1991 capri XR2 front brake swap.

[TominMO]

I did what euro did. Never thought about grinding anything as I didnt notice that issue, though if they ever get taken apart again I will look into it.

Yeah, if you compare the bottom of the knuckle on both a Festy and a Capri knuckle, where the ball joint fits in, you can easily see the difference in angle. That's what's causing all the issues. Doesn't need much ground off either.

[bhazard]

I did what euro did. Never thought about grinding anything as I didnt notice that issue, though if they ever get taken apart again I will look into it.

[TominMO]

After talking with John extensively about this, I am gonna take the XR2 knuckles down to Greg just before FM4, and we will grind off a little metal on the bottom of the knuckle's ball-joint mounting area. This will reduce the angle and should let us stick 'em in normally, without any spring or camber issues. Might even be able to use Festiva LCAs then, but I'll have the Aspire ones with me anyway.

[chrisofna]

Festy and I had a long discussion with this... He has FMS springs and forgot to tell people.

[TominMO]

Festy never mentioned in any of the posts he made that there was an issue with the springs being to long or having problems with the LCA's.
Very interesting.......

Yeah, that's why I brought this up in this old thread, which I found when searching for tips on getting this done. Maybe Festy already had lowering springs, so it never was an issue for him?

^ I'll have to take a look at mine again. I ended up putting the ball joint and inner bolt, then lifting the whole assembly with a jack. When high enough I put the top bolt in first then the bottom. My wheels were turning all day trying to figure out why you guys were have such problems.

And if it don't fit....Then take a grinder to it.

Greg did help us out with the advice to put in the top strut bolt first (talking about the two lower strut bolts that fit into the knuckle); we were doing just the opposite till we called him. As to the springs, I think he said he already has lowering springs, so that wasn't an issue for him either, same as Festyboy.

[TominMO]

What about with the Aspire rear struts....higher perch...should fit right?

I have the Aspire rear struts with Festy springs, and the 14x6" Estrellas w/38mm offset. No fitting problems, no spacers.

[GenevaDirt]

John/Pu241 and I were attempting to do the Capri XR2 front brake swap on Kittystiva. Had all the parts in hand, including Aspire LCAs. I estimated 3-4 hours for the whole operation. Started at 0630 AM, ended at about 3 PM. 100 degrees and 100% humidity. DIDN'T git 'er done! :banghead:

After John left and I stopped crying, I drank some cold refreshing OJ, and took a cold shower*.

Called The Gregster for advice a couple of times, at different points in the attempt. Turns out that stock Festy springs are too long. Thinking about cutting one loop out of the front springs. Will this fix the problem?

*Because I was hot, not turned on.

Festy never mentioned in any of the posts he made that there was an issue with the springs being to long or having problems with the LCA's.
Very interesting.......

[GenevaDirt]

XR2 rims won't fit the rear with out spacers or low pro tires.

What about with the Aspire rear struts....higher perch...should fit right?

[chrisofna]

Called The Gregster for advice a couple of times, at different points in the attempt. Turns out that stock Festy springs are too long. Thinking about cutting one loop out of the front springs. Will this fix the problem?.

Exact problem I had, yeah cutting a loop or two out will make em work.

[eurotiva]

^ I'll have to take a look at mine again. I ended up putting the ball joint and inner bolt, then lifting the whole assembly with a jack. When high enough I put the top bolt in first then the bottom. My wheels were turning all day trying to figure out why you guys were have such problems.

And if it don't fit....Then take a grinder to it.

[Pu241]

Had all the parts in hand, including Aspire LCAs.

Clarification- Not only where all the parts available and present but at some point in the painfully long day all of them where attached to the car, if not to the car and each other!

Turns out that stock Festy springs are too long. Thinking about cutting one loop out of the front springs. Will this fix the problem?

eurotiva,
Got a question -The XR2 hubs where the ball joint attaches to it has an angle that doesn't permit the LCA's ball joint to mount while the body to LCA is bolted up. Nor, if the body to LCA is bolted up, then the ball joint wont mount up. what if the angle were machined down flat, or at the same angle as the festiva hub ball joint mounting, would this solve the camber issue and alleviate the need use FMS lowering springs or cut OEM ones, or have highly compressed OEM springs.

[TominMO]

John/Pu241 and I were attempting to do the Capri XR2 front brake swap on Kittystiva. Had all the parts in hand, including Aspire LCAs. I estimated 3-4 hours for the whole operation. Started at 0630 AM, ended at about 3 PM. 100 degrees and 100% humidity. DIDN'T git 'er done! :banghead:

After John left and I stopped crying, I drank some cold refreshing OJ, and took a cold shower*.

Called The Gregster for advice a couple of times, at different points in the attempt. Turns out that stock Festy springs are too long. Thinking about cutting one loop out of the front springs. Will this fix the problem?

*Because I was hot, not turned on.

[FestYboy]

XR2 rims won't fit the rear with out spacers or low pro tires.

[TominMO]

This is very disappointing I was going to try to pull this swap off come spring time and my summer tires are going to be 14s but I was going to try and keep my stock wheels for winter time with some good snow tires. I was thinking about getting some 13s for winter but if I have to up to 14s minimum I think I am out Has anybody been about to fit 13s (besides the late 80s tracer)? Thanks and good info above ^^^

You could get some 14" Capri XR2 wheels for snow tires. Might find some cheap steelies.

[TominMO]

I'm dubious about any 13" wheels fitting on the XR2 brake, with the 10.2" rotors. My 14" AR Estrellas just barely cleared the caliper, due to the stick-on wheel weights inside the wheel. With the smaller Capri brakes, which are more like Aspire brakes in size, I could believe that 13" wheels would fit.