Looking advice on best option for rear axle on mk1 Escort

[jwilkin]

Hi i have started a project with little experience only from reading magazines etc, any advice on rear axle options on mk1 Escort with cosworth engine, t5 box, 270 bhp, can i stay with leaf springs or will i need t go for fully floating etc any advice grateful. 

[meXEco]

English axle is the standard fit for mk1's, fitting an LSD would help but I'm not sure with that power-a baby atlas would be the best option but not cheap but then if you're fitting a cossie you've got some cash lol...leafs would be ok depends how far you want to go and spend really-6 linking being the best although this would lose you your rear seats. Fully floating refers to the rear hubs doesn't it-not necessary.

[colr6]

Your on the limit with an English shoving a cossy through it, khandlad has one in his and I this as long as you don't do stupid things with them there ok. I've just had an Atlas built to my own width with LSD and two piece shafts kitted up for discs and shock mounts for under 2k. Atlas is the way to go really for reliability. Leave on springs if it's for road use and just put some anti tramp bars on it. If you go to five link as said loose the rear seat, then it's either coil overs or slipper springs. More expense, unless your doing competion don't see the point, the money could be put to better use.

[Vista]

It depends how much grip you have whether you need to go to the lengths of upgrading to an Atlas axle. If you're running 175 tyres you'll spin up the wheels before you break the axle, an LSD and half shaft upgrades are advisable though.

 

If on the other hand your car is arched with wide sticky rubber on it, then an LSD equipped Atlas axle would be advisable, it doesn't need to be fully floating though.

 

As to axle location,  coilovers turrets and 6 linking would be best for ultimate performance but  leafs with anti tramp bars and a panhard rod or watts linkage is a reasonable compromise for road use and it doesn't sound like you're planning a colossally powerful cosworth motor so this may be the road to go down.

[jwilkin]

Thanks for all the advice, I'm just going to be using for road use weekends/shows.., perhaps in the future increase power! I like the idea of atlas axle, the engine is fully rebuilt so would like to get the best I can afford. Does anyone have photos of rear axle setup to give me some ideas. Pressure rix are the guys to speak to for rear axle?

[meXEco]

Theres a lovely atlas on Turbosport for £3100. He could build you one to spec.

[LEONMEX]

I ran my mk1 on leaf springs with tramp bars and panard rod. I had 340bhp but 13" wheels so just span up. I still put a baby atlas on. Leafs on road will be fine

[jamie956]

Atlas for a escort will be very easy as its been done a million times before, you can have it made with all the brackets on for leaf springs or 5/6 link mounting that way it's future proofed if you start on a leaf spring set up then change later down the line.

 

Go for two piece shafts and a good LSD like a gripper from the start, i had mine built with standard shortened shafts and it lasted about 3 weeks but that was with a bit more power.

 

Ratio's to go for are 3.44 or 3.75 depending on your tyre size i would go for the 3.44 if your going to do any miles i started with the 3.75 and 70mph is about 3200 on a 22.5" tyre. 

 

There are plenty of people out there doing them but my recommendation is Lea Atkins he has all the parts to make them up fully fitted with sierra brakes etc. 

 

Here's my standard shafts 

 

Atlas fitted on my cortina