Stock Festiva Brakes any good?

[89fester]

I got this car really cheap. Want to do some upgrades, but keep the costs to a minimum in case I end up selling it. The brakes that are on the car are shot. One front rotor looks like its toast, and I don't think the rear drums are doing anything.

I can probably pick up most of the Aspire swap at the junk yard, but didn't want to get into swapping parts that may or may not have issues. Adapters for lines, M/C crap, whatever. I know all the hardparts are a bolt on, but what about pedal feel etc. Do the lines hook right up or are there adapters needed? Do you also grab the Aspire booster and M/C?

Or should I just get stock replacement parts and leave it alone. I don't plan on any motor swaps etc. Just an around town car.

89 L

[danwheeler]

i'm a new owner - the stock brakes seem just fine to me for general use if they are in good working condition. they stop pretty quickly i think.

[Safety Guy]

Use Aspire brake hoses to hookup the front Aspire calipers to the lines. Instead of Aspire tie rod ends, check out using '93 Escort tie rod ends instead, to save you lots of $$. (See my post on that in the suspension forum.)

If you have to replace many parts anyway, I'd go with the Aspire setup. It's so much better for braking and handling. You don't have to change the M/C. You can reuse the Festiva struts.

A good Festiva brake setup ain't too bad. My '93GL still has its stock brakes and they're okay for normal operation.

Karl

[89fester]

I am used to brakes swaps always having some sort of glitch. Old Mustang, new Mustang, Old Broncos, you name it, there is always some glitch to putting non-factory brakes on a car.

So the sizes of the Aspire and Festiva M/C's are basically the same, or are the same? And the Aspire outer soft lines hook right up to the Festiva hardlines on the chassis? What about the prop. valve, does that still proportion the braking properly?

What about hooking up the rear axle lines? Is there any flaring or adapters or anything else that becomes a PITA when something that's 15 years old snaps off at 11pm at night in the rain?

89 L

[mattswabb]

I'm using the festiva booster/mc on my aspire swap. No problems. The rear I believe you can use the aspire or the festiva rubber hoses as well as either park brake cable. Not sure on the front. I used the aspire rubber hoses.

The braking is so much better than stock.

[Safety Guy]

On my first suspension swap, I simply used the Aspire shocks on the rear axle and didn't have to (or try to) remove them.

This time I wanted to mount new shocks in the rear. On my current "axle in waiting," one shock mount bolt came off easily while the other one is frozen to the metal shock sleeve! I fear I'm ruining that side shock mounting ability. So, yeah, I currently have a "glitch." :x

As for the rear axle hose to line connections, I'm still letting them sit and soak in penetrating oil. If I have to, I can replace the lines though. Just extra work. Maybe it'll be good for me to do some line bending work. 8)

Karl

[oxbrain]

My stock brakes work very well. I don't know how they'd handle atuoX though, probably would fade.

I'm waiting on some nasty weather and a week vacation to make the push on my brake swap. I have to re-weld the captive nut on the left rear. Also the guy who pulled em for me cut all the brake lines, so I need all new lines, I'm thinking SS.

[Safety Guy]

"I have to re-weld the captive nut on the left rear."

Ha! Mine was the right rear. I took it to Midas today and they had a torch. Got the damn shock sleeve, etc. burnt off for $20. Now I have to bend back the captive nut inside the trailing arm. All my wrenching pushed it back and into that inner area.

What we have to do to keep these things happy! :lol:

Karl