Aspire Swap Question

[gauge_half_inch]

Use your stock Festiva inner tie rods, but you have to use the aspire or escort gt/protege outter tie rod ends. The hole in the aspire/rio knuckle has a slightly larger diameter/taper.

[Bert]

Getting back to the advantage of Aspire rear beams. Will Rogers once said "buy land, they're not making any more of it" and I think this analogy applies to donor Aspires; they're not making them anymore either and they are disappearing really fast. The Aspire body mounts bolt right on and are sturdier and hang lower at the pivot point (nice for getting the swing arm bolt out past the Festy gas tank) and already have more universal 4 x 100 set up for wheels. Drums are a bit larger too which makes a 'whale of a difference' when it comes to stopping, and brake shoe longevity. The supposedly-effective trailing arm torsion bar is already built-in. Where I think the whole business shines is that stock wheels and stock trailing arm gives an instant more aggressive (wider) stance to a Festy. I'd post pictures of my Aspire swap beside an OEM Festy but ever since the site change I've been ham-strung with trying to post attachments.
Trust me; it's well worth trying to track down a dead or dying Aspire just to scavenge the rear beam (and the front sway bar, front hubs and roller rocker cylinder head) .

[Huli]

Re: Aspire Swap Question

Use your stock Festiva inner tie rods, but you have to use the aspire or escort gt/protege outter tie rod ends. The hole in the aspire/rio knuckle has a slightly larger diameter/taper.

Sorry if I am slow on terms... outter tie rod end is the one from the steering rack to the knuckle?

If so.... I bought the wrong ones...meh.

[Huli]

Re: Aspire Swap Question

Oh... and I just paid $200 for an aspire rear and $75 shipping... its 300 miles away!!!

[sketchman]

I'd post pictures of my Aspire swap beside an OEM Festy but ever since the site change I've been ham-strung with trying to post attachments.

If you get a Photobucket account, each image you upload gets you a link you can copy and paste on here easier than attaching everything you want to post.

[Huli]

Re: Aspire Swap Question

What year tie rods? I am going to O'Riely's now.

[Huli]

Re: Aspire Swap Question

Nevermind... 2003 Ford Escort GT rod ends are slightly beefier and have zerk fittings for same price as Festiva

[Powerstiva]

So ive been doing my homework and im just a little confused about coilovers and want to make sure im thinking of things in the right way. Coilovers are a replacement for struts, and the only difference is that they are of a smaller diameter.

[Huli]

Re: Aspire Swap Question

Strut is just a shock that is structural. Meaning the car will fall down without it.

Coilovers is what we already have.

Adjustable coilovers are the best because they have the threaded bit to adjust spring preload.

[Huli]

Re: Aspire Swap Question

There are a bunch of variations of each type. Thoes are the three types that concern festivas

[Powerstiva]

Ok, thank you i just got confused because i was looking at Advance's suspension thread as well as a couple about the rio swap and i just got confused because the one talks about coilovers while the other talks about struts

[Powerstiva]

Just ordered new calipers, rotors and pads the other day. What else do i need up front? and for the rear what is i good price for a used rear setup, i know it will ultimately be condition depending.

[Huli]

Re: Aspire Swap Question

I paid $125 for my rear... but it was missing the passenger spindle and brake. That was $60 from a different yard.

[Powerstiva]

Looking for everything i need up front for a brake swap, any one have anything to help me out?

[Huli]

Re: Aspire Swap Question

I got everything from either searching craigslist or jys.

Except front struts. I got them new.