Suspension advice needed for Mk4 escort running 2wd cosworth running gear
04-05-2011, 05:47 PM
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Suspension advice needed for Mk4 escort running 2wd cosworth running gear
I've been slowly working my way through the car fixing and renewing parts. The car is alot better than when i purchased it.
The car is mk4 escort cabriolet running cosworth running gear on a 4x4 floor plan. The drivetrain is from a sapphire cosworth 2wd and i assume the suspension is as well
It currently has prity new Avo coilovers fitted. The cars main use is on the road with occasional use at Santa pod. The Avo kit is way to hard. Its distroying the way the car behaves. The rear end is also twichy at speed.
I have adjustable top mounts on the front and the whole car is polybushed.
I originally wanted Ahmed springs with koni or bilstein dampers. However the chassis has been further strengthed around the point where a standard spring fits to the chassis on the rear. The weight of the car is also different so i think i may have to stick with the coilovers.
I'm looking at getting new springs and helper springs also so they dont come out of the cups when i lift the car. This is where i need advice!
Also weather its possible to fit bearings to the top of the front struts as standard suspension. The creaking when turning the wheel is anoying.
The car weighs in a 1200kg with fuel tank full. The weight balance is 640kg front and 560kg rear. Thats about 100kg lighter but i don't know the weight balance of a standard sapphire. Its running 380bhp
Any help would be greatly appriciated
http://www.escortcabrioletclub.co.uk...ttach_id=10915
http://www.escortcabrioletclub.co.uk...ttach_id=10916
The car is mk4 escort cabriolet running cosworth running gear on a 4x4 floor plan. The drivetrain is from a sapphire cosworth 2wd and i assume the suspension is as well
It currently has prity new Avo coilovers fitted. The cars main use is on the road with occasional use at Santa pod. The Avo kit is way to hard. Its distroying the way the car behaves. The rear end is also twichy at speed.
I have adjustable top mounts on the front and the whole car is polybushed.
I originally wanted Ahmed springs with koni or bilstein dampers. However the chassis has been further strengthed around the point where a standard spring fits to the chassis on the rear. The weight of the car is also different so i think i may have to stick with the coilovers.
I'm looking at getting new springs and helper springs also so they dont come out of the cups when i lift the car. This is where i need advice!
Also weather its possible to fit bearings to the top of the front struts as standard suspension. The creaking when turning the wheel is anoying.
The car weighs in a 1200kg with fuel tank full. The weight balance is 640kg front and 560kg rear. Thats about 100kg lighter but i don't know the weight balance of a standard sapphire. Its running 380bhp
Any help would be greatly appriciated
http://www.escortcabrioletclub.co.uk...ttach_id=10915
http://www.escortcabrioletclub.co.uk...ttach_id=10916
05-05-2011, 05:06 PM
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If what avo say is correct the kit comes with 600lb front and 400lb rear. So thats not to disimilar to what is currently on the car. Which is dam hard. theres no more than 30mm movement in the suspension even when cornering hard or launching.
After doing some calculations i think maybe 360lb front and 250lb rear. Anybody else got any thoughts?
After doing some calculations i think maybe 360lb front and 250lb rear. Anybody else got any thoughts?
i have no useful info apart from that lol
05-05-2011, 10:11 PM
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My Series 1 is on slightly stiffer springs than what you're suggesting and I'm planning on trying stiffer. My car is probably about 1050kg's.
For the price of springs it's worth trying. Try them and see how you get on. If it's worse then you'll need to go stiffer. I found my car very bouncy and hard on weaker springs so I went stiffer and it made the world of difference.
For the price of springs it's worth trying. Try them and see how you get on. If it's worse then you'll need to go stiffer. I found my car very bouncy and hard on weaker springs so I went stiffer and it made the world of difference.
05-05-2011, 10:34 PM
#6
Spring rates mean nothing without knowing the valving, you could speak to one person and they could say 660F and 500R - and another at 400F 180R, it really is that differant.
On bilstein units ive run 180R on gravel and 360F - really nice to drive on the road, but very wallowy on slicks, tar billys we used to run 500R and 600F.
unfortunatley, non of that will help you.
Like daz says, it will be suck it and see for you im afraid.
On bilstein units ive run 180R on gravel and 360F - really nice to drive on the road, but very wallowy on slicks, tar billys we used to run 500R and 600F.
unfortunatley, non of that will help you.
Like daz says, it will be suck it and see for you im afraid.
05-05-2011, 10:41 PM
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My billys are valved 300/70 front and 260/60 rear.
It's at it's best it's ever been at 270 rear and 370 front but I intend to try the 370s on the rear and 470s on the front as there is a little too much body roll on harder bends.
This will be about the 9th or 10th sets of springs I've tried.
It's at it's best it's ever been at 270 rear and 370 front but I intend to try the 370s on the rear and 470s on the front as there is a little too much body roll on harder bends.
This will be about the 9th or 10th sets of springs I've tried.
Last edited by DazC; 05-05-2011 at 10:42 PM.
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05-05-2011, 10:49 PM
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It used to be awful on 270 front springs and 170 rear. It's not too bad currently. It used to be bouncy as hell but roll like mad in the corners as the springs were too soft and the dampers too hard. Now it has stiffer springs and they're over coming the rebound a little it's a lot smoother. It's going round bends and turning in a lot better now too but under hard cornering I sill think there is a bit too much body roll.
If I ruin it with the next set of springs I'll pick something in between like 320 for the rear and 420 for the front and see how I get on. Bonus is I can change the back springs in 5 minutes for both sides but the fronts take about half hour to 45 minutes to do the pair.
If I ruin it with the next set of springs I'll pick something in between like 320 for the rear and 420 for the front and see how I get on. Bonus is I can change the back springs in 5 minutes for both sides but the fronts take about half hour to 45 minutes to do the pair.
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