The struts are a vital part of the suspension system on the Ford Escort. When they go bad, the ride in the car is much rougher. A bad strut can also affect the handling of the car and cause tires to wear unevenly, which will shorten the life of your tire. Changing the struts on your Escort is not difficult and you can do the project in your driveway to avoid the high rates at automotive repair garages.
Place the wheel chocks in front of the Escort's front wheels. Remove the trim panel from inside the car on the side you are working on using a screwdriver. Raise the rear end of the vehicle with the automobile jack on the side you are starting with. Remove the two nuts from the top of the strut in the car. Place a jack stand under the car and raise it to the frame. Loosen the lug nuts with the lug wrench and remove the wheel from the car.
Remove the clip that holds the brake line to the strut using a wrench. Disconnect the ABS sensor if your car has anti-lock brakes. Remove the bolts securing the strut to the wheel assembly using a socket and ratchet. You may have to use a wrench to hold the nut while you are turning the bolt. Pull the strut out from under the car.
Put the new strut in place under the Escort and secure the bolts with the socket and ratchet. You may have to hold the nut in place with a wrench as you tighten the bolt. Connect the ABS sensor if your car has anti-lock brakes. Secure the brake hose clip by tightening the bolt with a wrench.
Install the wheel on the Escort and tighten the lug nuts securely with the lug wrench. Remove the jack stand from under the Ford. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Repeat the procedure on the other wheel.
