Moving/ Adjusting rear axle Mk1 Escort

[Herr Doktor]

I've just noticed the rear axle on my Mk1 Escort Apache  is out of alignment somewhat.

 

I can get 2 clear fingers between the rear wheel and arch on the right hand  side but there's barely room for 1 finger on the left hand side.

 

How easy a job is it to "shunt" it over 10mm or so such that the gap is equal?

 

Cheers

[colr6]

Undo the axle U bolts and check axle location, the bolt that goes through the centre of Spring acts as a locator into the axle saddles check they are where they should be 1st. Check centralisation on front Spring bushes.That's taking its on normal set up no panard/ 4link or the likes

[robert maguire]

As per Colr6 above the centre bolt may have sheared head off etc.Too much wheel spinning...

[Herr Doktor]

Thx folks.

[Vista]

Hmm, measure the distance from axle to something more permanent than the wheel arches before making any changes, the front leaf spring pick up points maybe? Wheel arches may have been replaced by this stage in a mk1 Escort's life and who's to say the new ones are millimetre perfect?

[Herr Doktor]

Thx Vista. The rear arch in concern has clearly been replaced and by a blind man by the looks of it! Rather than a clean arc, there are two 35mm long sections of straight line!

 

Looking at it, the whole sill line isn't perfectly straight either. The big question of course, is whether or not to remove all the paint and filler around the arch area to try to determine the extent of the poor work.

 

"Pandora's Box" springs to mind!

[guido]

good comment from Vista. I had the same experience long time ago. Also thought axle was off alignment. It was the bodywork.

I messuered to reference spots under the chassis.

[herb capri]

Had a twisted spring that threw mine out. just one strangely, it was only showing with the weight on the axle.

I found out when I could fit a 205 on one side and not on the other!