Hi,
If anyone has a Mk2 Escort front sway bar handy, could they confirm the measurement of 415mm from the long front section of the bar to the tip of the threads please? Like in the picture below.
I know it looks like 435mm or so in the pic below, but that's just parallax error. . . this one is definitely 415mm.
 

 
I'm having problems with WAY too much positive caster in the current build of my Mk2 RS2000, both with this 'standard' bar, if that's what it is. . . and also my new adjustable sway bar, which is also about 415 to 420mm for the above measurement.
I've pushed the struts as far back as possible with the adjustable bar, and have even used a single half thickness nyloc to secure the bar in the TCA. . . but I'm still unable to turn the front wheels without hitting the front of the wheel arch/spooiler . . . not to mention I'm having to use a caster adjustable sway bar to LOSE caster rather than what it's meant for.
 
So something's clearly amiss in the front end & the sway bar seems like the most likely culprit to me.
As the entire front end is new though, I'm not entirely sure, so any input would be greatly appreciated.
 
Cheers, Jason.
 
 

Hey Jason,
 
Just pulled my front sway bar out (which i believe is the standard item) and like yours measures about the 415mm. Tricky little bugger to measure but looks about what you got... Like you say, whats the good of having an adjustable swaybar to add castor just in turn to use it to remove it. Any other dimensions i can help let me know as most of the parts are just lying about...
 
//lee

Thanks Lee, 
So it looks like the sway bar isn't the problem then. It's hard to figure out why the wheels are so far forward in the arches compared to before the rebuild, a real head scratcher!
I'd read somewhere that a lot of aftermarket caster adjustable sway bars are modelled on twin cam bars, and was hoping that would explain it, but it seems not by the looks of things.
Ah well, will have a think about it over the xmas break I guess.