Mk2 Escort Strut Inserts - What are people using?

They still make Bilsteins for the van rears.
I use Koni's for the 2lt front legs.

I swear by Koni's (sold by Top Perfromance), they aren't the cheapest but I've yet to have a problem with any. Have used them in a couple of my 4wd's, my rally Escorts and Suburu rally car without dramas.

I once overheated some Koni sports in the rear, went back to them and they put together a special set of shocks with a huge bore, never had a problem again. They're rebuildable and adjustable. .....No I don't work for Koni....

48mm tubes means they ar the 1600 struts. You will struggle to find anything decent to fit these.

Get yourself a pair of 2 litre legs, (fixed steering arms, 51mm tubes)or some capri / twin cam legs (bolt on steering arms, 51mm tubes) and your options will be significantly better.

They also use larger spring diameter and are reportedly stronger.

Your strut top PCD is irrelevant as you can use your current tops on either type of leg or insert.

G

Thanks Mickas and Gdub for your advice so far.

Regarding Konis for the front, are you guys using Koni Yellow # 86 1835SPORT with a spacer in the 2Lt legs? I guess that I will also need to source/modify large PCD tops with a 5/8" or 16mm hole through the tops for the strut rod threaded end?

The UK 1300/1600s must have had the same diameter legs as our 2Lt models, as GAZ and Bilstein both list the same insert part number as fitting all three.

I was hoping to keep the Escort more or less stock, but the 2Lt legs would give me wider options.

So far, the only two options I have found for drop-in inserts to fit the standard 1600 Mk2 strut legs are Monroe 25-3827+ and Pedders 8710 - both of which should fit my standard large PCD strut tops, which have a 1/2" hole.

Has anyone on the forums had experience with these Pedders cartridges?

quote:

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Originally posted by Mickas

Yes I was using the Yellow koni's.
I recon the moroe's and pedders will disapoint you
especially if you put the billy's on the back...

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Mmmm, Mickas, I think you're right on the money there... no knowing where Pedders get these made or by whom...

My current line of thinking is that I will probably end up going for the Cortina type rubber top mounts with spherical top bearing as sold by Rally Design in the UK (these have large PCD top mounts) and combining these with a stock 2 Litre Strut assembly using the original 2 Litre springs and platforms, but using Koni Yellow cartridges. I am inclined to go with the Bilsteins on the rear as per your advice.

As the Konis use a spacer, and the Cortina mounts require machined spacers, I should be able to play around with ride height on the front as these Cortina mounts supposedly ride about an inch higher when used on Mk2 Escorts. My reasoning is to have improved suspension and steering, whilst retaining a comfortable ride - largely due to the PTFE coated spherical bearings being mounted in shock-absorbing rubber.

This front suspension upgrade won't need to be engineered, and would likely go unnoticed.

The old Van already has a 2.4 quick rack in it, which I didn't realise until I degreased it and removed years of caked-on grunge only last week!! :-)

+1 to 2lt struts. Most of my toys were/are 1600's and the first thing I've always done was put in 2lt struts for the extra bore diameter. Don't worry about the Koni catalogue, just give them a call and they'lle sort out what fits and set the bounce/rebound rates to what you need. Gotta say Yellows are fine for fast road but serious rally will see them fade, the custom Konis that they set up for me are perfect with no loss on damping over a rally and thats without having to resort to external oil chambers.

Mickas - PM replied to

harrier - thanks for the heads up on the Konis, yellows should be more than good enough for my application but it's good to know that they'll go custom for you if needed

Mickas - you had already talked me out of Monroes!! Hadn't checked the feebay since lunchtime today!! [x2x]