Go back to home

Help advice needed front struts mkii

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
maldoncsalt
Enthusiast
  • Total Posts : 14
  • Scores: 0
  • Reward points: 1535
  • Joined: 2012/01/04 08:27:17
  • Status: offline
2012/01/17 12:01:06 (permalink)
0

Help advice needed front struts mkii

Hi I recently purchased mkii escort, ive decided to stick with the 1600 and throw a bit of coin at that, how ever a lot of people are telling me to upgrade the front struts as the 1600 struts are a bit fragile ( smaller bearings were mentioned i have the memory of a gold fish) car is to be used for track days, hopefully some club events etc not for daily use
 
I have got at this point
 
Sway Bar front 24mm (Kmac)
Sway Bar rear 16mm (Kmac)
Adjustable Strut Mounts (Kmac)
Rear Springs 4 leafs reverse eye
koni sport rear
koni adjustable front
 
Now I was told to upgrade the front struts to cortina or capri v6 (which i imagine are hard to get) has anyone got any suggestions as to aftermarket brands that are going to give a marked improvement in strength and weight, or should i just start ringing wreckers to find cortina struts ?
 
will the change in struts, then require a change in shock or will they still fit ?
 
one of the suspension blokes was talking about welding a triangle bracket onto the bottom of the strut as well, if anyone could shed some light on this would be appreciated too
 
Cheers
 
 
 
post edited by maldoncsalt - 2012/01/17 12:04:26
#1


6 Replies Related Threads
    Gdub
    Master
    • Total Posts : 927
    • Scores: 32
    • Reward points: 2475
    • Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
    • Location: Melbourne Vic
    • Status: offline
    Re:Help advice needed front struts mkii 2012/01/17 12:48:46 (permalink)
    0
    You will struggle to find any decent strut inserts for the 1600 legs particularly if you plan to do some track stuff so upgrading to 2 litre Escort legs is a must in my opinion. They have larger diameter tubes and you will find more options with inserts and springs.  The bearing size is no different on MK2's. Get a vernier and measure the tube diameter because im pretty sure Koni havent made an insert for 1600 legs for years so it is possiblt that you already have 2 litre legs. From memory, the 2 litre legs are 50mm tube (others should be able to verify this)
     
    I reckon your 16mm rear bar will be counter productive particularly if you still have an open diff but if your leafs are set up correctly you shouldnt really need a rear bar anyway.  My experience has been that they dont work well on Escorts, yet others will say they do ...
     
    Bracing the bottom of the strut is a simple but effective way to strengthen the legs.

    Make it go FASTER!
     
    #2
    maxrs
    Scholar
    • Total Posts : 1334
    • Scores: 1
    • Reward points: 4483
    • Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
    • Location: Mango hill Queensland Australia
    • Status: offline
    Re:Help advice needed front struts mkii 2012/01/17 12:52:20 (permalink)
    0
    Only bit i can see giving you dramas is.
    The 24mm front sway bar will cause the Esky the understeer.
    Especially with the lighter 1600.
    http://www.rsmotorsport.c...wtopic.php?f=25&t=1112

    What you think about, you bring about.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoPEt3rDSSE
    "If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." - Mario Andretti
    #3

    maldoncsalt
    Enthusiast
    • Total Posts : 14
    • Scores: 0
    • Reward points: 1535
    • Joined: 2012/01/04 08:27:17
    • Status: offline
    Re:Help advice needed front struts mkii 2012/01/17 15:56:07 (permalink)
    0
    well i measured the tubes and its comming back at me with 48mm exactly, due you know what the strut tube diameter was for the 1600 i think someone told me it was 47mm ?, Is there anyway of telling if the shocks that ive got are for the 50mm or the 1600 size "47mm" ? 
     
    cheers for the advice btw
     
    Dave
     
    #4
    KIZZA
    Aficionado
    • Total Posts : 471
    • Scores: 0
    • Reward points: 4135
    • Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
    • Location: melbourne vic Australia
    • Status: offline
    Re:Help advice needed front struts mkii 2012/01/17 16:18:34 (permalink)
    0
    Yes sounds like they are the original 1600 struts. 2 litre struts are 51mm from memory. Front sway does seem to thick. I wouldnt go bigger then 22mm max.

    mk2 2 door, cosworth still waiting to go in!
    #5
    maldoncsalt
    Enthusiast
    • Total Posts : 14
    • Scores: 0
    • Reward points: 1535
    • Joined: 2012/01/04 08:27:17
    • Status: offline
    Re:Help advice needed front struts mkii 2012/01/17 20:02:20 (permalink)
    0
    hmm well that sucks, so the consensus is that the sway bar is to thick and ive got the original struts with shocks that are unlikely to fit
     
    #6

    Gdub
    Master
    • Total Posts : 927
    • Scores: 32
    • Reward points: 2475
    • Joined: 2011/08/01 11:02:49
    • Location: Melbourne Vic
    • Status: offline
    Re:Help advice needed front struts mkii 2012/01/17 21:15:57 (permalink)
    0
    2 litre legs arent too hard to find and shouldnt cost much. Surely someone on here has wrecked a 2 litre MK2 and can help this dude out??
     
    I would but recently sold my last 'spare' set.

    Make it go FASTER!
     
    #7
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Trial Version 5.1