Just started my brake swap project

[eastcoast413]

I just started my brake swap project. 96 red 2-door 5spd aspire to 90 festiva 5spd lx.

so far I am a little worried that I got an aspire that is on the rusty side. I had to cut the bolts that held the rear struts to the beam. all other nuts and bolts came off though.

I am planning on getting all new rotors,pads,calipers,brake lines, etc. Though I am wondering if the rear bleeder valves and ebrake cable are going to give me trouble.

anyway so far I just have the rear beam off of the aspire and will post pics tomorrow

[eastcoast413]

just watched a video about heating the old rusty brake fittings with a torch before trying to loosen them. I think I will give that a try.

[fastivaB6TG25MR]

pb blaster works pretty good too...

[Gforcefd]

Yeah keep soaking them and soaking them with PB blaster for a few days. If you have the beam off it wouldn't hurt to completely tear it down and paint everything. Don't forget to put some never-seeze on those bolts and inside the bushings for the bolt. Rust really sucks, and if you can do some preventative stuff now, it will save you a headache down the road when your working on them again.

[hofficergrover]

When i did my first break swap i had all the same troubles with the struts. So the second time i just took the rear and front struts all in one made it so much easier to swap over to the festiva. I am going to do it that way every time allot easier.

[eastcoast413]

Yeah keep soaking them and soaking them with PB blaster for a few days. If you have the beam off it wouldn't hurt to completely tear it down and paint everything. Don't forget to put some never-seeze on those bolts and inside the bushings for the bolt. Rust really sucks, and if you can do some preventative stuff now, it will save you a headache down the road when your working on them again.

yes I was thinking about cleaning it up and painting it

[eastcoast413]

so the swap is done, all new ball joints, tie rods, brakes and struts as well. Took the car to get an alignment and they gave it back to me with a lot of play in the front wheels. So I brought it back and the checked it. They said the outer tie rods were loose but there is still play and that's all they had to say. This place was just a tire shop so they could not tell me why there is still play...Do I need a new rack and pinion?

[Safety Guy]

The outer tie rods were loose on the knuckles?

Or did you mean inner tie rods?

Did you use Aspire or Escort tie rod ends? Using the Festiva ends in the Aspire knuckles is only a temporary fix, since the taper fit isn't the same.

If you've done all else right, I suppose it could be the rack, but was that loose on your LX before the swap? If not, I wouldn't think it was the problem, unless you damaged something during the swap.

Karl

[eastcoast413]

turns out one of the ball joints is loose on the knuckle...strange, going to see if I can tighten it. Pretty sure it is the correct control arm as it is the same as the other side.

[eastcoast413]

another question about the aspire swap: The rear tires rub on the body(when hitting big bumps) where the rear bumper mounts are? Is it because I did not use aspire struts? Also I have got the old festiva springs, very soft, I am thinking about buying the festiva motorsport springs. Maybe that will cause more problems as the car will be lower? Has anyone modified the rear bumper mounts?

[eastcoast413]

Also what are the rubber parts called at the sway bar mounts in the front? Not the bushings at the knuckle and where can I get new ones?

[drddan]

I would use the Aspire struts and springs. The Festiva are way too soft IMO. Adjust ride height by cutting a coil or two from the springs, if need be.

[eastcoast413]

another question about the aspire swap: The rear tires rub on the body(when hitting big bumps) where the rear bumper mounts are? Is it because I did not use aspire struts? Also I have got the old festiva springs, very soft, I am thinking about buying the festiva motorsport springs. Maybe that will cause more problems as the car will be lower? Has anyone modified the rear bumper mounts?

(I have new festiva struts with the aspire rear beam and hubs with festiva springs) Should I get the FMS aspire springs or festiva springs?

[Bert]

I just received FMS Aspire sport springs in the mail yesterday (ordered them 2 months ago, but there is/was a mail strike in Canada). The moment my old p/u truck is off the hoist with another rear axle I will tangle with springs and shocks on my Aspire/Festy. Sorry I can't offer advice just yet. There are Aspire shocks (Monroe's) on the front already which didn't do anything rash. Aspires are hard to come by around here (eastern Ontario) as the wreckers seem to want to crush them as fast as they come in.
Very few Festivas left around here either but had a matte black one with a red lightning bolt painted on the side pass by me 2 weeks ago. He didn't acknowledge or stop and neither did I.

[Aaronbrook37]

Yeah keep soaking them and soaking them with PB blaster for a few days. If you have the beam off it wouldn't hurt to completely tear it down and paint everything. Don't forget to put some never-seeze on those bolts and inside the bushings for the bolt. Rust really sucks, and if you can do some preventative stuff now, it will save you a headache down the road when your working on them again.

This... I completely agree. Made my coilover upgrade and control arm bar a million times easier! Just a good habit to get into generally, especially in rough climates. Wash the car, check the tires, do the oil, and soak the bolts!