The other day I fitted struts and springs for the first time to my Escort mk3 . I've done leaf springs before on my Capri but not lowering springs and struts. Its not sitting properly and I'm not sure what i've done wrong. I'm thinking maybe I needed to tighten down the front springs a bit more before fitting because the front sits higher. I'm not really sure though? They came as one unit off the previous sellers car so I assumed they were ok to go straight on but maybe they had been apart and not screwed down though?

They are second hand parts of a car someone is breaking (not because its damaged) but have very low milage on them, I've seen a pic of the old car and they sit nice and level. Its 4x 30cm Apex springs, front and back KYB struts, normal black rubber front top mounts and orange flex ones on the rear. I didnt fit the Rear shocks as I couldnt get the brake pipes off mine (still with standard black top mounts)... I guess this wont affect the ride hight as its all about the springs right?

Anyway it all fits but i've got about 32cm from the centre of the cap at the rear on both sides



but the front is 34cm on the drivers side and about 35cm on the passenger . Its way more noticeable on the passenger side.



Here is the passenger side

passenger side underneath

drivers side underneath



This is how the passenger side sits without the top plate on.

by turning the allen key I can bring up that lower nut and tighten it a bit till it looks like the pic above... it doesnt seem to change anything though. Any advice welcome.

 

You should stop the allen key from spinning then crank down on that nut as tight as possible (there will be a torque value but I cba to go to the shed to dig up the haynes to check)

Was the previous car on 13s? I'm going to guess not and thats where the visible difference comes from. -30 on standard KYB's on 13s and that looks about right to me.

Your first picture under the car - secure that brake hose grommet before it gets caught on something! It looks like you/previous owner has crushed the locking tab slightly, should be easily bent back open to squeeze the grommet back in.

 

Yes I do need to sort that pipe out thanks for reminding me.

Do you think I should jack it up, drop the strut a little bit to get it down tighter? Thats the only way I can think of getting to it once its sunk into the top mount?

The other Car was on bigger wheels yeah but was level front and back. Thats whats bothering me. Either way (front or back) its lower than before I just want it to be level .

 

The strut can't be dropped, nor raised. The bolt that goes through the hub to lock the strut in, runs through a hole in the strut. If you raised or lowered the strut, that hole would no longer align meaning you couldn't tighten it up and secure it.




I've always found mk3/4's sit a little lower at the back when it comes to standard shock/spring setups if you go equal drop all round, coilovers you can obviously dial that out. I assume the shocks are the same brand at the back too? Are they all in good shape?
If the rear shocks were wearing out, they'd sag and you'd end up with it lower. The front being higher could actually signal a tired out rear end if the measurements are that bad

PS - I still think the n/s picture thats properly sideways on, it looks perfectly normal.

 

First picture i found of a Mk4 on 13's (i know yours is mk3 but its a null point really), notice which end is lower

 

Maybe thats it then. I didnt think the rear dampers/shocks would affect it as i've always heard its all about the springs but I couldnt get the brake pipe hose out of the rear shocks as it was all too crusty. The rear still has the old struts on so maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way and need to raise the back with them?

Yeah I remember that front pinch bolt well... The battle I had getting the new struts in low enough to get it through!

I'm with you on dropping the strut. I just thought If I jacked it up and undid the top nut to give me access to the lower one (above the plate that the spring sits in). I might be able to compress the spring a bit more.

below number 3

 

The strut piston has a shoulder on it that will only allow you to tighten the (lower) nut and top mount down so much. That nut should be tight and to torque, its not something you "adjust" depending how much tension you want on the spring. If it can be tightened down, then it wasn't tight enough in the first place