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2002 Ford Escort strut mount question


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edt71
User

Apr 23, 2014, 6:19 AM

Post #1 of 11 (2249 views)
2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

Hey guys, few months ago posted on weird popping noise while turning or hitting a bump, well HammerTime here mentioned on changing out the strut mounts. Well I just got around to it and bought a new set. Problem is, they both have a notch or some indentation. I was wondering which way does this notch supposed to face? towards the front or to the rear or inwards to engine or outward?

I have changed the struts but I didnt remember this notch facing and simply put it on a few months ago. However during that time until now both front tires have worn out considerably on the outside rims suggesting positive camber (In whereas I didnt have this problem before and wondering if the I installed the strut mount incorrectly)

Anyone have any suggestions? The box the parts came in didnt have instructions, cant seem to find it on the internet, not about to pay out 20 bucks to AllData for 1 year of the shop manual (which probably wouldnt tell me anyways)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 23, 2014, 7:27 AM

Post #2 of 11 (2232 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

They should only bolt in one way. There is usually angling or spacing of the studs that lets it mount into the car only one way.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



edt71
User

Apr 23, 2014, 7:01 PM

Post #3 of 11 (2216 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

Thats just it, its not angled or did it have any spacers to make caster or camber. Its just a square looking mount with 4 bolts which seem very straight. I can turn the mount around and it fits all holes perfectly.

However I read on some older threads online on different model cars that the notch faces outward with that little nipple looking rubber peice is supposed to face inwards. But cant seem to find anything on the 2002 Escort to verify it.


Hammer Time
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Apr 23, 2014, 10:23 PM

Post #4 of 11 (2214 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

The mounting bracket is offset from center and rotating the mount will change camber and caster so if you don't remember which position it was in, then you will have to send the car out for wheel alignment when finished and they will have to deterine which position it should be in by measuring the Camber and Caster.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
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Apr 24, 2014, 4:07 AM

Post #5 of 11 (2208 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

Get the alignment. IMO put the best matching pair of tires on the front. Shop should check tires and pressure along with checking front end parts and rear too that it's all good for an alignment.


By any chance is the front of this vehicle now sitting too high? It shouldn't,


T



edt71
User

Apr 24, 2014, 4:49 AM

Post #6 of 11 (2201 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

Yeah I was begining to think that is what Im gonna have to do eventually. The alignment guy should be able to fix the problem (I assume he would put spacers on the bolts to give slight angle as to correct the camber) At least the popping sound would be gone

And no the car isnt sitting higher


Hammer Time
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Apr 24, 2014, 5:41 AM

Post #7 of 11 (2196 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

No, he rotates the plate to change Camber and Caster.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



edt71
User

Apr 24, 2014, 8:24 PM

Post #8 of 11 (2178 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

Thanks anyways Hammertime. To think they were going to charge me to change out the rack & pinion mounts and charge 300 something. Simply changing the strut mounts solved the problem with the popping sound. Drove it around and the noise is gone. To think, Ive been driving it around for a long time with that noise. Im glad I came to this board.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 24, 2014, 10:17 PM

Post #9 of 11 (2175 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

I still wouldn't ignore that wheel alignment. You ma have changed the alignment dramatically when you moved those strut mounts.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



edt71
User

Apr 25, 2014, 7:17 AM

Post #10 of 11 (2162 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

Ohh of course, just got to save up for the alignment and two good tires. At the moment, using 2cnd vehicle. (which in itself is falling apart)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 25, 2014, 7:26 AM

Post #11 of 11 (2161 views)
Re: 2002 Ford Escort strut mount question Sign In

Just know that you need a new alignment with several jobs you may do. I find and try hard to get alignment when new tires are real fresh for the best job.


Check but many if not most who specialize in alignments would also do most repairs while at that machine or in same shop so less annoying to you or time consuming.


FYI not all shops do the alignments as it's costly equipment but should have someplace near that does them routinely from work that requires it,


T







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