No not smcka's
Picked them up locally in Perth.
rgds
Emil

quote:

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Originally posted by Phil

Emil,

It looks like you have new tie rod ends fitted, it is possible that they are externally larger around the ball joint. It might be worth taking one off and heading to the parts shop to see if different brands of tie rod ends are different in external size.

Cheers,

Phil.

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phil may be correct, but the tie rod ends look identical to the ones on my mk2, although the actual rubber boots look abnormally oversized... if they turn out to be the right ones then the boot may just be too big (maybe different brands use different rubbers not expecting oversized disks to be put next to them)

so may even be worth going through "the box of spares" at your shed or the local mechanic and getting some different rubbers that fit??

quote:

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Originally posted by na.charrett

and NO Mazda wheels are 110mm PCD not 108mm PCD and do NOT fit Escorts!!!!)

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they do, but in a "dodgey backyard" sense. because if there steel rims then the escort studs will fit through the holes, just off center. and its not recommended simply because it was bend studs in a slight outwards direction

i drove around (before car was registered) for quite a while with an RX4 steel rim, due to having a flat tyre and no spare.

Sterling that is NOT fitting - that is just plain stupid putting that much extra stress on the only 4 bolts holding on your wheel.... Wheel studs do not like being bent and can fail...

I have been in 2 Fords over the years when they have shed a front wheel - neither were mine, and both were low speed thankfully - One immediately after getting off the freeway and feeling the vibration and telling the driver to pull over - which he was doing when the wheel literally overtook us... NOT FUN...

Back on the subject - does only the boot hit - or the tie rod end too ?
If only the boot, then I would look around for a set of new boots from a suspension specialist. If the tie rod end itself - then either you need to look at the hubs, or if standard Mk2 Escort, then the discs origin, or as a last resort then see if the Chinese are making bigger tie rod ends than the Poms used too...