off road suspension upgrades?

[jge3]

Just bought this festiva for the kids to drive on the farm. 1989 model, 4sp manual, 25" atv tires. the top is cut off and they were using it as a poor mans mule. it goes great, but need stiffer suspension. any cheap mods to improve the suspension and possibly get a little more ground clearance. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks for the great site.

[eurotiva]

Ford aspire suspension will raise your ride height and be a little stiffer. And welcome to the site. It's the best forum around.

Way to start too. We like pics That thing is so cool. And add your location.

[timmay89]

Easiest and cheapest idea would be to put in the aspire front sway bar. You can also create a home made rear sway bar that works really well. Here is a link to that info:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23909

Those are your 2 best bets for cheap and effective ideas. Good luck!

[mikeycar500]

that is diff never seen one with tirs like that i could have me some fun with that lol

[jge3]

Has anybody tried the rubber or urethane spacers that go between the coils. I think the swaybar would limit flex to much. Not concerned about handling at anything over 15-20 mph. The tires are 25-8-12 on the front and 25-10-12 on back. They are the stock rims, reversed on the back so the tires wouldn't rub. The fenders have been cut out flush with the inner. The front tires rub a little if you cut it hard. It pulls good, but i'd like to find a way to gear it down. The kids have been having a blast with it and they are learning to drive a real car. Thanks

[JPT]

It pulls good, but i'd like to find a way to gear it down.

Quickest way to gear it down would be to swap in an Aspire transmission.

BTW, Welcome to the site.

[Safety Guy]

I believe the earlier Aspire transaxles would have the lowest final drive ratio. IIRC, in '96 and '97 they went up a bit for better fuel economy.

Kia Rio struts are a direct bolt-in and have thicker springs than the Aspire. Years '01 and most of '02. I think 1.5s from '03 might work, but the 1.6s and later models used a different three bolt strut mount. Here's more info:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28390

For the rear? Try using front Festiva or Aspire springs with the rear shocks. I think someone said it would work, but I'm not sure.

Karl

[slacka_6]

thats a kewl one.... wish ihad a couple of those they look fun!

[JPT]

I believe the earlier Aspire transaxles would have the lowest final drive ratio. IIRC, in '96 and '97 they went up a bit for better fuel economy.

Happen to know what the gear ratios are? I know the '94 and '95 has the steep gears.

[Safety Guy]

No, I don't know offhand. Someone posted them around here a while back.

I doubt the small gain in low end would be worth all the work swapping transaxles, unless you needed a new one anyway and had a choice.

Karl

[resuwrecked]

So thats what a festiva sized push bar looks like. Welcome to the site. I have a farm festiva as well with a pair of turf saver treads on the front. Clever with the rear wheel flippage there.

[rallytiva71]

Awesome work, Welcome to the site, I think You just inspired my next project "Jeepstiva" Here we go!!!

[jdm babaganoosh]

grab some 4" caster wheels off a shopping cart and bolt them between the strut hat and the body.

you'll need to elongate the bolts, but it'll give you a 2" lift.

[rallytiva71]

grab some 4" caster wheels off a shopping cart and bolt them between the strut hat and the body.

you'll need to elongate the bolts, but it'll give you a 2" lift.

I think Hockey Pucks Will work too, I used to have them in my Toyota Pick up