Nightmare With B6T!

[michaelmiller85]

For the last year i have been fighting with my festiva. I love my 200HP B6T, but hate with a passion the stock suspension that is still on my festiva.

I don't know much about what people have done after installing the B6T into the festiva (suspension wise), so i'm kind of dumb when it comes to suspension.

I'm not sure what do go with. I like the ride height of the stock festiva, it allows me to go on old logging roads.

Do i need to use the aspire springs due to having more weight?

Should i use Monroe or KYB struts? For the Aspire or Festiva?

What other parts do i need when replacing everything out?

Thanks for the help.

Michael

[IdealSociety]

aspire struts will give you about an inch of lift but if you like how it sits now just upgrade your festiva struts and maybe go with the aspire drop springs, that should put you at stock festiva ride height with a stiffer spring. id reccomend KYB GR2 struts, they are firm but not too much so to make those rough logging roads a pain in the bum :wink:

also im curious as to what have you done to your b6t to have 200hp? i was pretty sure they came at about 140hp levels... not sayin you dont have it just lookin to see what mods you have... a jdm bpt (1.8L) is only like 215hp...

[Safety Guy]

I can't imagine driving a stock B6T (about 132hp) for very long on standard Festiva suspension and brakes!

You need to do the Aspire swap ASAP. Go with the thinner manual tranny rotors and use lots of new parts (pads, shoes, spring kits, rebuilt or new calipers, etc.) to maximize reliability and smoothness. If you have the GO don't skimp on the STOP!

I used cut down Aspire springs on my Mutt, which gave about stock ride height, though the Mutt kinda looks like it rides high to begin with. I think I cut either one or 1.5 coils all around. Each Aspire front spring is about 10 lbs. stiffer than the Festiva springs, and the rears appear to be the same strength (I had mine measured, but keep in mind spring fatique; none of mine were new springs; my Festy springs had 130K miles while the Aspire replacements came off a '96 with under 70K miles). If you can afford some new rear springs, I'd get them.

GR2 struts, or any other premium new strut should do. Stock Aspire rear struts have slightly higher spring perches (about 3/4"), for a touch more tire clearance on the inside.

Karl