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Thread: MK2 independent rear suspension?

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    Racer Decade Plus User robrs2's Avatar

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    MK2 independent rear suspension?

    Has anyone got any pics or info on MK1 or 2 escorts that have been converted to independent rear suspension. I don't mean Sierra rear axels that have been fitted but anything else.
    This is all due to a few teeth missing from my current diff. I need to put something stronger together. Due to the price of building up a baby atlas i may as well go for something completely new.


    (Turbos make your teeth fall out )

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    Mechanic Unky_Si's Avatar

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    I've been looking into this as I'm in the same boat as you, looking at a few companies that do stuff for MGB, Hoyles, they build a bolt on frame with sierra diff etc for Mgb's.

    I'll keep you posted on what I find.

    Si
    Currently in love with Starbuck (new series)

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    World Champion Decade Plus User markb's Avatar

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    aren't there some pics somewhere in the projects sections of a mk2 with a TVR double wishbone setup going in?

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    Racer Decade Plus User robrs2's Avatar

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    The TVR stuff is a bit over the top for what i want to do.

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    Have you thought about using a subframe based on a westfield or locost type setup, ie cheap, with a sierra LSD diff. I think the wishblones can be had to use sierra hubs etc so no worries on wheel bolts etc. Depending on your rear track requirments you could shorten the driveshafts to suite and go coil over.

    Si
    Currently in love with Starbuck (new series)

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    Racer Decade Plus User NRspeed's Avatar

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    V8ian uses a Toyota Celica axle in his V8tina.
    CheeRS Nat

    Various parts for sale! Just ask.
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    Racer Decade Plus User robrs2's Avatar

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    Si, Yes looked at the locost stuff and that may be the thing. Got the Tiger Avon book and I'm going to make up the rear subframe. I think the top wish bone arms may be very close to hitting the rear chassis though. But not impossible to do.

    Looks like i'm going to get a new lsd unit for my old axel for now as i don't have enough time before the Croft RS trackday

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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?


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    Racer Decade Plus User robrs2's Avatar

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    This is along the lines of my thinking.
    With rear wishbone type suspension the top arm is shorter than the bottom. This gives an amount of negative camber as the suspension compresses. I need to measure up to see if there will be enough length from the chassis rail to the hub and enough height from top arm to the bottom arm.

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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    if you arch the car and have the hub out as far as posible then you may be able to get some decent length to the top arm.

    I still dont get why you want to go this route though.

    Atlas casing 20-100
    shortening 150
    shafts 400-600
    diff 400-600
    total £970-£1450

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    This may sound mad but I was looking at an old MR2 and the rear suspension looks like it is using parts from a front wheel drive car. Would it be possible to fit the front suspension and driveshafts from a mk3/4 escort and mate them to a sierra diff. It would require a lot of cutting to fit the struts but if they were fitted with coil overs it should not be too bad.

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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    everything is possible, but why do it, its been tried many ways on an escort and the results havnt warrented the labour or cost.

    There is a Mk2 Cortina that has had a cossie beam grafted under it, and i belive that is now getting an Atlas instead.

    It would be interesting to see 2 escorts with identical engines and front suspensions but one with a 6 link rear and one with some kind of IRS to do a days testing with the same driver to see the effects.

    Many things have been tried to cars and this is a good thing as developement is always good, but sometimes things are just blind alleys.

    Perhaps someone who is into rallying can keep this thread updated with Colin McRaes cars results... a world class driver competing in an IRS rear MK2 against clubmen in standard Gp4 carspopcorn:

    I may sound very negative about this and the reason why is simply because I feel that cars that are being done this way will be a dissapointment for the hard work and head scratching that has gone into them. And the last thing i want to see is an Escort stuck at the back of a garage 'cos you've gone out and bought a Scoobie or Evo...... But at the end of the day its only my opinion and its your cars

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    ...speaking of which, Colin Mcrae must have been reading Turbosport, since his mk2 turned up with a black bonnet for this weekend's Scottish rally!

    He had mechanical trouble so i understand, gearbox stuck in 6th gear for some time, but whilst going properly was a bit quick.

    Unfortunately, comparing McRae in his mk2 against anyone else in their mk2 is never going to be a fair test to be honest - the bloke is in a league of his own. At Leyland the other week he was wasting WRC's nevermind the other clubman mk2s!

    Too true though, i'd love to see some proper scientific, fair testing done to compare the performance of a "live" mk2 against an IRS. I suspect, that given a big enough budget and the righ resources, the IRS is going to win in the end. The problem is - most of us (read; pretty much all of us except the likes of Mcrae) don't have acess to that kind of set-up, and as a result, most DIY conversions wouldn't be anywhere near developed enough to do the business.

    For my money, i'd go for an atlas. (ok i would say that lol). The biggest expense is the proper halfshafts - which you have to use if you are going for "baby" width, i.e. keeping the car un-arched, unless you can get hold of some standard baby shafts.

    I'm working on getting standard atlas shafts narrowed (its been done before but, IMHO, not very successully - i have never liked the idea of friction welding drive shafts together!) - if that works out, then i've suddenly just knocked a big hole in the cost of a baby atlas.

    Otherwise, i'm sorry, but you are just gonna have to bubble arch your car

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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    Quote Originally Posted by FOSSIE
    ... but you are just gonna have to bubble arch your car


    Well said that man.....

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    thought that would please you gary

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    Racer Decade Plus User robrs2's Avatar

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    Bubble arch a mk2 .


    I know what your on about Gary. I was just seeing if there was anything that had been done. The first idea i had was to use a De Dion type axle and mount a Sierra Diff to the floor the the Axle is mounted with a 5 or 6 link system.

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    LOL sorry Rob, my mind playing tricks, i could have sworn it was a mk1. Well in that case, tarmac arch it!

    Edit - just noticed the RS2000 in your sig - cancel the tarmac arches and go Zakspeed.

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    Way too much free time Decade Plus User Retromotorsport's Avatar
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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    understand where your coming from but to mount it all under there is calling on major surgery and if your not going to turn it into a spaceframe rear then you looking at some major fabrication to make the pick-up points feed the loads into the shell.

    I'm going to bite now and chuck my ideas in which would warrent the use of an IRS rear..

    Take a V6 Mondeo and graft the whole engine and transmission/suspension in the rear, like the Clio V6......

    Mid mount a V6/V8 and use a Hewland transaxle, these have the pick up points allready cast in them for your inner mounts. Would give you wide spaced upper and lower wishbones. Drivers feet would have to be up by the front x-member as the engine will be arond 6"-12" infront of the seat x-member, yes i have drawn this out before, full space frame with about 6" taken out of the body line height wise, drivers seat mounted on a flat floor so that the seat edge is on the center line of the car. passenger seat touching the drivers seat the donar parts from the Escort being the roof and A,B and C pillars. Spaceframe needle nose containg peddlebox and passengers feet with pick ups for twin wishbone front suspension. Think ferrari with an escort widebody on top.

    If the engine is staying at the front... keep it live axled, until something wants that space why move it.

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    Racer Decade Plus User robrs2's Avatar

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?




    I'll keep thinking and saving up.

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    Quote Originally Posted by robrs2
    Bubble arch a mk2 .


    I know what your on about Gary. I was just seeing if there was anything that had been done. The first idea i had was to use a De Dion type axle and mount a Sierra Diff to the floor the the Axle is mounted with a 5 or 6 link system.
    Years ago I used to walk past Andy Dawson's (Dawson Auto Developments) workshops in Lambolle place Hampstead on my way to and from college.

    As well as his Boreham loaned works car KHK 983N.He also had another one that he tried out special bits and pieces on.Stuff like torsion bars,alloy top mounts and De dion rear suspension..Using I believe bits from an Aston Martin. I suspect it wasn't followed upon because the solid axle worked well and was reliable.But all these trick suspensions have at some point been tried in the past.

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    Bodger

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    Been thinking why there aren't many irs conversions for mk2&1 escorts then stumbled across the Lotus cortina web site which details use of modified lotus elan irs, wondered if anyone had used it. Also looks like the mx5 irs is similar.

    http://www.lotuscortinainfo.com/?page_id=2322

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    The set up fitted to the Lotus Cortina is similar to the Escort WRC rear suspension with a cage mounted to the floor to house the diff, link arms and then fitted with rear struts. The Escort MK6 RS 2000 4x4 also used a set up like that.

    Most of the quick Irish Tarmac Escorts still use a solid Atlas axle. If it's good enough for them at the speeds they travel at then it's good enough for us.
    Last edited by Forest_rallying; 26-08-2017 at 07:45.

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    Bodger

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    Re: MK2 independent rear suspension?

    Interesting YouTube video by Retro Power on Gordon Murray's mk 1 escort restoration, apparently the resto will include a IRS conversion.

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