Here's a little tip for anyone trying to re-fit track control arms, especially on an S2....

Get a strong ratchet strap, the sort used to tie a car onto a trailer, available from trailer centres etc. Fix it around the antiroll bar from side to side, either in 1 big loop or using the hooks at each end. Ratchet up the strap to pull the antiroll bar in until the TCA ends easily fit into the inner chassis pickup points. The tension on the strap will be very high but it's quite safe as long as you use a good quality strap and ratchet handle. Tighten up all the nuts, especially the ones on the end of the ARB, then release the strap. (No need to remove the front mounting bushes on the ARB.)

Easy!

Martin

 

yea gd idea, i was hanging off mine while my dad aligned the tca! Gd work out though!!

 

Been told by a mechanic (never tried it), that the best way to do this was to put the wheel back on the hub and use the extra leverage given by the wheel to pull the hub in towards the a/r bar.

 

good call


just done mine,if you keep everything slack on the roll bar,do up the drivers side first then the passengers,you can torque up the drivers side by still having the drive shaft out the way,then on to the passengers,i used my jack to push the hub up to meet the roll bar end then,"bingo",in she went,torque time and that was it,.

 

MEFmotorsport, ill be doing that on wednesday mate ill let u know how iget on!...

bassboy

 

quick question mate i know you supply adjustable bottom arms for escorts but do you know where you can get them set up????

 

I would think that maybe LAD in Morecambe might be equipped to set them up, give them a call and ask. Any motorsport preparation specialist should be able to measure and set the camber up, it's not rocket science but beware of so-called 4wd optical alignment boys that dont know what camber, castor, toe etc means....they probably dont even know how to work the equipment either.

Martin

 

ive always found on the s2 fit both tca`s without the a/r/bar
slide the a/r/bar into both tca`s and bolt to the shell
tighten the nuts on the a/r/bar

 

OK Nigel, it's just that some people seem to struggle!

Performance Ford were supposed to do an article about how to fit them, to highlight any problems encountered, but so far they don't seem to have had time to do it or even get them fitted on the project car, shame really would have been quite usefull. I sent the TCA's months ago!

Martin

 

aye,if you brick up the height of the arb,then it shouldnt be to much of a struggle that way,dust sheet to stop the scratches like,
juss when you do it ALL BY YOURSELF(note MATES),then its a bit tricky coz of the weight,so the cat possibly gets kicked once or twice!


mef wrote"they dont know how to use their equipment"

too true,ive spoken to their wives!