Lowering Springs?

[89fester]

So I have been driving my Festiva for a couple weeks now, and it obviously needs help in the handling dept, esp. body roll. I have most of the parts for the Aspire swap, including the Aspire springs.

Should I just bite the bullet and order the Festiva lowering springs now, or see how it handles with the Aspire stuff first? Should I try using the Aspire front springs right off the bat, or go stock and make more mods later. I'd really like to just do it once.

89 L

[mattswabb]

Go with the FMS springs and KYB GR2 struts. I have 2 festivas, one stock and one with the aspire swap, FMS springs and KYB GR2 struts. What a difference. Handling is greatly improved and the brakes are awesome. You can out brake most newer cars.

matt

[darpien]

i found an alternative if you want although its in the UK http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pag...sub_category=1
its the same body type as the festiva

[darpien]

i also found another site although i am not sure which one is the right one so make sure you order the ones for the Mazda 121 Type DA 88 - 91 but here you go http://www.msport.co.uk/acatalog/cop..._dynamics.html

[darpien]

if you want the kyb shocks and struts you could go to http://www.pickproparts.com/ they have the cheapest prices of anyplace i have found so far they also have other things like mounts for the struts and the boots for them as well if yours are cracked or ripped

[Safety Guy]

With rear KYBs and front Monroe Sensa-Tracs, and maybe some more parts (like brake pads or strut mounts), that site looks like it might be a pretty good option, as orders over $150 have "free" shipping.

Does anyone know how good the "Qualitee" VGX brake pads are? They come either alone for $30 or in a very complete looking brake kit for $42.

Karl

[coolfestiva]

I checked those prices and the front were about 10 bucks more than the Festiva Motorsport struts. Forget about getting springs from outside the USA, it isnt worth the time or extra expense and who knows if they fit. I got my KYBs and Festiva Motorsport lowering springs about four months ago and the difference is AWESOME! I did try the aftermarket strut boots from KYB but the fronts didn't fit so I got new OEM parts from Festiva Motorsport. Donald was really cool on the phone and gave me a great deal on the struts and springs and some other parts I needed. You can't go wrong with there stuff. Now that my suspension is tight I'm going to get one of the new performance cams from Festiva Motorsport.

[89fester]

Well with free shipping the parts are actually cheaper than FMS, by a few dollars. But if they are more responsive, what choice do you have. I think I am going to get the MF466K brake kit for the Aspire brakes. All the clips and hardware and some decent pads for $41. I was going to go with Bendix stuff to be safe, but what the hell.

I plan on reusing the Aspire upper mounts and boot etc. The stuff I got doesn't look that bad. Now if I can just find some Festiva control arms that don't cost $110/pr I'd be in business.

89 L

[darpien]

uhh yeah that's what you have to get the mazda 121 DA body style is the same as the festiva it is exactly the same because it is the design that KIA used to make them so yeah they will fit i guess you didn't know that though.

[mattswabb]

.
Now if I can just find some Festiva control arms that don't cost $110/pr I'd be in business.

89 L

Shop around, I paid $45 each for mine. Autozone $54.

matt

[coolfestiva]

Yeah, I paid $45.00 for mine control arms too and I got them from from FMS. And I did get free shipping on not just my struts by the rest of my order (springs, control arms, and strut bar) so FMS was the cheapest. They have always given great prices and free shipping deals. It's like any place else, if you order a certain amount you usually can get better prices.

[darpien]

ok roger or is it donald coolfestiva?

[coolfestiva]

what????

[Safety Guy]

If anyone orders overseas Mazda 121 parts, be sure that it is a pre-1990 Mazda 121. In 1990 the Mazda 121 became a totally new design called the Demio ("bubble" car).

If you go waaay back, the Mazda 121 was the rear wheel drive Cosmo.

Karl

[89fester]

http://www.b-gsuspension.com/home.shtml

I just got off the phone with B+G. It was basically a complete waste of time. The person on the other end of the phone said that whatever applications they made springs for was listed on the website. And was unaware of any other overseas cars that had parts available. Even after mentioning Ford Festiva/Mazda 121 etc., he still didn't have any clue what I was talking about. And that was about it, he didn't really offer any other solutions as to a way to figure out if their company even made the parts.

If anyone else wants to give it a try the number is 800) 420.9555. He did say they could do a group buy, which I thought was weird in the fact that he couldn't tell me if they even made the parts.

So, has anyone purchased Festiva lowering springs in the US from anyone other than FMS ever? Is this a Festiva Urban Legend that the springs are made somewhere else(obviously they are). Did I just get the wrong dude on the phone who was answering calls at lunch? Anyone have any part numbers from a box they got their lowering springs in?

Anyone have anything other than myth? I to have emailed FMS through eBay and gotten no response. I don't think these cars are really meant to be modded, there just isn't enough support.

89 L