GeordieW Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Just a question, I have a 1979 4 door escort mk2. With 15 x 8 mags on 195/50R15 tyres, lowered 2 inches springs and blocks. When turning the front wheels hit the rear of the wheel arch hitting the structural metal of the car, so I brought a “Twin Cam” sway bar to bring the caster of my wheel forward, clears the rear arch mint now! But…. It hits the front of my wheel guard??! Dam, now I don’t know what to do, do I cut my beautiful fenders? Remove all lowering spring and blocks back to stock height :(, or get 13” mags??? any other suggestions or tips would be awesome? Anyone with a simple fix? XD Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 It'll track like a drunken naked meth head on a hot unicycle with the caster that far out. Last time I messed around with similar suspension I bought some big flat washers and cut them into 'horse shoe' shapes. I used those washers to tune the strut position in relation to the anti-sway bar.... which of course adjusted caster. IIRC the adjustment was limited by the available thread. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leone Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Had similar problem with early corollas, we always use to bash the inner gaurd seam flat (fold it over) but not sure it this would be legal in this day and age... altho id still do it on my own personal whip. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bling Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Just get wheels that fit with the car without needing to mess with the alignment? 15x8 down to 13" mags is one extreme to the other, i'm sure you can find middle ground. If it's stock otherwise then 13's probably look good on it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwibirdman Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 8 inch wide wheels are pretty big for an escort, too much on the out side which is why they hit the guard. What size tires do you have? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieW Posted February 9, 2023 Author Share Posted February 9, 2023 Cheers team for the help. Unclejake, pack some washers onto my twin cam sway bar could work? Giving me few degrees less caster? Just so I’m on the same page as you can you elaborate on “It'll track like a drunken naked meth head on a hot unicycle” XD Tyre size is 195/50/15R not very thick tyre wall by any means Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB8-TypeR Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Higher offset wheels should go some way towards solving it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 2 hours ago, GeordieW said: Just so I’m on the same page as you can you elaborate on “It'll track like a drunken naked meth head on a hot unicycle” XD The best example of incorrect Caster is the front wheel of a shopping trolley. At speed with too much negative caster the wheel becomes way less 'stable' and you will have trouble keeping the vehicle in a straight line..... but turn in is easy and turn grip can be improved. However - I suspect you've introduced too much positive caster (and I jumped the gun with my tracking comment) which will probably just give you heavy steering and a bit less corner grip.... but straight line tracking will be OK. My experiences are with a race Mk1 Cortina - so basically identical suspension and weights as your Escort 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 A bit of extra positive caster, and increase in wheelbase is a good thing, so long as tilting the upright isn't hurting steering arm angle which can cause bump steer. (caster makes you faster) It helps self centre the steering wheel and will also help the car camber the wheel in when turning so less scrub on the outside edge of your tyres. Within reason with a power steer assisted race car you can't have too much caster.. There will be a bunch of race escorts out there with a bunch of different solutions, but would some swaybar brackets that allow the bar to be mounted slightly further back might work with maybe some minor clearancing up front, or as others have said maybe a well with less offset would help.( And also reduce scrub radius) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieW Posted February 9, 2023 Author Share Posted February 9, 2023 Thanks team! Wow blown away with the help. By the looks (thanks to mjrstar) I’m in need and have found of some brackets to move the caster slightly back to clear the fender. That should fix it I would imagine, but my question is now, do I need a CERT or something because I’m changing the mounting points of the antiroll sway bar? ps: my escort is no race car. The fastest we go is 50-80kmh. Just a cruiser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldrx7 Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Would skinnier / lower profile tyres help? Using a 175/50/15 or 165/50/15 are easily available tyre options. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bling Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 They don't seem like suitable tyres for a 15x8" rim. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldrx7 Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Yeh you're right with that one. 175's would be ok (dunno about legal but wouldn't be terrible stretch) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUL8R Posted February 13, 2023 Share Posted February 13, 2023 195-45r15 would be your best bet, from memory 1/2" illegally stretched, but barely noticeable. Then you at least keep the same footprint, but lower profile sidewall again. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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