Ford Escort 93 feels every small bump

[cheesyhoward]

Ford Escort 93 feels every small bump

I have a Ford Escort Zetec 1.6 93/L car (83000 miles). The overall ride of the car has fallen considerably over the years. Now I feel almost every crack in the road while driving. The rear of the car seems to be worse than the front. Do I need to renew the shock absorbers or could it be the bushes? Roughly how much do the standard parts cost? I regularly check my type pressures and they are maintained at 32psi front and rear as recommended in the car manual.

Thanks

Howard

[homefree]

I had to replace the rear springs and all the struts on my 95 lx, the bottom coil was broken off mine. Like 60.00 for a set of springs and 65.00 for each strut. I didn't know the springs were broken untill i took it apart. But my car still rides rough with all these parts.

[cheesyhoward]

I have obtained a few parts quotes. Monroe rears struts I can get for £23 each. Is that a reasonably good price? Which brand of non sport/lowered shocks are generally the best. I have only heard of Monroe and Sachs Boge. Also are the gas or the hydraulic type better?

I will probably get the Ford bushes because they are not all that expensive.

[Markgase2000]

If its cluncking when you hit the bumps its probobly tie rods or bushings. If it feels spongy when you hit the bumps its shocks or struts. It does it every time? If its banging on small bumps and feels like its almost touching the ground and dont stop rolling for more than 2 seconds the shocks might be trying to smash the piston rod through the top post then dont drive it to much its a life threatening hazzard.

[cheesyhoward]

I settled on Monroe reflex shocks for the rear. I have fitted them. They each had a metal wire holding the shock in compression. I was going to stick to previous advice and not remove the wire until installed in the car but there was no way of fitting the spring over the wire. When I removed the wire I could compress the shock without any problems. I had to fully extend the shock to get it to fit in position anyway. I guess the tag / compression thing is more important on the front shocks

I must say there isn’t much improvement over small bumps in the road. However there is a little less bounce over road humps.

I still have to change the rear pivot bushes. Has anyone changed them before because I was wondering how you get the old ones out. From an earlier inspection they seem to be stuck in place.

Also what do people have there front and rear tyre pressures set to? Mine are currently 32psi front and rear.

I am beginning to wonder if the work I did on the rear axle has had an effect on its ability to twist when going over bumps. The Haynes manual says it twists slightly to give each rear wheel semi independence. I don’t think that a coat of paint and bitumen could have much of an effect on it though.

Any help much appreciated