While my car is off the road I thought I'd try to get the rear suspension back to normal. Previous owner had lowered it a lot and it had always been a crap ride. Large bumps felt like the coils were fully compressed. I can see why after getting the coils out.
I bought a set of coils of eBay which said they're a standard RS Turbo set, original used parts. After fitting the ride height is way too high. Now lioks like one of those muscle cars with the raised rear. I've no never done suspension before, would this be wrong coils or so I need to change the struts as well?

 

A few pics which probably explains better what is going on.

Looks too high.


Colour codes (if that means anything)


Old coil against what I'm told is original RS coil.

 

are there the right springs for the car just thst looks far to high.. ive fitted a new std hight set to a mk4 before and it wasnt like that mate

 

yeah that's what I was thinking too. The only thing I can think of is to replace the gas strut but I don't want to spend the money hoping that's what it is. The car oringally was a Bonus and not an RS but since the previous owner changed the springs I have no idea if he changed the strut as well. I don't even know if that would matter.

 

it just looks so wrong its like twice the hight of std that to look at.. i carnt think of why that would be not unless them springs arnt escort ones..

 

I agree. I think I've been sold wrong parts, was hoping they weren't though. Kind of annoying as I bought them ages ago and only just got around to fitting. I'll get some new ones and see how I get on with those.

Thanks for your help.

 

yeah sadly thats the problem these days mate i got took by someone over a set of apex springs 2wd cosworth i had them a while fitted them and front of car was to high altho it said 30mm drop it must of sat about 1" or so higher then std anyways turns out there were 4x4 springs.. but id defo say there arnt right ones sadly

 

Those springs simply aren't standard mk4 rear springs. I'm actually impressed you managed to squeeze them in given just how much its lifted - literally looks like you've got a jack holding the back end up!

 

Lol yeah. It was a squeeze putting them in but where the ones on there had been cut down to size so didn't have any proper ones to size it up against. It's lovely an soft on the back now! Probably handles horribly but it feels nice.
New coils arrived today, will be fitting them on the weekend. Can already see they're a more sensible size.

 

Front ones are a little bit (about half a winding, depends on the type of springs) longer than the rear ones.

(Early?) MK3 Escort ones had MUCH longer springs on the front. Maybe it's a MK3 set?

 

It could be that then. When I remove them this weekend I'll see if I can get the part number off, seem to remember noticing the number on the tops but didn't really look at them. Springs are in good condition though so hopefully I can sell them on if they are mk3's.

 

Swapped the springs over today. New ones are shorter in length but have more coils on them which coil closer at the top. Went in easier and all looked good until I jacked the car down and it's still way too high! I'm thinking now that I just bought some more mk3 springs even though they said it's suitable for a mk4, or perhaps there's variation between models. The listing said they have coil lengths of 261mm. It's marked as compatible with Ford parts 6146156 & 6146157.

I can also see there's some springs listed which are 227mm in length with ford part 1613228. The parts for this number I find are also listed for Mk3 & Mk4.

Priobably it's the 227mm ones I need.