Escort Suspension issues

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  • jonsey
    Bodger
    • Feb 2011
    • 147

    Escort Suspension issues

    Hi. I have a mk1 escort running a mk5 escort RS2000 engine. I'm doing a rally on Saturday so have put some Yoko 21's on the front and Toyo 888 on the rear. When I turn in a tight circle and boot the throttle it feels like the rear is lifting the inner wheel. The front suspension is compression strut with standard height 190lb springs (as recommended by West Wales Rally Spares) with unknown struts and the rear are 146lb leaf springs with 40 mm blocks, spax turret shocks, tramp bars and atlas with gripper LSD .
    Is the front to soft? Is the rear to soft? The car is sitting high to reduce damage underneath, but my brothers mk2 is higher and he has no such issue. It only seams to do this if I have good grip on the rear. With crap tires on it just slides. It nearly went over once on a hairpin with slicks on.
    Any one got any ideas.
    Thanks
  • Retromotorsport
    Part of the furniture
    Decade Plus User
    • Mar 2004
    • 14285

    #2
    Re: Escort Suspension issues

    Its hard to answer without seeing, but, are you quicker than your brother? because he may be slower into corners, or goes in sliding.... where as you go in gripping, and it sounds like its gripping well, the center of gravity is high, which means you'll get more body roll, which may feel like your tipping over, did anyone see both inside wheels in the air.. you can get a lot of air under them before the car flips over.
    That said .. you should have a light inside front under accel, and a light inside rear under decell... lifting the inside rear wheel sounds back to front.. Have you got a rear ARB?
    Gary

    Don't be mean, become green and support Turbosport - Click here

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    • lee edwards
      Mechanic
      • Oct 2011
      • 792

      #3
      Re: Escort Suspension issues

      Front end sounds a little soft for compression struts to me, which maybe be causing the front outside corner to sink and lifting the back inside, also condition of the lsd?? Could be worn which is causing it to spin also

      Comment

      • max0815
        Mechanic
        • Aug 2011
        • 676

        #4
        Re: Escort Suspension issues

        I have the same problem with a total different setup. The car always lifts the rear inner wheel in hairpins and small corners.
        I turned the front higher and it gets better. Now I want to try a harder back spring the next time.

        Comment

        • freddy686868
          Pole Position
          Decade Plus User
          • Jul 2010
          • 4689

          #5
          Re: Escort Suspension issues

          If your not using a front arb it might be better tp try sightly harder springs or an arb but it is hard to comment like it has been said before. Do you feel the wheel on the rear lift and then grip when it touches back down? As i have had this in the past and it is down to the rear being too hard as i ran van leaf springs.

          Comment

          • jonsey
            Bodger
            • Feb 2011
            • 147

            #6
            Re: Escort Suspension issues

            Thanks all for responses. I have no ARB fitted either end. The slip is brand new and 30/65 (loose in tight out) if i remember correctly and a 4.6 ratio. It does seem to have plenty of rear grip with these tyres as it doesn't want to spin the wheels up like it did on the old ones with very little effort. It just stinks of clutch on rapid starts. I'm not driving quicker than my brother as he's not well in the head after years of dirving a morris minor on the grass with a Honda S2000 motor. This is happening at slow speed and as i've had it nearly go over (over 45deg) in the past, it doesnt inspire confidence. Should I go back to crap rear tyres which is a step backwards really, or try harder front springs as Lee sugests as it does feel like the front is sinking. Any suggestion on poundage? This is happening with 2 spare wheels tools etc and fuel so there is a lot of weight at the rear.

            Comment

            • jonsey
              Bodger
              • Feb 2011
              • 147

              #7
              Re: Escort Suspension issues

              The photographer said it was alot higher than this in the previos photo, ut he only caught half the car.
              Click image for larger version

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              Last edited by jonsey; 30-08-2013, 08:29.

              Comment

              • hatemaster
                Tyre Kicker
                • Oct 2010
                • 16

                #8
                Re: Escort Suspension issues

                it seems like your rear end roll stiffness are much higher than the front end..you did mention about not having ARB on both end.i would suggest get it fitted(on front) to stiffen up the front end and see how it goes..
                sigpic

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                • Retromotorsport
                  Part of the furniture
                  Decade Plus User
                  • Mar 2004
                  • 14285

                  #9
                  Re: Escort Suspension issues

                  I would only expect to see that sort of angle after launching off a bump on one side, not just turning .... unless it was .. left right left right left, setting up a pendulum effect.
                  You can flip most SUV's like that on road tyres..
                  Gary

                  Don't be mean, become green and support Turbosport - Click here

                  Comment

                  • Retromotorsport
                    Part of the furniture
                    Decade Plus User
                    • Mar 2004
                    • 14285

                    #10
                    Re: Escort Suspension issues

                    Can you take a rear damper off, and then push it in and pull it out, and report back on the 'feel' ?
                    Gary

                    Don't be mean, become green and support Turbosport - Click here

                    Comment

                    • jonsey
                      Bodger
                      • Feb 2011
                      • 147

                      #11
                      Re: Escort Suspension issues

                      The Photo is from a 180 deg hand brake. Probably driving straight for 20 metres in 1st gear. No object was struck and its nice flat but quite grippy concrete. Will have to take the shock off after the weekend as its going on the trailer ready for tomorrow. I'm tempted to wind them up a few clicks just to help the rear break tracion a bit.

                      Comment

                      • jonsey
                        Bodger
                        • Feb 2011
                        • 147

                        #12
                        Re: Escort Suspension issues

                        Freddy686868 I don't have enough posts to PM yet. Nice to meet you and Luke at the Kidwelly Targa Rally yesterday. There is no build thread of it on any forums. I bought it in 1997 and raced it for a couple of seasons down pembrey tri oval circuit. It then sat in the garage for about years until i rebuilt it about 6 or 7 years ago. Just about every panel has been repaired or replaced. I do have lots of photos of the build, but have never put them on line. used it for the last few years with a x flow then 18 months ago fitted the 2.0L. Meant to ask you yesterday where can you get arp flywheel bolts from? Do you use zetec?
                        Last edited by jonsey; 01-09-2013, 17:52.

                        Comment

                        • jonsey
                          Bodger
                          • Feb 2011
                          • 147

                          #13
                          Re: Escort Suspension issues

                          I did the Kidwelly Targa Rally yesterday at Pembrey Cicuit. It was the first event I've done where you needed someone to navigate you. I did it with the Wife who has no experience at it what so ever. It involves a series of tests including reverse park , J turn, carousel slaloms etc, whilst navigating around Pembrey collecting code boards stopping at junctions etc. like you would on a night rally.
                          The 1st stage was a bit of a mare. We missed lots of code boards and tests, and picked up huge time penalties as a result. As the day went on it got better and better and on the last stage we were flying. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and would love to do it again (although my brother says he'll never organise another). Only prob with car was the radiator pressurising (head gasket i think), the fan fell off on stage 4 and the clutch also slipped a bit on stage 4. To over come the suspension issues I took the 888 tyres off the back and fitted a set of Nexan Skid Master Specials and has no issues all day. I was chuffed to finish and picked up an award for best turned out car. We also picked up an award for "Last Qualified Finisher" which meant we were the best losers!
                          Last edited by jonsey; 01-09-2013, 18:04.

                          Comment

                          • Miniliteman
                            Pole Position
                            Decade Plus User
                            Turbosport Administrator
                            • Feb 2004
                            • 5011

                            #14
                            Re: Escort Suspension issues

                            Get the rollcentres right first.

                            Comment

                            • lukem30
                              Spanner Monkey
                              • Jul 2012
                              • 408

                              #15
                              Re: Escort Suspension issues

                              Nice to meet you yesterday, car looked good in the pits but I didn't get chance to see it going Thanks for the ratchet too.

                              Comment

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