89 FESTIVA LIFTED

[mdutton]

I JUST GOT DONE WITH PUTTING RIO FRONT STRUTS AND ASPIRE REAR STRUTS on my 89. Its a 3 speed auto so I added a trans cooler inline with the radiator cooler for the trans. Im using metro wheels and 155 80r 13 tires.
In all the car is about 1/2 higer in the back than the front also the front only lifted the car 3/4 " forget the tales of 2-3" of lift with rio struts. Mine are uncut and it only lifted it 3/4 "
Also worth mentioning is that the lowest points under the car with this combo are the exaust hangers and trans drain plug 7 3/4" of ground clearance. More for the rest of the underside
As of 2/10 2012 I have a set of 165 80r 13 tires on ebay set of 4 they were too big to use unless you use 1/4 " spacers and possibly may need to flare the fenders. These are snow tires with an aggresive tread.

Also I have no idea what you guys are doing for the pos camber you get out of the rio struts. I had to use a die grinder and 4 1/2 cutoff wheel to grind away metal behind the knuckle and slot the upper strut holes so I could get to 0 to slightly - camber Also I used the max 86 ft lbs to tighten the strut bolts I used the rio strut bolts becouse the nuts are longer on the threads.

[mckabe]

Pics?

[Movin]

The rio upper bearing plate sure makes it easy to steer!
Shouldn't have to grind the knuckle.
The upper bolt hole slot in the strut makes camber adjustment
easy like other cars.

[timmay89]

I do agree, you do only get about 3/4" to 1.25" lift in the front of the Kia Rio, depending on how new the assemblies are. For me that little extra was TOO much. I tried to be ok with it, but it was too high.

Are you able to post some pics?

[sc72]

Lifted 89

This is what my car looks like right now, it's a 92 GL, i just came in from taking this picture, 02 Kia Rio struts uncut w/100k, the rears are Aspire Monroe sensitrac w/ Festiva front springs, no springs have been cut, no grinding on the front, no camber bolts, but i do have camber bolts to sell, oh ya the alignment is fine without camber bolts. I didn't know there was a differance between 89 to 92, The Rio struts 00 to 02 are a direct fit on the 92. I nomally run 185/65/14's

[georgeb]

What is the difference between '89 and '92?

[sc72]

lifted 89

What is the difference between '89 and '92?

I don't think there is any diff, i'm surprised he had to do any grinding at all, maybe Festyboy or other members can clear this up.

[crazyrog17]

I nomally run 185/65/14's

Those would be huge!

[Safety Guy]

I saw Karl's (sc72) car in person at a meet. He had his 185/65-14s on GTX wheels and it looked nice.

Yep, IIRC, we're both named Karl.

Karl

[bhazard]

I wish I still had the pics from when I put the Rio struts in mine, it was definitely a LOT more than 3/4"...

[sc72]

I saw Karl's (sc72) car in person at a meet. He had his 185/65-14s on GTX wheels and it looked nice.

Yep, IIRC, we're both named Karl.

Karl

I still use the GTX wheels, it was time for new skins. They will be back on this week. Thanks for the kind words Karl.

[mdutton]

MY CAMO LIFTED FEST W RIO F AND ASPIRE REAR+13 METRO WHEELS 15580R 13 TIRES

OK IM TRYING TO GET MY PHOTOS SENT IN THIS MESSAGE i PAINTED MY FEWST CAMO FLAT PREMIUM PLUS BEHR WITH COMPACT TYPE FOAM ROLLER BRUSH DID WHOLE PAINT JOB FOR $28.
Went on miles of off road trails in az the car is so short that you can do some amazing stuff off road but you have to be careful to keep both tires on ground sometimes as its an open diff no way to fix that. I also put on an outboard trans cooler inline with the radiator cooler lines.
having the auto trans is waaaay better off road than 5 speed. I couldnt do the trip i just went on with a manual on this type car. with 155 80r 13 tires it does pretty well. Poeple were staring as I would go up loose rocky roads.

[Safety Guy]

Looks like good work, Mdutton!

Karl

[91mcnasty]

I like it , it's different!!!

[mdutton]

thx the only thing Id do different would be to put on snow tires same size 155 80r 13 There is a firestone sno tire that is avail in this size and it has an aggresive off road like tread.
One last thing I will mention is that first I tried first snow tires in 165 80r 13 size and it was an ABSOLUTE NO GO> I carefully checked were the tire would crash into the car in a variety of sometimes type situations: Full swingarm extension on sharp turn no go. Full compression strait ahead and slight turn no go. I ended up re selling a nice set of 165 s but 155 80r 13 seem to be the max this car wants to swing safely. The auto with additional outboard cooler is the way to go when you need to creep up a loose gravelly trail with rocks and holes. If a tire starts to slip you lightly feather the throttle and when it stops slipping both tires drive again thats how it goes with an open diff.
Also I wouldnt even bother with anything softer than the rio struts /springs up front.