The rear bumper in 3rd gen Ford Escorts can be improved to have less drag. Normally the bumper has a little scoop as it sticks out beneath the bumper reinforcement. This creates resistance and acts like a small parachute. Although not much difference was noticed, this mod is extremely simple to do.

A dremmel or angle grinder (recommended) with a cutting wheel can be used. The only downside of this modification is that the license plate will stick out a little, however it makes the rear look a little sportier and helps reduce that jelly bean look. This principle can be applied to any other car, as most bumper designs are very similar in general.

Procedure with angle grinder

1. Remove the small pieces of plastic behind the wheel that are connected to the bumper and dispose of them. They are not needed.
2. Start cutting from one edge of the bumper to the other, below the line. You don't have to get close to it, but just don't stray too far. Use a thin cutting wheel, as wide as possible for the angle grinder. Removal of the safety shield may be required. Always wear protective eye wear.
3. Once the section being cut is completely separated, turn the angle grinder upside down, and begin to press upwards with the spinning blade on the excess plastic. This will eat through it fairly quickly. Do not get too close to the line yet.

   

4. Once a fairly wide section of all the excess plastic has been eliminated, gently glide the spinning blade left and right smoothing all uneven highs and lows into a straight line. This is very easy to do with the eye simply by the way the bumper was designed, with the ridge. Once the entire ridge is not visible and the bumper goes down smooth all the way you should stop removing material.
   • Some cutting discs are thin, and will flex slightly as you're trying to use them to grind the plastic. This is normal, do not think they're going to explode on you (although they can if you put too much vertical force on them.
   • The plastic will get hot and melt, often times caking up all over the bumper, simply give it 5 seconds to dry and break it off with your hands. No sanding or extra work was even required to achieve the smooth results below.

   

Also see

• Ford Escort & ZX2 section for the entire index of all Ford Escort and ZX2 related articles.