Possible Causes of axle tramp

[escort mexico]

Having just installed my new motor into my MK2 escort i have got really bad axle tramp whenever the wheels spin. what causes this and other than anti-tramp bars is there an easier (cheaper) way to fix this?

[jcp123]

I guess this is the same as axle hop, as we call it in America? In that case, it's hard to fix it without losing cornering prowess.

It's caused by too much torque making the tires bind up; then, the all of a sudden release the stored energy and "bounce". My Dad has this something awful on his Mach 1; get more than about 50% pedal in first and it's pretty bad.

Normally it's fixed with traction bars, that's about all I remember of this problem. I'll look it up some more.

[henk4]

Having just installed my new motor into my MK2 escort i have got really bad axle tramp whenever the wheels spin. what causes this and other than anti-tramp bars is there an easier (cheaper) way to fix this?

It's leaf sprung isn't it? Without any correcting devices it is almost impossible to control that.

[escort mexico]

yeah it is
apparently a lot of fords do this, oh well, guess it is a downside of having a tourkey motor

[fpv_gtho]

i wonder what a watts linkage would do to help..

Otherwise you might consider mega bucks converting it to coil sprung

[escort mexico]

ok.. would changing the diff ration help?? it currently has a ratio of about 4:1, so would making it around a 3.5:1 change anything??

[jcp123]

it would probably help the axle hop, but then you'd have a car that's noticeably slower. My advice is to either get a set of cal-tracs or otherwise learn to live iwth it; most people who get axle hop just live with it, like my Dad does.