Escort Suspension issues

[Erikmex]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

Does it have slipper springs? if so then it's diff from mine in that respect and the axle will drop fully, my leafs are fixed at both ends so the shock doesn't fully extend when the weight is off.

[Erikmex]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

I know what your saying and don't think the lowering block is the problem on mine when I jack it up on the chassis the axle obviously drops but not to the full extension of the damper, the weight of the axle can't overcome the spring so the lowering block on mine makes the wheel/axle higher, there's still about and inch to go on the shock before its full extended, mine are single leafs, I don't think the rear is too soft but def think the front is, on a fwd car you stiffen the rear and soften the front and the tendency is to lift a rear wheel, I think it's the same here.

[Fosworth]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

It's been interesting following this thread but I think it's time to get back to basics. The advice has been good and not so good but all are assuming this or that !!. My advice for what it is worth is to get hold of some standard suspension and fit it. Anti roll bar, TCA's and known struts. At the back put the axle on leaf springs and standard shockers. Set the castor, camber and toe correctly and give the car a try. Obviously nowt fancy or fast but I promise it won't do anything stupid such as it has been. Then start one upgrade at a time. MAKE SURE IT WORKS then move on.
I know this sounds a pain but its likely that you are going to wreck either the car and/or yourself or just give up. A properly handling Escort is a joy to drive.
And for all the knowalls that say it must have this or that just look under Steve BANNISTERS front running car. Although beautifully built by folk who know there stuff it is very short of fancy links etc.

[Forest_rallying]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

Are the Spax Dampers you are using on the Rear suitable for Turrets and are the Turrets std height or tall? shockers need to be mounted correctly on to the Axle for which ever one you have. Has anyone checked to see if they are short or long inserts in the front Struts.

As GP4 says the whole package looks soggy, the Rear Springs look to behaving like a CD6 would which is 85lb and not what you would with a 146lb. People take the word of the supplier when obtaining Springs when really they have n`t a clue what they are, especially if they are second hand.

[jonsey]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

Looking at the photo multi leaf springs look like they are about 4 mm thick so if the block was the issue do all escorts with multi leaf lift the rear wheel? All my suspension is new and quantified except the front struts

[GP4]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

I think your missing my point mate, of course its determined by the damper length, think of it this way, damper has reached its full extension....now the wheel/axle....with a lowering block placed between the leaf and the axle the wheel will be 40mm higher up with the block than without......so without the lowering block will be 40mm lower to the ground reducing its potential to leave the ground.

This is a customers car I've been going through for a week...but it's handily suspended with no rims on at the moment. Can you please explain to me (because I'm missing it!!) how removing the spacer block between the leaf and axle will lower the axle? It's on full drop...the axle won't go anywhere? The lowering block only has the effect of raising the axle when it's got the weight of the car on it...not when it's suspended by the damper on full extension.

[Erikmex]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

If this car had a front ARB instead of compression struts.......or stiffer springs, it would not lift a rear wheel, on its current set up which is too soft at the front....(not the rear) if you removed the lowering block it would be less likely to lift a wheel.....my old hillclimb car had 146lb rears (which aint soft at all) with between 250-300lb front springs AND a twin cam arb......my current car is almost exactly the same set up as this, even the same tyres and the only diff is mine has a 1inch lowering block and an ARB.

[Erikmex]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

On all the Escorts I work with full drop is governed by the damper hitting the end of its travel...not the leaf spring. So the fact that there's a lowering block between the saddle and the spring is immaterial...the axle centre is still in the same place on full drop, the leaf would simply be the thickness of the lowering block further away from it.

Anyway, whatever, I thought the point was to stop the car behaving like a ship on the ocean...which I'd imagine means stiffening it up somewhere along the line.

I think your missing my point mate, of course its determined by the damper length, think of it this way, damper has reached its full extension....now the wheel/axle....with a lowering block placed between the leaf and the axle the wheel will be 40mm higher up with the block than without......so without the lowering block will be 40mm lower to the ground reducing its potential to leave the ground.

[GP4]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

With the weight off the inside rear wheel once the suspension has reached full drop the 40mm lowering block will place the wheel 40mm higher increasing the potential for it to lift.

On all the Escorts I work with full drop is governed by the damper hitting the end of its travel...not the leaf spring. So the fact that there's a lowering block between the saddle and the spring is immaterial...the axle centre is still in the same place on full drop, the leaf would simply be the thickness of the lowering block further away from it.

Anyway, whatever, I thought the point was to stop the car behaving like a ship on the ocean...which I'd imagine means stiffening it up somewhere along the line.

[Erikmex]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

This car is set up more like a fwd drive should be where the front is softer and has more travel than the rear, that's why it's lifting a rear wheel, it should want to lift a front more, the suspension needs altered to change the roll/stiffness from front to rear.

[Erikmex]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

I bet if you lower and stiffen the front it won't happen, or stiffen front and raise back by removing or putting in a smaller lowering block.

[Erikmex]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

All that removing the lowering block will succeed in doing is raising the rear of the car......

The whole car looks too soft to me. You need to go through it and see exactly what you've got...what dampers, struts, springs etc, as it's all a bit of a guess at the moment. It could all be standard and/or knackered so you're shooting in the dark. If you get stuck pop the car over to my workshop on the Capel Hendre Ind Estate and I'd be happy to have a quick look over it and see if I can maybe point you in the right direction.

With the weight off the inside rear wheel once the suspension has reached full drop the 40mm lowering block will place the wheel 40mm higher increasing the potential for it to lift.

[GP4]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

By removing the lowering block the rear wheel will sit lower, or stiffen the front?.

All that removing the lowering block will succeed in doing is raising the rear of the car......

The whole car looks too soft to me. You need to go through it and see exactly what you've got...what dampers, struts, springs etc, as it's all a bit of a guess at the moment. It could all be standard and/or knackered so you're shooting in the dark. If you get stuck pop the car over to my workshop on the Capel Hendre Ind Estate and I'd be happy to have a quick look over it and see if I can maybe point you in the right direction.

[Erikmex]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

I see what you mean about drop but how can I get it to drop any more as it's on leaf springs. I suppose I can only stiffen the front so it doesn't needs so much!

By removing the lowering block the rear wheel will sit lower, or stiffen the front?.

[jonsey]

Re: Escort Suspension issues

I see what you mean about drop but how can I get it to drop any more as it's on leaf springs. I suppose I can only stiffen the front so it doesn't needs so much!