have a 1979 mk2 escort which i am restoring. 4 door 1600 model. i purchased wilwood midlite brake kit 247mm as i was informed these would fit straight on my standard hubs and struts. after fitting them my track rod ends just about touch the rear of the disc( the rubber bit slightly) i have been told this is because they need to bve fitted to capri or rs struts and hubs if this correct. The wheels move freely with the brakes fitted am just concerned heat from brakes will melt the protective rubber over the track rod ends. advice please or will the gap increase when i have weight i.e the engine back in the car.

you have unmasked an old problem with the wilwood kit. those legs where never designed to run with vented discs and the steering arm is cast at a slightly different angle to the capri ones. rally design etc dont let you know about this before ordering, perhaps they dont know as no-one has told them. people has had this problem on other forums. i think most people "modify" the track rod end rubber to clear the disc. bit of a bodge but it seems to work

The easiest option is to skim the hubs to move the disc's back a mm or two - or shim the inner bearing to move the whole hub out a bit .
I've done both at various times - but the caliper mount will also need to be `adjusted'

I am not recommending this but......


It has been known for people to bend the steering arm ----- it needs a lot of concentrated heat to heat it right through to the core ie an oxy-acetelene cutting torch, most of the heat should be concentrated on the compression side of the bend.

Use penetrant dye or other suitable method to crack test afterwards particularly examining the outside edge of bend.



[Edited on 2/7/10 by britishtrident]

I used to rally a mk1 more than 25 years ago and having changed to RS struts found that the existing steering didn't have enough angle on them to get the tracking I wanted. Solution? Just belted 'em with BIG hammer in a BIG vice with NO heat and job done. After all you only need what? 5mm each side? Went on to do 11 forest stage rallies with the car and tbh forgot all about the "modification"!