budget way to make a mk6 escort handle better???
02-02-2015, 06:30 PM
#1
The only way is dagenham
Thread Starter
budget way to make a mk6 escort handle better???
Hi all, as the tittle say's. I was wondering if some xr3i or rs2000 shock's and springs and some poly bushes would be any good?
Cheers!
Cheers!
03-02-2015, 05:22 AM
#3
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
rs2k shocks 2wd are basically the same so a decent set of uprated springs will help with stance and handling, poly bushes are good but can be found to stiffen the ride a fair bit so its personal choice on a mk6, strut braces front and rear can stop a good amount of body twist/roll, but get a gen ford front upper one and a rigid one for the rear too like omd/mda type, all items are cheep in the bigger scale of things too
03-02-2015, 04:52 PM
#7
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04-02-2015, 10:48 AM
#9
The only way is dagenham
Thread Starter
04-02-2015, 12:35 PM
#10
10K+ Poster!!
Have you thought about seam welding the shell? Your a welder aont you? So really it wont cost much, you'll need primmer and paint over the bits you've welded but other than that, all it will take is time (and quite a lot). When Nissan bought out the final skyline GTR (the Z tune iirc) they added spot welds the length of the floor pan and around the door frames, you could do something similar to get the shell more rigid, I'd be tempted to take it even further maybe and do all around the suspension mounting points. Will give you a great platform for a good handling car, but will be quite an involved process.
04-02-2015, 12:54 PM
#11
Ignore those saying buy a better car, I bet the MK6 Escort would out-handle most of the Fords that came before it, it just suffered because of the reputation of the MK5. The MK6 was actually a pretty good car. It's no 306, but it's quite reasonable. I've owned loads of them and they're decent enough, apart from rusting like mad.
Avoid poly bushes in the lower arms on a road car, as they don't tend to last that well. If you can find some, fit the Royal Mail van spec arms, as they're a bit stronger and should overcome the issues of premature wear that you get with the standard items.
Don't fit big wheels, and don't fit low profile tyres. 15s is fine, and a 50 profile tyre will give you compliance, which is what you need on our crap roads. 16/17" wheels with 40/45 profile tyres is just going to make the ride hard. They might look nice, but they do nothing for handling.
As said above, the best thing you can do is stiffen the bit that all the suspension is bolted to, as this helps keep geometry more constant, which gives more linear responses, hence better handling. Obviously a cage might be overkill, but strut braces aren't a bad start. Ford made a front one (upper and lower), so they're worth buying, and one of the fixed rear ones, like MDA Motorsport etc. I'd avoid the adjustable ones. The point of it is to be a stiffening member, so putting bolted joints in it just makes it less stiff, which defeats the object.
I'd also avoid going too low. Definitely no more than 35mm in my view. If you can find a set of the Eibach RS Accessory springs, they wouldn't be a bad shout, as they'll be relatively forgiving. If you combine that with some decent dampers then you'll be in a reasonable place. You have to be careful with lowering, as a lot of the cheaper stuff is pretty poor quality, so it makes the ride very hard, and wears out quickly. I think people often confuse stiffness with good handling, and that isn't always the case.
You can poly bush the front anti-roll bar, but there isn't too much else you can do without getting into big expenses. The rear beam is fixed so not much can be done there. Some people fit the MK5 RS2000 rear axle to the MK6, thinking it's better as it has a separate ARB, but the standard MK6 beam is stiffer already, so it's a bit of a pointless change unless you desperately want rear disks instead of drums.
Worth upgrading the brakes too. The fronts can be swapped for the 280mm Mondeo V6 ones (basically the same as an Escort Cosworth). They'll fit under 15s and should make it stop a lot better than the standard 240mm ones.
Avoid poly bushes in the lower arms on a road car, as they don't tend to last that well. If you can find some, fit the Royal Mail van spec arms, as they're a bit stronger and should overcome the issues of premature wear that you get with the standard items.
Don't fit big wheels, and don't fit low profile tyres. 15s is fine, and a 50 profile tyre will give you compliance, which is what you need on our crap roads. 16/17" wheels with 40/45 profile tyres is just going to make the ride hard. They might look nice, but they do nothing for handling.
As said above, the best thing you can do is stiffen the bit that all the suspension is bolted to, as this helps keep geometry more constant, which gives more linear responses, hence better handling. Obviously a cage might be overkill, but strut braces aren't a bad start. Ford made a front one (upper and lower), so they're worth buying, and one of the fixed rear ones, like MDA Motorsport etc. I'd avoid the adjustable ones. The point of it is to be a stiffening member, so putting bolted joints in it just makes it less stiff, which defeats the object.
I'd also avoid going too low. Definitely no more than 35mm in my view. If you can find a set of the Eibach RS Accessory springs, they wouldn't be a bad shout, as they'll be relatively forgiving. If you combine that with some decent dampers then you'll be in a reasonable place. You have to be careful with lowering, as a lot of the cheaper stuff is pretty poor quality, so it makes the ride very hard, and wears out quickly. I think people often confuse stiffness with good handling, and that isn't always the case.
You can poly bush the front anti-roll bar, but there isn't too much else you can do without getting into big expenses. The rear beam is fixed so not much can be done there. Some people fit the MK5 RS2000 rear axle to the MK6, thinking it's better as it has a separate ARB, but the standard MK6 beam is stiffer already, so it's a bit of a pointless change unless you desperately want rear disks instead of drums.
Worth upgrading the brakes too. The fronts can be swapped for the 280mm Mondeo V6 ones (basically the same as an Escort Cosworth). They'll fit under 15s and should make it stop a lot better than the standard 240mm ones.
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gjh (04-02-2015)
04-02-2015, 01:00 PM
#12
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
had more mk6s than I care to remember but at moment I dont own one apart from one I'm breaking lol, have modded them and restored them for past 10 years so theres not much I dont know about them as does massivewangers above
05-02-2015, 11:24 AM
#13
The only way is dagenham
Thread Starter
Ignore those saying buy a better car, I bet the MK6 Escort would out-handle most of the Fords that came before it, it just suffered because of the reputation of the MK5. The MK6 was actually a pretty good car. It's no 306, but it's quite reasonable. I've owned loads of them and they're decent enough, apart from rusting like mad.
Avoid poly bushes in the lower arms on a road car, as they don't tend to last that well. If you can find some, fit the Royal Mail van spec arms, as they're a bit stronger and should overcome the issues of premature wear that you get with the standard items.
Don't fit big wheels, and don't fit low profile tyres. 15s is fine, and a 50 profile tyre will give you compliance, which is what you need on our crap roads. 16/17" wheels with 40/45 profile tyres is just going to make the ride hard. They might look nice, but they do nothing for handling.
As said above, the best thing you can do is stiffen the bit that all the suspension is bolted to, as this helps keep geometry more constant, which gives more linear responses, hence better handling. Obviously a cage might be overkill, but strut braces aren't a bad start. Ford made a front one (upper and lower), so they're worth buying, and one of the fixed rear ones, like MDA Motorsport etc. I'd avoid the adjustable ones. The point of it is to be a stiffening member, so putting bolted joints in it just makes it less stiff, which defeats the object.
I'd also avoid going too low. Definitely no more than 35mm in my view. If you can find a set of the Eibach RS Accessory springs, they wouldn't be a bad shout, as they'll be relatively forgiving. If you combine that with some decent dampers then you'll be in a reasonable place. You have to be careful with lowering, as a lot of the cheaper stuff is pretty poor quality, so it makes the ride very hard, and wears out quickly. I think people often confuse stiffness with good handling, and that isn't always the case.
You can poly bush the front anti-roll bar, but there isn't too much else you can do without getting into big expenses. The rear beam is fixed so not much can be done there. Some people fit the MK5 RS2000 rear axle to the MK6, thinking it's better as it has a separate ARB, but the standard MK6 beam is stiffer already, so it's a bit of a pointless change unless you desperately want rear disks instead of drums.
Worth upgrading the brakes too. The fronts can be swapped for the 280mm Mondeo V6 ones (basically the same as an Escort Cosworth). They'll fit under 15s and should make it stop a lot better than the standard 240mm ones.
Avoid poly bushes in the lower arms on a road car, as they don't tend to last that well. If you can find some, fit the Royal Mail van spec arms, as they're a bit stronger and should overcome the issues of premature wear that you get with the standard items.
Don't fit big wheels, and don't fit low profile tyres. 15s is fine, and a 50 profile tyre will give you compliance, which is what you need on our crap roads. 16/17" wheels with 40/45 profile tyres is just going to make the ride hard. They might look nice, but they do nothing for handling.
As said above, the best thing you can do is stiffen the bit that all the suspension is bolted to, as this helps keep geometry more constant, which gives more linear responses, hence better handling. Obviously a cage might be overkill, but strut braces aren't a bad start. Ford made a front one (upper and lower), so they're worth buying, and one of the fixed rear ones, like MDA Motorsport etc. I'd avoid the adjustable ones. The point of it is to be a stiffening member, so putting bolted joints in it just makes it less stiff, which defeats the object.
I'd also avoid going too low. Definitely no more than 35mm in my view. If you can find a set of the Eibach RS Accessory springs, they wouldn't be a bad shout, as they'll be relatively forgiving. If you combine that with some decent dampers then you'll be in a reasonable place. You have to be careful with lowering, as a lot of the cheaper stuff is pretty poor quality, so it makes the ride very hard, and wears out quickly. I think people often confuse stiffness with good handling, and that isn't always the case.
You can poly bush the front anti-roll bar, but there isn't too much else you can do without getting into big expenses. The rear beam is fixed so not much can be done there. Some people fit the MK5 RS2000 rear axle to the MK6, thinking it's better as it has a separate ARB, but the standard MK6 beam is stiffer already, so it's a bit of a pointless change unless you desperately want rear disks instead of drums.
Worth upgrading the brakes too. The fronts can be swapped for the 280mm Mondeo V6 ones (basically the same as an Escort Cosworth). They'll fit under 15s and should make it stop a lot better than the standard 240mm ones.
05-02-2015, 11:52 AM
#14
What brand of tyres are on it? You will never make a better improvement to a cars brakes/handling than swapping from budget tyres to premium. Other than that on a tight budget I would keep my eyes open for some used lowering springs, you can probably fit the ARB from another model too, I suspect the RS2000 has a thicker ARB, does your car have a rear ARB? If not you can fit one of these from an rs2000 too.
Rob,
Rob,
05-02-2015, 12:20 PM
#15
I would say you need to be realistic to what you want from the handling don't forget it's a old car with quite a poor lower arm design its never going to handle like a modern car! I had a RS2000 trackday car spent a lot of money on Avo coilovers, semi slick tyres, front and rear braces etc but to me the handling was never great so i gave up in the end and changed to a MG ZR. I found it was best on the 15" wheels with 17's it seemed heavy on the front and the understeer was quite bad.
05-02-2015, 03:27 PM
#16
I would say you need to be realistic to what you want from the handling don't forget it's a old car with quite a poor lower arm design its never going to handle like a modern car! I had a RS2000 trackday car spent a lot of money on Avo coilovers, semi slick tyres, front and rear braces etc but to me the handling was never great so i gave up in the end and changed to a MG ZR. I found it was best on the 15" wheels with 17's it seemed heavy on the front and the understeer was quite bad.
Tyres are cheaper for 15s too!
06-02-2015, 07:33 AM
#19
All the MK5/6 Escorts use a twist beam rear suspension, but the MK5 RS2000 had an anti-roll bar fitted onto the beam itself to stiffen it. It's quite an odd looking thing in some ways, just a quite thin bar clamped onto the rear beam.
For the MK6 they ditched it, as the beam itself was stiffer, so it wasn't needed.
For the MK6 they ditched it, as the beam itself was stiffer, so it wasn't needed.
06-02-2015, 09:16 AM
#20
Professional Waffler
Decent rubber would be a good place to start. Strut brace from an Escort cabriolet. Make sure the front wishbones aren't fucked as they seem to wear like the clappers, exasperated by pattern parts. If the shocks aren't stuffed (to be fair they are probably) a set of not excessive lowering springs. Make sure all the suspension and steering bushes aren't twatted as well as worn bushes can make a car drive horribly.
06-02-2015, 06:44 PM
#22
The only way is dagenham
Thread Starter
What brand of tyres are on it? You will never make a better improvement to a cars brakes/handling than swapping from budget tyres to premium. Other than that on a tight budget I would keep my eyes open for some used lowering springs, you can probably fit the ARB from another model too, I suspect the RS2000 has a thicker ARB, does your car have a rear ARB? If not you can fit one of these from an rs2000 too.
Rob,
Rob,
I would say you need to be realistic to what you want from the handling don't forget it's a old car with quite a poor lower arm design its never going to handle like a modern car! I had a RS2000 trackday car spent a lot of money on Avo coilovers, semi slick tyres, front and rear braces etc but to me the handling was never great so i gave up in the end and changed to a MG ZR. I found it was best on the 15" wheels with 17's it seemed heavy on the front and the understeer was quite bad.
Decent rubber would be a good place to start. Strut brace from an Escort cabriolet. Make sure the front wishbones aren't fucked as they seem to wear like the clappers, exasperated by pattern parts. If the shocks aren't stuffed (to be fair they are probably) a set of not excessive lowering springs. Make sure all the suspension and steering bushes aren't twatted as well as worn bushes can make a car drive horribly.
hmmmmm but where's the fun in that dude
08-02-2015, 07:42 AM
#23
I would definitely got with 15's so could run bigger brakes and get a bit wider rubber on the road. The 15's I got I ran 300x28mm disc's with 6pot calipers all tho you probably wont need those
16-02-2015, 06:38 PM
#26
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