I'm starting my first Aspire swap

[sickfleming]

All right! I'm so close it's driving me crazy. So far, I've managed to find one steering knuckle assembly, both front brake calipers, the trailing arm, e-brake cable, various brake hoses and lines and two drums. Today my paycheck came in and I got New bearings and brakes all around, along with some Escort tie rod ends. So far this only leaves me lhmmacking a driver side steering knuckle and rotor, which are nearly impossible to find due to the fact that pretty much the only junkyard in Houston with an aspire had them removed a while back. The other knuckle came off an aspire with only one knuckle. By any chance, does anyone have a spare lying around? I'd gladly pay seeing as my chances of finding ne out here are pretty slim.

Also, the only other things I'm missing are my wheels and tires. I'm thinking about 14" silver steelies but I've been hearing of folks preferring 13"s due to tire availability or something. I can get them about $20 apiece, or get alloys for $50. Any input? Also, what tires should I probably get with 13"s or 14"s?

Thanks, and I'll keep everyone posted. This phone doesn't like photobucket so hopefully I can post pictures.

[Huli]

Re: I'm starting my first Aspire swap

Grab kia Rio knuckles instead. That's what I run. Using 14 inch rims and new tires were $350 out the door.

[Powerstiva]

Will the rio knuckles work just fine if everything else is aspire parts?

[Huli]

Re: I'm starting my first Aspire swap

Will the rio knuckles work just fine if everything else is aspire parts?

Not sure. I used all festiva parts except Escort GT tie rod ends an dthe rio knuckles. Was perfect, even got it aligned!

[sickfleming]

Grab kia Rio knuckles instead. That's what I run. Using 14 inch rims and new tires were $350 out the door.

Yeah, I thought that as well. I was just hoping I wouldn't have to buy two more knuckles when I already have one, along with both calipers, brakes and rotors. I wish I'd just held off on buying the knuckle because Rios are a bit easier to find. Bummer, in a pickle either way lol

[Safety Guy]

If you have automatic Aspire brake calipers with their mounts, they will bolt onto '01 Rio knuckles. Rio rotors and calipers are almost exactly the same as auto Aspire. Most '02s should fit too. Just make sure they are 9" rotors like the Aspire and not the larger, upgraded Rio front brakes that came in late '02.

Upgrading to early Rio struts and strut mounts (use Rio mounts with Rio struts!) is a good idea as well, if you can find a nice pair. Either use cut Aspire springs (1 to 1.5 coils) or try cut Rio springs (? coils).

Finally, just a word of warning that only a couple members here have gone to Rio knuckles, so this is a quite new swap. Be careful! I have done Rio struts, mounts and calipers, but not the knuckles yet.

Karl

[sickfleming]

If you have automatic Aspire brake calipers with their mounts, they will bolt onto '01 Rio knuckles. Rio rotors and calipers are almost exactly the same as auto Aspire. Most '02s should fit too. Just make sure they are 9" rotors like the Aspire and not the larger, upgraded Rio front brakes that came in late '02.

Upgrading to early Rio struts and strut mounts (use Rio mounts with Rio struts!) is a good idea as well, if you can find a nice pair. Either use cut Aspire springs (1 to 1.5 coils) or try cut Rio springs (? coils).

Finally, just a word of warning that only a couple members here have gone to Rio knuckles, so this is a quite new swap. Be careful! I have done Rio struts, mounts and calipers, but not the knuckles yet.

Karl

So theoretically, I could have an aspire knuckle on the right side and a Rio knuckle on the left, both having aspire calipers? If the difference is that insignificant, it may be worth a shot.

[Safety Guy]

Fleming wrote:

"So theoretically, I could have an aspire knuckle on the right side and a Rio knuckle on the left, both having aspire calipers? If the difference is that insignificant, it may be worth a shot."

Well, "theoretically," you could do just about anything you wanted and still be able to drive your car. But for how long and how safely is the question!

I'd NOT mix Aspire and Rio knuckles. Nope, no way.

Except in a dire emergency (stranded in the desert, dying of thirst, while your car and two different knuckles sit staring at you...begging to be put together in that unholy matrimony...to get to food and water!).

Practically, the tie rod end bracket part of the knuckle assemblies are slightly different. Do I know this would be really bad? No, but I just wouldn't do it either. Keep your suspension components the same size, weight and shape on both sides!

Karl

[sickfleming]

Fleming wrote:

"So theoretically, I could have an aspire knuckle on the right side and a Rio knuckle on the left, both having aspire calipers? If the difference is that insignificant, it may be worth a shot."

Well, "theoretically," you could do just about anything you wanted and still be able to drive your car. But for how long and how safely is the question!

I'd NOT mix Aspire and Rio knuckles. Nope, no way.

Except in a dire emergency (stranded in the desert, dying of thirst, while your car and two different knuckles sit staring at you...begging to be put together in that unholy matrimony...to get to food and water!).

Practically, the tie rod end bracket part of the knuckle assemblies are slightly different. Do I know this would be really bad? No, but I just wouldn't do it either. Keep your suspension components the same size, weight and shape on both sides!

Karl

Haha right. I'm a lil slow sometimes drool. Heck, the main reason I'm rushing to get the swap done is because my current right drum making noises. Turns out the last guy who changed the brakes forgot the retaining pins and the shoes fell over, cutting a neat little groove in my drum. I fixed it, but my spindle got chewed up from the crossthreaded nut, so it's only on hand tight and staked down until then. So yes, safety is paramount for the swap

[F3BZ]

i posted this pic years ago when the rio knuckles were just coming under scrutiny as an alternative to using the aspires. this shows the only dimensional difference between the two. these are non-ABS knucks. i'm not certain that you have to cut off the big lump on the rio. i think that might be where the abs sensor was mounted.

[JPT]

I used Rio knuckles with struts, rotors and calipers (new) and mounts as is right off of an early 2002. Bolted right on. BIG improvement.

The best part is that Rio parts are usually low mileage due to the fact that the engines are known for shredding timing belts way before 100,000 miles.

I did cut the springs (Rio) 1.5 coils. Should have cut more. I'm about 1" higher in the front.

Use Escort tie rod ends

[Powerstiva]

Escort tie rods? this is the first time i think ive heard of using them

[zoom zoom]

Just throwing in that I have Rio struts and cut 2 coils, someday I will cut half of another coil off and see how that sits.

The escort taper is the same as aspire..the threads are the same throughout all that I'm aware of, but for some reason escort tie rod ends are cheaper?!

[JPT]

Festiva tie rod ends will work for a bit (rode around with them for a week) but the taper is wrong for Rio (and Aspire) knuckles.

Aspire ends work, but Escort ones are basically the same except they cost much less.

[Powerstiva]

so dont use aspire ones? I thought you could use the aspire outters with the festiva innners??