Chevette front springs for Festiva rear?

[Safety Guy]

Check these out:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1029107&cc=1040061

Available from Rockauto for $43 + shipping.

Looks to me they might fit well, and certainly firm up that rear end.

Compare with my new H.D. rear Festiva springs from FMS:

Free height = 14"
Wire diameter = 0.4"
Inner diameter = 3.5"

The Raybestos #5851199:

Free height = 13.56"
Wire diameter = 0.5"
Inner diameter = 3.375"

I've never had my Festiva HD rears on, but they are a bit thicker than stock rears and otherwise look the same.

The Chevettes, above, if they fit well (and folks have been fitting front Festiva springs on the rear!) should be firmer, but maybe a nice newer choice at a reasonable price. If they work okay for true heavy duty usage. If you want a smooth ride, I wouldn't use these.

Also, Chevette variable rear springs:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1028823&cc=1040061

Might be better, if they fit right:

Free height = 13"
Wire diameter = .473"
Inner diameter = 3.881"

These are $61 a pair for variable rate rear Chevette springs.

Comments?

Karl

[Safety Guy]

Try Dodge Omni, too. The domestic market cars still have coil springs available from multiple manufacturers, while the imports (Dodge Colt, Festiva, Geo Metro) don't seem to. At least not at Rockauto.

So our search for compatable sized springs should keep that in mind. I think it's only a matter of time and work before we hit upon some really useful springs, perhaps without having to cut them.

Rockauto is a good resource for this since many specs are right there.

Karl

[TominMO]

Holy thinking-outside-the-box, Karlman!

Also Karl, what about these: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...394&cc=1040274
Chevette load-adjusting shocks, designed for towing. The spring rate might be too light, but on the other hand the unloaded spring is 20". And it's so narrow it should clear wider tires and rims than the Festy or even the Aspire rear strut. But you would want to use light wheels since heavy ones would overpower the springs and damping.

The Raybestos #5851199:
Free height = 13.56"
Wire diameter = 0.5"
Inner diameter = 3.375
These would probably fit, but the variable-rate ones probably not. I suspect the Chevette lower spring perch is a bit more forgiving of different sizes than ours is.

[Banana Bonanza]

I got real PO'd with stock rear springs on Festiva not long after I got it many years ago. The stock springs would bottom out with one small sack of groceries in back. Not good since I live out in boonies with a very rough, rutted, and rocky access road. I looked around and got a pair of front springs off some old Triumph on ebay. I cant remember what model of Triumph, but they were $10 shipped. I was only interested that they would fit not what they were off of. Those old Triumphs used some crazy heavy cast iron 4 cyl so they were stiff springs.

Ride quality went way down, but carrying capacity went way up and no more having continual damage to my exhaust and gas tank. Just measure existing spring perches and find something that fits.

[Bert]

If this incidental research of yours pans out into real life use this will be very good news. Thanks you for alerting us (me anyway). Festy Rear springs are 3 7/8 outside dia (OD) at the back whereas Festy fronts are 4 1/8, if memory serves me. Festys up here have been going to the junkyard for the past 15 years often because replacement springs were unavailable. An older guy was telling me recently that 20 years ago his subcontract flooring company was making real good money by virtue of using Festys as company cars. Two installers and all their gear fit in just fine and they had roof racks and the 'little devils' (he called them) were reliable and only used $20 worth of gas per week VS the $60-80 it cost everyone else to keep a commercial van, full of empty coffee cups and carpet debris, on the road.

[festyfreak39]

I had a chevette and by the looks the springs wont even remotely work.

[Safety Guy]

Maybe they won't. I was going by the specs on Rockauto and the pictures, which may not be of the actual springs.

I may order some to see when I'm ready to experiment.

Karl