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Alright,
I went and got a bunch of parts from the wrecking yard. And now, after swapping the rear suspension, I'm beginning to think that I may not have needed so many parts.
They pulled it all for me, I got front suspension assembly including struts,springs, knuckle, brakes and sway bar. I also got four 14x5 escort steel wheels.
I got the rear trailing axle with brakes and struts, and ebrake cable as in the list from earlier in this post.
Total price $400
I didn't need the brake cable, as the stock one fit just perfect. I didn't see any difference in the two cables, so I assume it will work.
What I want to know, is where's the integrated rear sway bar? I read about it in the brake swap directions, http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=144
but it doesn't look like my donor aspire had one. The trailing axle looks exactly like the festiva except for the brakes. Did they leave it on the donor car? It was a 2 door, 94.
I can attest that both Festiva and Aspire rear springs are exactly the same, both 3/8" diameter and the same length, unless they are made of different material. The Aspire struts are longer however.
Regarding the front swap. I'm wondering if i can use the Aspire sway bar on the festiva with stock control arms. When i get the original removed, i'll compare and maybe bend the aspire bar to match the festiva. I wonder if the sway bar is heat treated in any way. I expect i would have to heat it in order to make a bend. I guess i could try the muffler shop to see if they could help out too.
Somebody please tell me where the hell the damn rear sway bar it. It's not in my repair manual either.
Also, There's a two strand wire running into the rear brake drum. What the hell is that for? There's nothing to hook it to on my car. How do i remove it without screwing something up?
I need to know what struts to get. I don't want a bumpy ride because i spend a lot of time on dirt roads and in the desert. My original struts are totally gone, I can move them up and down with 2 fingers. I don't want to spend a fortune. I have some old bilstien shocks from a mercedes, maybe i can bolt those on somehow.
One more thing. What's the biggest tire i can put on my car? I want as much ground clearance as i can get. I'm willing to beat the living hell out of my inner fenders, or even cut them out. And of course cut out the outer fender.
Input is appreciated.
JC
I went and got a bunch of parts from the wrecking yard. And now, after swapping the rear suspension, I'm beginning to think that I may not have needed so many parts.
They pulled it all for me, I got front suspension assembly including struts,springs, knuckle, brakes and sway bar. I also got four 14x5 escort steel wheels.
I got the rear trailing axle with brakes and struts, and ebrake cable as in the list from earlier in this post.
Total price $400
I didn't need the brake cable, as the stock one fit just perfect. I didn't see any difference in the two cables, so I assume it will work.
What I want to know, is where's the integrated rear sway bar? I read about it in the brake swap directions, http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=144
but it doesn't look like my donor aspire had one. The trailing axle looks exactly like the festiva except for the brakes. Did they leave it on the donor car? It was a 2 door, 94.
I can attest that both Festiva and Aspire rear springs are exactly the same, both 3/8" diameter and the same length, unless they are made of different material. The Aspire struts are longer however.
Regarding the front swap. I'm wondering if i can use the Aspire sway bar on the festiva with stock control arms. When i get the original removed, i'll compare and maybe bend the aspire bar to match the festiva. I wonder if the sway bar is heat treated in any way. I expect i would have to heat it in order to make a bend. I guess i could try the muffler shop to see if they could help out too.
Somebody please tell me where the hell the damn rear sway bar it. It's not in my repair manual either.
Also, There's a two strand wire running into the rear brake drum. What the hell is that for? There's nothing to hook it to on my car. How do i remove it without screwing something up?
I need to know what struts to get. I don't want a bumpy ride because i spend a lot of time on dirt roads and in the desert. My original struts are totally gone, I can move them up and down with 2 fingers. I don't want to spend a fortune. I have some old bilstien shocks from a mercedes, maybe i can bolt those on somehow.
One more thing. What's the biggest tire i can put on my car? I want as much ground clearance as i can get. I'm willing to beat the living hell out of my inner fenders, or even cut them out. And of course cut out the outer fender.
Input is appreciated.
JC
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