the shell is twisted the brace basically just rotates as it is attached with "hinges".

With a heavy engine it may be of benefit but a triangulated brace that attaches to the firewall behind the engine would add loads more stiffness. But usually we use that area for other stuff...

I had a brace like yours on my Capri but removed, could tell absolutely no difference in chassis stiffness. But that's with a Pinto.

Gustaf

[Vermilion]

Ah, yes, MkI :-)

Remind me, how much of the turrets are tied into the back seat?

I wouldn't say a straight brace is worthless but it will not make a huge difference.

The thing with a straight brace, like the one you have in the engine bay, is that it can only stop the damper mounts from moving in and out. So it will only have an effect in straight up and down loads, where it can stop the towers from flexing in or out as the suspension compresses.

When the shell is twisted the brace basically just rotates as it is attached with "hinges".

With a heavy engine it may be of benefit but a triangulated brace that attaches to the firewall behind the engine would add loads more stiffness. But usually we use that area for other stuff...

I had a brace like yours on my Capri but removed, could tell absolutely no difference in chassis stiffness. But that's with a Pinto.

Gustaf

There is no access from inside of car to trunk, even if you remove fuel tank. No wait there is way through both rear "door" panel. You can put hand to boot from there.
And if you remove parchel shelf you got couple of small holes to boot, but not big holes.

https://car-from-uk.com/ebay/carphot...ebay195636.jpg (not my car pictures, taken from internet)
http://darrensprojects.weebly.com/up...3_orig.jpg?443
http://darrensprojects.weebly.com/up...9/_2096795.jpg
http://darrensprojects.weebly.com/up...9/_6811166.jpg

Thats how MK1 rear damper turrets are originally.

[therealpinto]

Yeah, looking at how close the turrets are to the rear seat back I doubt a brace will make much of a difference. I would not make that a priority.

Gustaf