Fitting Capri Bilstein Struts to Mk2 Escort

[Rally Pack 2000]

When you fit the Capri Bilstein struts to a Mk2 Escort you need to get special tie rod ends for the metric rack to imperial struts. Yet they dont actually screw into steering arms so Im confused as to the reason for the special tie rod ends? Further to that you dont need special track control arms? Am I missing something? Im sure the answer is obvious and will probably feel like an idiot afterwards. Thanks

[SmokeEm]

Its been about 20 yrs or more since I've done this. I might be wrong but I think we used to use RS2000 track rod ends?

[Tall paul]

You'll need RS ones as Smokem says mate.

 

The taper on standard mk2 escort legs that go into the steering arms is to small and the RS ones are bigger but have the same thread size on the rack rod.

[Rally Pack 2000]

You'll need RS ones as Smokem says mate.

 

The taper on standard mk2 escort legs that go into the steering arms is to small and the RS ones are bigger but have the same thread size on the rack rod.

 Is is possible that it may be the other way around and that the RS ones are smaller? I just bought some tie rod ends for an Australian 2Lt/Rally Pack/RS2000 whose struts have integral steering arms which I believe are the same as standard Mk2 Euro Escorts but the same its clearly too big for the steering arms.

 

[Rally Pack 2000]

Its been about 20 yrs or more since I've done this. I might be wrong but I think we used to use RS2000 track rod ends?

 

 

You'll need RS ones as Smokem says mate.

 

The taper on standard mk2 escort legs that go into the steering arms is to small and the RS ones are bigger but have the same thread size on the rack rod.

 

Just to bump this thread a bit, the tie rod ends arrived from the UK today and were ordered for a Euro RS2000 but they too are too big for the steering arms holes like the first set. It appears that Euro RS2000s and Australian 2lt Struts use the same control arms but neither fit the Capri Bilstein Struts. Im not sure what to do next thats 2 sets I have wasted my money on now. There must be a solution, after all these struts are so commonly fitted to Mk2 Escorts. How does everyone do it? Thanks.

[Vista]

The struts we use for this set up all have bolt on steering arms, I don't know that there is a way of doing it with struts that have integral steering arms.

[Rally Pack 2000]

The struts we use for this set up all have bolt on steering arms, I don't know that there is a way of doing it with struts that have integral steering arms.

Thanks for your reply. Im referring to original Capri Bilstein Struts with separate steering arms. (The photo I have is with the steering arm off the strut) Tie Rod Ends for the Australian struts didnt fit and thats understandable and it was mentioned here that European Mk2 RS2000 Tie Rod Ends were what was needed. They just arrived from the UK and appear to be the same as those for the Australian Struts in that the shaft of the Tie Rod Ends are too think to fit into the Capri steering arms. So Im getting a bit concerned what to do next. I cant keep buying Tie Rod ends just to experiment and with it being a common conversion there must be a solution im sure.

 

It may even be possible that the seller has supplied the wrong ones. these were the ones I purchased.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321356254352?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D321356254352%26_rdc%3D1

[Vista]

At £5.95 I would say that there's a high likelyhood that they're not RS2000 track rod ends, or that they're mid 90's rs2000 track rod ends. It's a common mistake from auto factors, I'd ask for a refund and if no joy raise a paypal claim. 

 

In fact looking at the fitments in that listing, they're definitely the wrong ones as he lists them as being compatible with all the other models of mk2 escort, which RS2000 ones definitely are not. More confusing is that the text in black lists them as applicable to the RS2000 whereas the text in green says they're for 1.1, 1.3 and 1.6. Either way, they're definitely the wrong ones.

 

RS2000 TRE's are normally £20 - £30 each, though this seems reasonable for a pair

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk2-Escort-Rs2000-Mexico-Track-Rod-Ends-/141203956909?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20e06964ad

 

More for genuine ones

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Ford-Escort-Mk2-RS2000-Green-Steering-Tie-Track-Rod-End-/380751154045?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item58a6898b7d

[Rally Pack 2000]

Thats very very helpful thanks

[Vista]

No problem, hope you get sorted

[Rally Pack 2000]

No problem, hope you get sorted

 

The irony of the situation just makes me shake my head. The first link you gave was for Dave Sims which is the very guy I got the struts from in the uk in the first place. That auction didnt come up in my seach because I typed in "Tie Rod Ends" rather than "Track Rod Ends"

 

Im convinced there is an Escort curse that doesnt kill but frustrates enough to drive you to drink! Im off to the bottle shop, drown my sorrows, other Escort owners welcome.

[Vista]

Oops, know your terminology I guess. We don't talk about trunks (elephants have them) hoods, windshields or fenders either.

[Rally Pack 2000]

We dont use most of those terms either we say, boots, bonnets, and screens, just that tie rod ends is the most common for that particular part.