Doing aspire brake swap real soon. just few more questions

[FoxProGT]

Yo peeps..

my entire shock and brake system is shot to hell so i fig it might be a good time to do the aspire swap. it will be one of the biggest task iv done to my fest so im pritty psyched out about it

based on my research the only parts i will be buying from the JY will be the parts i cant buy new like the torsion beam with the drum hubs, steering knuckle with hub and capilers.


everything else im going to buy brand new (pads, drums, shocks, springs, rotors and so on)

the only thing im not sure of is if im going to need the lower control arm, tie rod, sway bar or axles from the aspire or do i just use the festivas?

also the setup i have in mind is to use aspire shocks with festiva springs (not lowered) id like to have the car high but not be to stiff. this would be used for "cruising" and comfort. Does that sound like the right setup?

[Damkid]

you don't need the control arms, sway bar, axles from the aspire, you only need the steering knuckles and outer tie rods, my opinion is might as well put brand new tie rods on while your there

i don't know for sure about using festiva springs on aspire struts, it wouldn't change the ride height or anything, if your wanting it to sit a little higher, use aspire springs with the aspire struts

[muscle_Car1]

you can get new drums & calipers or rebuilt. As far as the tie rod get one for the escort gt 91-96. It fits & is much cheaper than one for the aspire.

[Damkid]

on mine i have 323 outer tie rods

[DuritzCrows17]

make sure you use festiva lower control arms if you decide on replacing your stock units because the aspire ones won't work, I believe they are too wide.

[FoxProGT]

awesome! so all i need from the aspire or a escort or even a 323 is the outer tie rods! yeah i wanted to buy all new tie rods and control arms anyway. damn and i even seen a 323 in the yard too.

@Damkid
yeah i wanted to use the aspire springs to highten the car but iv read doing that will make the chaimber wak and make the car hard to steer and im guessing might also make it stiffer?

this is good info peeps... thanks

[wrestler3025]

peeps??? Is it easter already?

[Safety Guy]

Cheep cheep cheeeeep!

Hey Fox, we're talking "tie rod ends," right? I'm not sure the whole outer tie rod from either an Aspire or 323 will work.

Escort tie rod ends are cheaper. Or "cheeeeper!"

I wouldn't use uncut Aspire springs. I cut one coil off mine to get my stock ride height.

Stock Festiva springs should work well for a nice compliant ride. Contact FMS for new ones.

Karl

[FoxProGT]

@wrestler3025



@Safety Guy
yeah im just talking about the outer tie rods.... like id use the aspires or escorts outer tie rod on the festivas inner tie rod
and yes id like to use srpings that will make the stock hight on my fest higher but at the same time i dont want it to stiff or hard to steer. cutting part of the aspire spring was an other idea i could look into.

[Damkid]

aspire, escort, or 323 outer tie rods will work, you got some choices there, personally i'd get the cheapest out of the 3

[dahodges]

I bought everything used. The only parts I replaced where, pads/shoes, front bearings and seals, tie rods. Most times you can reuse drums/rotors (resurface), calipers, brake hoses. If your car was like mine, you will need new struts, lower control arms, inner/outer tierods with boots.

David

[DuritzCrows17]

fwiw I have an 88 festiva with an aspire swap off of a manual shift 97 aspire and I bought kyb struts for a festiva and I am running fms aspire lowering springs which makes it a bit higher than stock and a bit stiffer as well, I will let you know how much I like it when I get my alignment and finally take the thing over 55mph.

[FoxProGT]

@dahodges
yeah all of my shocks and brake system is just about dead. with this time of year coming around..i kinda wanted to wait till feb to do the aspire swap but when i took my car into the shop to get new bearings the mechanic told me that one of my steering knuckles was bad and needed to be replaced.


@DuritzCrows17
aspire lowering springs huh? let me know how it feels .. its a good idea if it makes the festiva higher but if its to stiff.. well idk.. im going for the high/soft ride.. not high/stiff or low/stiff or low/soft... i need high/soft


anyone know of a way to stretch springs? or is that a no no?

[DuritzCrows17]

its a heck of alot higher (didn't intend on it) but its also alot stiffer. as unapealing as it may be to the eyes, stiffer > lower.

[FoxProGT]

its a heck of alot higher (didn't intend on it) but its also alot stiffer. as unapealing as it may be to the eyes, stiffer > lower.

hows the steering? is it harder to steer?