Mk1 escort leaf springs - how to fit mk2 leaves

[caprian280]

Hi all.
Just wondering if anyone can help me please? The suspension gave in on my mk1 escort on one side.
It has a capri atlax LSD axle. The springs are 4 leaf, 50mm wide 1100mm between eye holes, width across mounting points with bushes approx 67mm - these seem to squash in the hangers where the gap measures approx 63mm.

I have read about fitting mk2 escort springs and have found the picture showing the rusty plates. As I'm having trouble finding a set of springs for my current set up - can anyone tell me exactly what parts i would need to fit mk2 escort single leaf springs please and can i buy all the parts new? Cheers for any help you can provide. I'm getting sick of the car now, cant drive it anywhere to get the rest of the work done on it.

[accord83]

Get yourself on here feller.
www.oldskoolford.co.uk/ipb/

[Ritchie]

As far as I know you need the Mk2 spring plates and hangers as these are "dog legged" to make them wider at the spring end but the same width at the chassis end. I'm sure all of these can be bought new from the various escort specialists.
Or you can grind the ends of the Mk2 springs down to the width of the Mk1 hangers, there's not much difference. You will still need the plates though.
Don't quote me on this, that's just what I have read, I plan to do the same with my Mk1 at some point.

[saabsled]

Seem to remember I tried this, many years ago. IIRC, the front bush is too wide to fit in the MK1 mount.

[jonsey]

For 20 years I ran my mk1 with Mk2 leaf springs I used Mk2 bushes on the front cut down to the width of the spring. They slide in and fit in the mk1 chassis mount. The last couple of years I have ground the front of the springs down to the mk1 Escort size as the car always lifted a rear wheel and I felt this was because the front of the leaf could not articulate so in effect stiffening the rear when leaning.

Standard MkII spring plates can be used but I made new ones out of 10mm plate to exactly the same width as the springs to stop the lowering block wiggling. But mine is turreted so I don’t need the shock mounts. The rear spring hangers can either be bent slightly to accept the Mk2 spring or use the mk2 hanger

[spookies]

What about Capri leaf springs. I use 2.8i ones on my Mk1 Escort. Although single leaf I am sure ones from a 2.0l or 1.6l would fit.