The last Spring, Shock, and Ride Quality post

[Safety Guy]

Welcome Uncle F!

It sounds like your car is begging for a "Riospire suspension/brake swap."

Unfortunately, you have neither tools nor garage. So I'll ask, do you have anywhere you can work on it for a few hours at a time? A friend's house, perhaps? Can you slowly collect some basic tools? Are you willing to learn?

Or, could you just ship your car and yourself out to Festiva Madness this October and we'll do all the work for you as you watch and learn?

Karl

[Uncle Fester]

Safety Guy A.K.A. Karl, I can probably locate a place to work on my car, and am willing to start collecting some tools. In the long run it will be more efficient for me to learn to make basic repairs. After having the local mechanic tell me that parts are not available, I am rather disgusted. From this site, I have found all of the parts that I need, and at good prices ( Rockauto.com). I don't think I have the patience to wait until October, though Festiva Madness sounds awesome! My Festiva sounds horrid popping its way down the road. I actually have a mechanic friend, and even though his specialty is VeeDubs, the two of us can probably do all of the immediate repairs after work hours.

By the way, what exactly IS a " Riospire suspension/brake swap"? Sorry for derailing this post: I actually started my own thread so as not to hijack another person's thread. I am learning the ropes on this site, and I have read that it is not advised to jump into an existing thread with my own personal complaints/ problems/ requests for help. I'll try and do better! This site has been very helpful so far.

[defprun]

I found it!!!
I hope.
Just ordered 3in ID 150lb 12in springs from PAC (racingsprings.com). Cost me $130 for the pair, but after going around a turn today and having the rear compress so far that I lifted a front tire, it's worth the guess.

Will report back how they turn out.

That's exactly is going to happen to me while going around a corner lol oh boy...

[jawbraeka]

lovells springs should still be around in oz, they do stock springs 15-25% stiffer if you get stuck for brands


could be worth a question i dont reckon theyd mind

if you get stuck i could pick some up and send em for you, either ebay or ill drop into parts store. i get trade there but might not be cheaper than ebay is all

usually companies from Australia will ship to USA, but knowingly, it will be at your cost..

I've had USA Ebay seller say "Sure now worries, but you pay" .. sometimes it's worth it, sometimes it's not.

[jawbraeka]

anyone ever heard of Kw's at all?

[jawbraeka]

here is a kit for the festiva. bolt on straight up

http://www.pureperformancemotorsport.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=238&osCsid=uuxsnetzm

would the measurements be any help if they were still available? the item was posted on the website in 2008.

I would say these are as close to perfection for the Festiva as they have:-

-Pillowball mounts.
-Ride Height adjustment.
-32 step Damper adjustment.

the only thing i can see wrong is no computer controlling (maybe someone could modify the EDFC unit from a set if teins to work the Damper?)

i'll try to get a booklet or some information about these and post it up here.

Also found these ones too, just googling through the page 2 and up.. (so much info i'm guessing we miss)

http://pbbrakes.com/ford-festiva-mk2-coilover-suspension-kit.html

specs can be found here

http://pbbrakes.com/ford-festiva-mk2-coilover-suspension-kit.html#fullSpec

camber plates can also be added for a cost of 50 pounds.

another yahoo thread

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/festiva/message/15212

The other brand i was trying to think of and remembered was the K sport Coilover kits. i'm thinking with the measurements from any of the "official" kits available, we can work with those measurements and build something quite good or find something to those measurements with other kits that are "compatible" (they'll fit with no/minimum modifications) but not official.

[TominMO]

here is a kit for the festiva. bolt on straight up

http://www.pureperformancemotorsport.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=238&osCsid=uuxsnetzm

would the measurements be any help if they were still available? the item was posted on the website in 2008.

I would say these are as close to perfection for the Festiva as they have:-

-Pillowball mounts.
-Ride Height adjustment.
-32 step Damper adjustment.

the only thing i can see wrong is no computer controlling (maybe someone could modify the EDFC unit from a set if teins to work the Damper?)

i'll try to get a booklet or some information about these and post it up here.

Note that it says 1998-up! And the pic shows that what is probably the rear one is incompatible. It has its own top hat. Whoever is selling this maybe meant "Fiesta".

Edit: Contact info shows they are in Australia, so what they call a 1998-up Festiva is anyone's guess. Input from Aussies?

[jawbraeka]

another link for VW (modifiable ???) MK3 suspension kits..

http://www.ksport.com.au/epages/shop.sf/en_AU/?ViewAction=View&ObjectID=874123&PageSize=50&Page=2

Mazda series shocks - Kontrol Pro

http://ksportusa.com/b2c/products.php?cat=211

I did what i could.

I've noticed that they also sell Pillowball mounts for Festiva's (look for the oval or round one's with two bolts and i even think there is camber adjustable mounts as well)

[jawbraeka]

Note that it says 1998-up! And the pic shows that what is probably the rear one is incompatible. It has its own top hat. Whoever is selling this maybe meant "Fiesta".

Edit: Contact info shows they are in Australia, so what they call a 1998-up Festiva is anyone's guess. Input from Aussies?

i am from Australia.. I'll see what i can do. i know a few of the Aussie members (at least one anyway).. if its a melbourne number, i'll get it... if it's a New South Wales number, i can get it unless someone closer wants to give them a call and confirm the Festiva/Fiesta?? Coilovers.

[TominMO]

^^ Didn't notice you were Aussie, jawbraeka. But my comments still stand. "1998-up" is probably a deal-breaker.