Post 1995 Escort Suspension renewal

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Neither Davespages.co.uk or myself as an individual will accept any liability for loss, damage or injury caused by deviation from the manufacturers configuration.
No Liability or accountability will be accepted for resultant loss, damage or injury caused by performing any of the methods described in any of the guides. The methods described are gathered through my own investigation and experience. The content written and specific data are also from my own investigation/experience and from a legal standing... i will NOT guarantee its accuracy...

All Advice and methods described must be used as a GUIDE REFERENCE ONLY , Please be aware that manufacturer variations and resultant recommendations/settings differ over time.

Before changing your vehicles configuration/settings or carrying out any of the guides contained on this site, please check if it will invalidate your vehicles warranty. Any work carried out is COMPLETELY AT THE OWNERS RISK.

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This guide is for changing the Whole strut (and spring) complete on MK6 escorts. MK5/MK5.B only use 2 Bolts on the top mount, not 3.
At no point in the guide do you need to remove the top mount from the strut (unless you are changing springs... and this requires a spring compressor for the front struts)

So starting with the rear... its a simple case of 4 bolts... yes, only 4.

Jack the car up, use axle stands and Remove the rear wheel.
At the bottom of the strut on the rear beam, using a 15mm undo the bolt securing the strut to the rear axle.



In the boot, remove the suspension turret cover



Undo the three 13mm nuts from the suspension top mount



Withdraw the strut from the wheel arch.



Refitting is true haynes style, removal but backwards...

Fit the strut into the arch, make sure all 3 bolts line up and fit into the suspension turret.
Loosely tighten the 13mm nuts.



Using a screwdriver and some jiggling, line up the bolt holes in the axle and strut.
Slide the 15mm bolt in and tighten up.

Now tighten the top 13mm nuts.

Refit the turret cover.

Front Suspension...

Remove the wheel (use a jack and axle stands)



Using a 15mm, undo the brake flexi hose bracket.





Now undo the second 15mm nut.... This will free the Anti roll bar drop link bracket...

It may require jacking the strut up (from the lower arm) to free the ARB drop link bracket.

Once free it will look like this...



Below the 2x 15mm nuts there is a 19mm bolt on the back of the hub. This bolt secures the bottom of the strut into the hub.
Remove this bolt

Once removed, use a good size bar and lever the lower arm down... applying down force on the hub to separate it from the strut.



I found a crow bar worked well and gentle tapping of a hammer on the hub gradually released the strut from the hub.



Strut free from the hub



With the strut free, now undo the three 13mm top mount nuts.



With some wriggling withdraw the strut from the arch.

Refitting is the reversal of removal.

Clean up the bottom of the replacement strut using a wire brush and if nessecary use a tiny bit of grease to aid the fitment of the strut into the hub.



Wriggle the hub untill the strut starts to slide into the hub



Take care with the ARB drop link bracket on the inner side of the strut, its a flat plate and must line up with the "split" in the hub.

Use a jack under the lower arm to apply pressure on the hub, gentle tapping of the hub with a hammer will allow the strut to slide into the hub as far as needed.



Once the strut is FULLY into the hub, refit the 19mm bolt and tighten.



Refit the Anti Roll bar drop link bracket (2 bolts) and tighten the TOP 15mm nut.
Now fit the brake flexy hose bracket to the bottom bolt on the strut bracket and tighten the 15mm nut up.

Refit the wheel and remove the jack/axle stands