axle/suspension plates ...a new question (pics)

[GAZ W]

As some of you will know i snapped the bolt on the plate that bolts to the bottom of the rear shock , so i got some more from escort develepments (this place is very highly recomended for escort parts btw if you have never purchased anything from there top top man who runs it , he sent the parts out to me without wanting any payment first ) anyway back to my question
After receiving the plates i put them side by side with my old ones and noticed that they are different sizes , all the holes and the bolts line up with the originals its the overall size is different , does this matter ? Do RS2000's have different plates to other models , the new ones came off a 1600 sport , i phoned the chap up who i got em off and he says everything will be OK , but i just wanted to check with you lot first before i send them to the powder coaters

here are some pics of them side by side





her is one with the new one sat on top of the old one as you can see the holes all line up

[Tim]

cant c no reason y the new 1s wont fit, u could alter the 1s so there the same as the old 1's

[GAZ W]

oh ..forgot to say that the new ones are the smaller ones

[Tim]

no need 2 alter them then

[dasadrew]

Right, here we go:

The correct name is PLATE ASSY -(MOUNTING)

Timken Banjo Axle:

RH Original Finis: 6046165 replaced by 1623061 =77AB 5K563 BA
LH Original Finis: 6046167 replaced by 1623062 = 77AB 5K623 BA

Salisbury/Köln Axle

RH Original Finis: 6028362 = 75AB 5K563 AB (Germany)
RH Original Finis: 6052231 = 77AB 5K563 AA (UK)
LH Original Finis: 6052233 = 77AB 5K623 AA

[dasadrew]

RS2000 plates look like this:



... and NO! You can't have them!

So the ones you've got look to be for a different axle. Looking at your pics, when they are fitted, the shock absorber will be nearer to the axle. Maybe the RS plates were made longer to avoid fouuling between shocker and axle? Maybe RS Shocks are thicker than Escort 1300L shocks?

[GAZ W]

Dasadrew

The actual holes and the length of the bolt are exactly the same , when you put one on top of the other everything lines up , it is just the surface area of the "plate" that is about 30mm bigger .

please can i have yours?

[KL]

The smaller ones are like those I have removed from non-RS Escorts. The relationship between the U bolt holes and where the damper locates on the plate pin is what matters. They should be the same in that respect -and appear to be in photo. The RS ones will be slightly stronger as can be judged from the picture (more metal). These plates can bend from U bolts over tightened. For road use, I would have no concerns using the smaller ones. Even the RS ones used to bend on forest rally cars that retained the full suspension movement when the spring was bolted direct to the plate for max ride height (the pin would bend because the damper maxed out). The solution was to fit a spacing block to the chassis rail about half an inch deep to hit the bump stop earlier and thus reduce suspension travel.
This doesnt apply to std or lower ride heights.
One other point. The O/D of the pin (and the I/D of the damper bush) was increased very slightly on later cars. This used to cause problems because Bilsteins etc were designed around the earlier thinner pin and would not fit later cars. Rubbing down the later pin was the preferred solution rather than easing out the damper bush. No idea why they did it - it was not enough to have any significant strength increase. The point to watch is that some later aftermarket dampers (incl Spax adj) have the larger bore bush and if you use that with the early thin pin there will be some play.

[dasadrew]

But Gaz, when you align the holes, don't you find that the shock absorber mounting stud is in a different position, and effectively closer to the axle casing?

My axle's out at the moment, but I feel sure that the shocks pass pretty close to the front of the axle casing and, if your new plates bring the shock absorber lower mount 1cm closer I think you might have a foul. Someone with an assembled car could perhaps measure this up?

and NO you can't!!

[dasadrew]

Based on memory and my interpretation of your pics, it looks like a clearance conflict MIGHT arise as follows:



'fraid I can't help further as mine is all dismantled.

[GAZ W]

Dasadrew

when you look at the first pic you can see that the bolt is the same length as the original when the holes are lined up , just that there is more metal surface area on the original

[dasadrew]

On that very first pic, it still looks to me like the upper flange of the plate on the left is about 1,5cm further away from the U bolt holes (or, more importantly, the centre spigot locating hole) than the flange of the plate on the right!

Anyway, when you come to refit, you can juggle around a bit 'cos the axle's weight is being carried by the leaf springs. It's 20 past midnight in France now so I'm gonna hit the hay and dream about your mounting plates!

G'nite!

[GAZ W]

As you can see on this expertly edited photo the holes line up , and the bolt is the same length , its where i have put "this bit" i mean , this bit is filled in with more metal on the originals

[Banishit]

I can see what dasadrew is getting at and I would have agreed with him until you posted your expertly draw pic now I think you will be fine just not as strong

Brian

[dasadrew]

Thanks, Banishit! I thought I was having hallucinations on my own there!

Keep 'em coming Gaz!