I need more spring under the crap can Escort. Right now we're running stock replacement struts and stock springs cut down. The front coil has an ID of about 4", and IIRC the spring is about 12" uncompressed, and about 8" at natural ride height. I'd like to keep the approx. ride height, but the springs are way too soft. It also lights up the inside front tire on corner exit, so I'm thinking of adding a sway bar to the back. What say the suspension gurus here?
Matt B
HalfDork
6/9/11 11:39 a.m.
Well I'm no guru, but that sounds like a start. I'm not sure what budget limitations you still have, but maybe start looking for junkyard struts-n-springs that were made for a heavier vehicle and can be "persuaded" to fit? I'd also be tempted to replace a few key bushings with poly if there's just a little wiggle room in the budget (like front lower control arms).
You can caculate the spring rate but you need real measurments tools.
http://www.proshocks.com/calcs/coilsprate.htm
you could also stuff in some spring rubbers to try a stiffer rate but that comes with high cost of less travel.
We've got a little wiggle room, but I'd rather spend that on go fast goodies and use junkyard stuff for the suspension. The Chevy Trailblazer's front springs can be cut down to the same dimensions, but a much beefier spring. I'm just worried that it might be too much.
I can email you a really good article on swaybars and making your own. Send me a PM if you want it. What is the weight of your car?
If you want a harder spring for cheap, your only options are aftermarket springs (which are gonna be at least somewhat lower) or sleeved coilovers (which could slip and really ruin your day). The rear sway bar should give you better grip on corner exit but that's going to shift your handling balance towards understeer, and unless it's really loose in the back right now I'm guessing you don't want that.
GameboyRMH wrote:
If you want a harder spring for cheap, your only options are aftermarket springs (which are gonna be at least somewhat lower).
Not necessarily. I mean you could use stock springs off something else and cut them to length.
93EXCivic wrote:
I can email you a really good article on swaybars and making your own. Send me a PM if you want it. What is the weight of your car?
I think it's about 2100lbs. It's an '86 Escort with a turbocharged 2.0L Zetec. The front swayber is less than ideal, as it also acts as the front half of the lower control arm. Here's the car in question.
I used to run 500-650 lb springs in the front of my VW GTI prepped for ITB, so you might be able to get away with springs from some pretty heavy vehicles.
I'm running 650lb springs on the front of the EGT.
16vCorey wrote:
93EXCivic wrote:
I can email you a really good article on swaybars and making your own. Send me a PM if you want it. What is the weight of your car?
I think it's about 2100lbs. It's an '86 Escort with a turbocharged 2.0L Zetec. The front swayber is less than ideal, as it also acts as the front half of the lower control arm. Here's the car in question.
Milliken suggests a ride frequencies of 1.6-2.0Hz for non-aero sedans with the front having the higher ride frequency.
You don't have the corner weights of the vehicle do you?
bluej wrote:
In reply to 93EXCivic:
Share the sway love! :D
Anyone who wants the article shoot me a PM.
Does anyone know if you can get spring rubbers in different sizes? Would that help him solve the problem without haveing to search for springs/ struts, etc.?
I have a similar situation on the rear coilovers on my MGTD and have thought about using srs.
Graefin10 wrote:
Does anyone know if you can get spring rubbers in different sizes? Would that help him solve the problem without haveing to search for springs/ struts, etc.?
I have a similar situation on the rear coilovers on my MGTD and have thought about using srs.
Do you mean bump stops? Koni makes a number of different sizes I believe. Their bump stops can be modified to get different spring rates. Ideally though you don't want to hit the bump stops if you can avoid it.
Do you mean bump stops? Koni makes a number of different sizes I believe. Their bump stops can be modified to get different spring rates. Ideally though you don't want to hit the bump stops if you can avoid it.
No, you hear of them pulling and installing spring rubbers during a NASCAR pit stop frequently. It's a firm density rubber insert that goes between two coils so that the useable portion of the spring becomes less which increases the effective spring rate.
dinger
New Reader
6/9/11 2:19 p.m.
A crap can approved way of getting more rear sway bar rate out of the car is to take another stock sway bar for the car and attach it to the existing bar with several worm gear type radiator hose clamps. Looks cheap and cheeky, works very well.
dinger wrote:
A crap can approved way of getting more rear sway bar rate out of the car is to take another stock sway bar for the car and attach it to the existing bar with several worm gear type radiator hose clamps. Looks cheap and cheeky, works very well.
That would work if it had a rear bar to start with.
I think the first Gen 'scort wagons had rear sways that could be adapted to the sedans....
Otherwise, you'll have to take a step back and punt :)
I used front bars from a full size Chevy in the rear of my GTI.
That's kind of what I was thinking. Not specifically full size Chevy, but just taking a tape measure to the junkyard and see what might fit.
Yes spring rubber do come in difrent molded diameters and thickness.
Try capital motorsports in MA or Day in Tyler Tx and host of other roundy round places.
From those not in the know. Spring rubers get jamed in between two coils for a whole coil around this basicly take that coil out of the usable spring thus ups the spring rate as its no longer and active coil.
Go to bone yard measure come home plug measurements in to calc link i posted and figure out what will work for you.
Graefin10 wrote:
Do you mean bump stops? Koni makes a number of different sizes I believe. Their bump stops can be modified to get different spring rates. Ideally though you don't want to hit the bump stops if you can avoid it.
No, you hear of them pulling and installing spring rubbers during a NASCAR pit stop frequently. It's a firm density rubber insert that goes between two coils so that the useable portion of the spring becomes less which increases the effective spring rate.
I have heard of some using a Taurus spring.
Don't forget, if you stiffen the front, you need to stiffen the rear,either with springs and or anti-roll bar.
Some Escort wagons have a 20 mm rear bar.