Lee's YB Powered Mk1 Escort Rebuild part 5 6 link axle set up

Before taking the Escort for a proper wheel alignment there's a lot of basic set up that you can do from home with some simple tools. Today I'm showing you how I've set up the geometry of the back axle and 6 link rear suspension. It'll save both time & money when the car eventually gets checked on a professional Alignment rig
I hope you enjoy this video and the others in this series, so let us know what you think in the comments !
I'll be uploading the video for the front end soon , so smash that like button and hit SUBSCRIBE so's you don't miss it :-)

[@richyalebon1758]

Mate brilliant work as always and i wish you were a teacher in brum when i was a kid because your explanations would of taught me a lot better than they did

[@Cossie.Mk1]

Lol , thanks very much Rich 😄

[@PaulHughes-ry8xh]

Very interesting and informative from one of my oldest pals. Top work and educational as always Lee.

[@Andrew-vx2ls]

Thank you Lee. This is full of very useful reminders especially for those us restoring / building from scratch (I do not have a Ford). As you say, the equipment for doing this does not need to cost hundreds of pounds. I will go back through all your videos again, but just as a thought, when you have "finished", could you give feed back on how it shakes down, as suspension and drivetrains are "living things" on the road. An interesting video was done by a 3rd party on a specially built car by Retropower ("Darth Vader Chevette" I think). This was useful as although it was a road car intended for some events, it was rather spoilt IMHO by (avoidable) NVH, even though the quality of work done was magnificent (I'm a great believer in trying to address all issues).

[@Cossie.Mk1]

Thanks Andrew 👍 . There will be more videos in the future and after its finished. After a 7 year build teething troubles will be inevitable in the shakedown period. Hopefully they will be few & far between - all through the build I've tried to pay attention to the most minor of details and 'future proof' the build as much as I can 👍

[@paulpaul5689]

Good video,really easy to follow how you explain everything,car looks absolutely awesome

[@Cossie.Mk1]

Cheers Paul 👍

[@BenSmith-uw9tg]

Great video By far rhe best restore videos ive watched the detail and explanations are great 👍. Must of got through some magnums for this video 😂

[@Cossie.Mk1]

Lol thanks 👍. Lolly sticks have so many uses 🤣

[@chrisgalletly5959]

Nice work ! As good as a Merilab rig now! Excellent explanation thanks Lee!

[@Cossie.Mk1]

Glad you enjoyed it mate 👍

[@wullieg5144]

Very informative , and shows the car wasnt a friday special from factory as chassis lines perfect lol

[@Cossie.Mk1]

Not bad for a 50 year old Escort eh ? 😀😀😀

[@wullieg5144]

@@Cossie.Mk1 Aye at least you should be rolling straight down the road till the loud pedal is depressed

[@Cossie.Mk1]

🤣

[@tonyw3250]

I'll be interested to see how far out it was when you get a proper alignment - I'm guessing it will be pretty much spot on 👍

[@Cossie.Mk1]

I'm expecting it to be damn close , as well as the reduced risk of scratches / damage during excessive adjustment - it should save a few quid too 😀

[@adrianlivesey4375]

You also need to account for the angle of the prop, also 4 degrees is a good angle when at standard ride height, with my car at ride height my prop went up to the pinion and this increased the angle and I got bad vibrations, I have had to raise the gearbox as much as I can to counteract this and change the diff angle to suit, mine is now 1.9 degrees, they just have to be the same

[@adrianlivesey4375]

Just to add, 4 degrees is only a setting for the original escort, it does not have to be the de facto setting, def make sure your prop does not go negative IE upwards from the front of the car to the rear

[@adrianlivesey4375]

Also now watching the later part setting up the watts, the lower bar should also be in the same plane as the top bar or they will not move at the same rate over the suspension travel

[@Cossie.Mk1]

Good point - I missed that out on the video. My prop was 1 degree negative (up at the back - same as the body) during the set up - hence my target of 3 degrees 👍

[@Cossie.Mk1]

Good spot , thanks Adrian. I'd actually run out of adjustment on the lower bar . I cant shorten it anymore but am getting a new threaded plug turned up so's I can weld it in and make the bar shorter and correct the plane.

[@davebartram1732]

I did mine very similar, strings an lasers , my watts was a mess on mind

[@Cossie.Mk1]

They're the only 'tools' you need to get it somewhere near . Plus a shit load of patience 🤣

[@Mantakev]

Is the angle of the gearbox output compared to the diff input the thing we need to set it at? I’m genuinely interested. I’ve set my diff input at 4 degrees.

[@Cossie.Mk1]

The important thing is that the angles are the same . I.e gearbox output is down , and diff nose is up - by the same value. Between 1 - 4 degrees is ideal 👍 . Prop should be level or pointing down slightly from the gearbox.