Need a quick answer regarding Aspire rear swap

[fastivaca]

Can the rear axle realistically be switched out in about four hours?

Assume that everything comes off the Festiva OK and that the Aspire axle is ready to bolt in.

Thanks for your quick answers!

[Damkid]

I did my rear aspire swap in 4 hours and the rear lower struts bolt were absolutely nasty to get out, if I were to do it over again I'd get new rear struts bolt them to the aspire rear beam and install it as one and I bet itd take a matter of 2-3 hours

[fastivaca]

Thanks Chris. I think I'm going to try and get it done tonight!

[Damkid]

Good luck!!

[yelo festiva]

same here

I can identify with the lower strut bolts! I had to heat one with a tourch to losen the bolt. Had to sneek the tourch in behind the beam through the opening. I was afraid it was going to break in the bolt in the nut. That was the hard part, every thing else goes smooth in about 3 hrs. good luck with the swap.


P.S. be sure to put never sieze on the strut bolt!

[fastivaca]

Decided to just make sure everything was going to come apart. Had to work on the lower strut bolts a bit but got them worked loose. I had replaced the struts some time ago and made sure I used a lot of anti-seize when I put it back together.

So, if all goes well I should be able to complete the rear axle swap by the end of the month... just have to find some time between work, renos at our house and renos at my daughter's house!

[fastivaca]

Well I did it... the Aspire swap is complete! Took me 3 hours and 10 minutes working by myself without my air tools (loaned the compressor to daughter and her hubbie for their hardwood flooring) to put in the back axle. Front was done a couple of weeks ago! That includes bleeding the brakes and hooking up the e-brake cable.

Driven it about 50 miles already and am impressed with the improvement.

Oh.... don't forget to change the spare tire too!