Why half-assing never pays off.

"Echo51" (echo2047)
08/28/2018 at 10:40 • Filed to: None

Header-Supra for your time.

So for a long time, the dearest of Escort’s have had some slop in the front suspension. It’d randomly decide to pull gently to one side, you could feel the steering was... off when doing roundabouts cause the tracking would dynamically change with cornering forces. It’s been this way and slowly getting worse for a good half year.

2 months or so ago i found out one of the front dampers was really stiff compared to the other, like it had frozen up/gone bad. After all the engine-bits were sorted i tackled the front struts, somehow broke an ABS sensor underway. Still pulls randomly...

Well then, align it to spec(0°20'), rock the steering from side to side, check alignment. Why is it now reading 2 °. Back on the lift, rock everything, hard to find anything, eventually, after much turning the wheels back and forth i find it. Lower balljoint has slop in it. Turn wheels slightly again and it locks up, can’t force the slop by hand anymore. No damn wonder i haven’t found it before since it’s been in a locked up position everytime i’ve tried to check.

Now the fun part: It’s the side i changed balljoint in just a few months ago for the excact same slop. Was it a bad part? No.
Turns out it’s the hole into the bottom of the hub that’s damn worn straight out.

So i cheap out, take the easy way out, drill the hub for the next size bolt up, crank that sucker till it squeezes the balljoint tightly, seemsGood.jpg.

Except it’s not. I just spent 2 hours doing alignment and setting the wheel straight while going straight. 1km up the road i crest a hilltop, something goes *clonk* and we have the same slop back again.

(Why isn’t throwing a car into the harbour legal)

So now do i risk it with a junkyard hub s pindle and hope the bearing is ok after sitting for a few years? Or just throw the money at it to have a new bearing so i know that’s good...
As for the ABS fault, since the light is on from turn-key without rotation, i’d guess bad connection in the plugs from when i did struts or a broken wire.

You made it this far? thanks, have a fancy junkyard find

(Eclipse, MR2 infront, Maserati in the back i think)

DISCUSSION (12)

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Echo51
08/28/2018 at 12:09

Not a V6 Eclipse, not worth my time.

To answer your question, why not get a junkyard spindle and install your bearing in it?

Future Heap Owner > Echo51
08/28/2018 at 12:24

I’m assuming this is your daily? I like L ong V oyager’s idea, failing that I would shell out for a new one. Something as critical and as mechanically complicated as this I would not gamble with a junkyard part. Unless, of course, this is not your daily, in which case eh what do you have to lose?

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Echo51
08/28/2018 at 13:46

What sucks is it’s a euro Escort. So you can’t use close to half my bag of dirty tricks for the front suspension, like 323GTX swap. :(

ateamfan42 > Echo51
08/28/2018 at 13:49

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

“But I’m using my whole ass.” — Homer Simpson

Echo51 > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
08/28/2018 at 14:34

I’m more glad it’s not a mazda rebadge honestly. Then again, 1.8 BPT engine swap , hnnnng.

Echo51 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
08/28/2018 at 14:36

New bearing would be cheap, and i don’t think you can manage to get them out without damage once they’re in sadly. Think i’m just gonna yolo it and drop it in as is, spindle+ hub+bearing and all.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Echo51
08/28/2018 at 14:37

Nah. The BPT makes no torque. Not compared to the 1.9 CVH. If you’re willing to put in the effort and money, the CVH builds . Adding a legit 30-50HP to one is three bolt-ons . ‘86 GT 4-2-1 factory headers, ‘87 GT two piece intake, and injectors lifted from just about any 90's Ford V8.

Echo51 > Future Heap Owner
08/28/2018 at 14:38

This is my daily! But i don’t have anything really important i can’t cancel anytime soon, or i can borrow a car 90% of the time. I also see i called it a hub when what i’ll be grabbing is the entire spindle, oops.

Echo51 > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
08/28/2018 at 14:45

Dad had a 1.6 CVH escort before they phased it out for the zetec in mine, and they’re... a bit on the basic side. T he 1.8 Zetec in mine has 130hp stock and i feel drives way nicer than the older CVH design. The CVH could be built to RS Turbo spec too however..

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Echo51
08/28/2018 at 14:55

Yes, the CVH actually stands for “Constant Vibration and Harshness.” But man does it build . The Zetec is way smoother, but getting even the DOHC ones to CVH levels of absurdity is hard.

And when I say absurdity, I really do mean it. They are easily capable of 100HP more than your Zetec.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Echo51
08/28/2018 at 15:58

Find one that’s not buried in the dirt, check it, and give it a try.

Echo51 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
08/28/2018 at 16:04

Have a few in “storage” from gutting cars for racing/parts, so just brushing off the worst surface rust and getting everything clean and lubed/moving parts over. Really should spray parts put in storage with some light oil in the future..