Major body damage - repair

Where serious damage has occurred or large areas need renewal due to neglect, it means that completely new sections or panels will need welding in, and this is best left to professionals. If the damage is due to impact, it will also be necessary to completely check the alignment of the bodyshell structure. Due to the principle of construction, the strength and shape of the whole car can be affected by damage to one part. In such instances the service of a dealer with specialist checking jigs are essential. If a body is left misaligned, it is first of all dangerous, as the car will not handle properly, and secondly uneven stresses will be imposed on the steering, engine and transmission, causing abnormal wear or complete failure. Tyre wear may also be excessive.

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    Conversion factors
    Length (distance) Inches (in) x 25.4 = Millimetres (mm) x 0.0394 = Inches (in) Feet (ft) x 0.305 = Metres (m) x 3.281 = Feet (ft) Miles x 1.609 = Kilometres (km) x 0.621 = Miles Volume (capacity) ...

    Anti-lock Braking System - description
    1 From 1986 onward an anti-lock braking system is available as standard or optional equipment on certain Escort models. 2 The system comprises four main components: two modulators, one for each b ...

    Steering column lock - removal and refitting
    Note: For ignition switch removal see Chapter 5. A new shear-bolt will be required on refitting. Removal 1 To remove the ignition switch/column lock, the shear-head bolt must be drilled out. 2 A ...