95 Escort Wagon rear strut tower rust

[Diesel_Clatter]

I just put two new rear struts in my 95 escort wagon due to a broken coil spring. The area where the struts attach to the body sheet metal has rusted badly, all the way through in places. I'm thinking I might be on borrowed time before a strut says hello to the passenger compartment.

I always figured rust would do this car in long before the engine or transmission gave up but was hoping to go at least three more years and see if I could get to 200,000 miles. Mechanically the car is still going strong at 136,700 miles.

Anybody ever deal with this problem or have a strut actually break loose? Unfortunately, I have never welded anything in my life and don't want to put a lot of money into the car. Any tips on how I could get this to hold on for a few more years?

 

[porcupine73]

Had a '91 Escort wagon back in the day ('96) and replaced rear struts & broken springs, but body wasn't too rusty at that time. Anywho, friend had a 80's Chevelle with rusted out strut mounts on the body; had his friend weld in 1/4" plate for $20 and it looked rock solid. Welding might be the only option if where it mounts to body is rusted out?

 

[gtx510]

FWIW, these Escorts are Mazda (BG) Protege/323 chassis. Escort ZX2 strut work with a small mod, plenty'o'info on the net.


Search around your local community/junior colleges and high schools from autobody shop programs. Usually only meet a couple nights a week.


It it's just surface rust (I doubt it) you might get away with derusting, etching the metal, and sealing it well.
It it's rusting badly then it could be getting to the spotwelds. That's bad and a lot tougher to completely fix.


And, yeah, the strut mount can punch thru. The rubber wears out and rips.
If the spotwelds rust out that entire peice of sheetmetal could pop off.

 

[Clyde65]

I used to have a '70 Cougar that would shift so hard, it would tear the rear shock mounts right out of the floor pan. I took it to a front end shop and they welded in some 3X3 inch steel plates for the shocks to bolt up to. They were probably about 1/8 inch thick. Did the trick nicely. Oh and right after that, I had them bolt in some KYB gas shocks so the rear end wouldn't twist anymore while shifting.