Festiva/Aspire brake swap

[donkeyhigh]

So I am in the process of doing this swap, thanks to all the great advice I have read on this site. However, during the install of my rear axle, I noticed the Aspire has a particularly large metal "fin" that prevents the assembly from bolting up to the brackets on the body. I also could not remove these bolts without removing the brackets, one was rusted up, and the other was prevented by the spare tire well or gas tank from coming out. Anybody else have this problem? Thanks.

[SimonTuffGuy]

Just use the brackets that came on the Aspire bar.

[donkeyhigh]

Nuts, I just dropped the assembly out of the brackets at the junkyard and took it like that.

[SimonTuffGuy]

I'm sure that you could cut that metal piece off, but it's easier to do it by just using the Aspire pieces.

[mattswabb]

I think the brackets are the same. I'll check tonight when I'm home. I have both setups next to each other.


matt

[oxbrain]

I don't remember any fin on my rear beam.
I hope there isn't because I dont have any aspire mounts, they got chopped to get the beam off.

http://www.oxbrain.org/pics/

EDIT: There is a pic of the rear beam, click to enlarge a lot. Where is the fin on there?

[donkeyhigh]

The fin is on the metal housing of the bushing that connects the axle to the body, toward the outside. About an inch of mine is lying on the shop floor, I trimmed it. It looks as if it might be some kind of travel limiter, though it being less than 1/8 inch thick, I can't see how much good it would do. Unless you are "Dukes of Hazzarding" it, the suspension shouldn't travel that far.

[aithanmier]

hehehe....the general leeiva hwaaa haa haaa