Rear axle

[David Middleditch]

Morning all,

Which rear axle is likely to be on my S2 (I know it's escort, but are there any variants or things I can look at to identify exactly which one it is.

Then, once I know the axle, are there variants of half shaft I should look for/avoid, or are all escort mk1 and 2 the same half shafts?

Cheers,

Dave

[Adrian Southgate]

There are two basic types of axle used on mk1 and mk2 escorts.

The most common is the Banjo or English axle. This has a diff which loads from the front (securing nuts face forward)

The uncommon one is the one with a cover plate which bolts on from the rear, this is the Koln axle sometimes called an Atlas. These were mainly fitted to high performance escort variants such as the RS and Mexico.

The mk1 english axle had 7/16ths studs, sliding slave cylinders, 8 inch drums..

The mk2 english axle had M12x1.5 studs, fixed slave cylinders and 8 or 9 inch drums.

All the english axles fitted to the escorts are the same width and should in theory take the same half shafts.

Capri's had the same axles but they are wider and take different shafts so be aware.

The main difference between the mk1 and mk2 is the size of the studs and the brake assemblies.

[Adrian Southgate]

Thats very true Daryl and something i'd forgotten.

@ David - If the axle has a handbrake lever mechanism fitted to the diff casing then it's likely to be a Cortina unit as Daryl reminded me. I have one of those in the unit too so can measure the shaft sizes as i'm not sure they are the same width. 

I'm not going to get round the unit until after christmas now but will add that to my growing list of 'to do's'

[James Doulton]

Is your axle broken in some way?

[David Middleditch]

Thanks all. It's an English, and studs are imperial so that confirms it. Not broken, but I want spare half shaft and diff in case I break them on a trial

[David Middleditch]

Here's some pics. Handbrake bracket is just off to one side of the diff. From inner face of brake back plates across is roughly 48 inches.

[Adrian Southgate]

cortina axle most likely unless someone welded those tabs on the casing next to the diff.

Probably got a full axle in the unit but won't be able to get to it until the move starts in a few weeks, should be able to check length though as its on a dolly under one of the legerra bodyshells.

[James Doulton]

I don't recognise the position of the shock absorbers. On the Escort, weren't they mounted at an angle from the bottom of the spring saddle? Straight up (where they should be) doesn't look very Ford-like.

[Dave Adams]

I have replaced the half shafts in my cars on odd occasions because a few years ago it was easier to replace the whole shaft than to replace the bearings.... i never had any issue where the shafts came from.. the early cars were imperial wheel studs and the later had metric... from memory the studs were interchangeable as well (they just press out of the half shaft and new ones pressed in... ) when i say pressed i mean a sharp smack with a hammer :-)

[Dave Adams]

your axle looks like its from the earlier series of cars, as the slave cylinder is of the sliding single piston type by the look of you photos... that was also common to the corsairs and i believe the smaller engined Capris.... the later Mk2 escort slaves are the same as lots of other makes of cars (volvo , Hyundai.... etc) and are bolted to the back plate at the top with two small M10 bolts (they are also twin piston....) better brakes.....

[Big Vern]

For a Series 2 Phaeton it would most likely have been built with the Dutton suggested running gear of MK2 Cortina for the Engine, Gearbox, rear axle with leaf springs & Dampers, pedal box with M/Cylinders and Triumph Herald front suspension (disc brake type), steering rack and column, wiper motor and mech together with the Herald wiring loom. Looking at the pictures you have posted the axle appears to have had the handbrake brackets cut off and MK1 Cortina or MK1 Escort hand brake system grafted on. As for the dampers they are tube type as would be fitted to the Cortina saloon but the brackets are from the Cortina estate that would have had lever arm rear dampers from the factory. What problem are you having with this?

[David Middleditch]

Ok  I think it is Cortina mk2 then as it has got sliding brake cylinders. Are half shaft common with escort or a different length.?