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  • Big brakes and wheel bearing question

    Okay, so Festiva brake discs are skinny little things and the bearings require a specialist to replace properly, big problem. We can use Aspire, Kia Rio and Capri hubs and brakes as a high performance replacement. All change the bolt pattern and have different bearings. Which is the easiest conversion, which has the best, easiest to replace bearings. I'm guessing since the Kia is the newest, they would probably be readily available the longest. What about drilling the conversion with the Festiva bolt pattern?

    Inquiring minds want to know,
    Jack Byrd,
    1991 Capri
    1988 Festiva LX, 240K
    1970 Chev C10
    1977 Airstream Argosy MH

  • #2
    capri swap = festy bolt pattern with 9.6" OR 10.2" vented rotors (the big ones are XR2)

    aspire and Rio swap = 4x100 pattern with as big as 9.6" vented rotors

    i like the capri swap BUT, you have to use aspire LCAs to make them work... and 14" wheels minimum.
    Trees aren't kind to me...

    currently: 2 88Ls (Scrappy and Jersey), 88LX, 90L(Pepe), 91L, 91GL (Skippy) 93 GL Sport (the Mighty Favakk), 94 (Bruce) & 95 Aspire SEs, 97 Aspire (The Joker),
    94 Justy 4WD, 87 Fiero GT, plus 2 parts cars. That's my fleet.

    Comment


    • #3
      The swap over to Aspire/Rio fronts is overall monumental for Festys not just because the components are larger but because they are infinitely easier to service. Floating (ie 2 retaining screws out (if you still use these) rotors means you can change them with almost no effort) rotors is wonderful and then to discover the those rotors are vented (each braking face is separated by cooling fins) is another. As to brake upgrades beyond Aspire-size is a moot point; you've already instantly moved up from a 6 to a V8 so just how big does that V8 have to be. Aspire is big, early Rio is bigger and 03-04? is biggest. The Aspire/Rio upgrade also gets you a more universal 4 x 100 bolt pattern for choice of 13-14-15" rims.

      Festys/Aspires/Rios (unfortunately) all have the same archaic (stupid) pre-load spacer front bearing setup and if you can learn to deal with one of them you can deal with the others.

      Capri brakes, as I understand it, are merely oversized versions of Festys; non-floating solids that will not allow you to re-use your existing Festy wheels (Capri calipers are too big for Festy rim contours) even though the screwball 114.3 x 4 bolt pattern is the same.

      This is a fast summary and I'm sure if there are errors in this text the next wizard 'coming up to bat' with advice will 'pipe up' with corrections to my advice.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by FestYboy View Post
        capri swap = festy bolt pattern with 9.6" OR 10.2" vented rotors (the big ones are XR2)

        aspire and Rio swap = 4x100 pattern with as big as 9.6" vented rotors

        i like the capri swap BUT, you have to use aspire LCAs to make them work... and 14" wheels minimum.
        I stand corrected on the bolt pattern. 10" rotors sound good. Does it use bearing packs that are readily available? I like the sound of that swap also.
        Jack Byrd,
        1991 Capri
        1988 Festiva LX, 240K
        1970 Chev C10
        1977 Airstream Argosy MH

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Bert View Post
          The swap over to Aspire/Rio fronts is overall monumental for Festys not just because the components are larger but because they are infinitely easier to service. Floating (ie 2 retaining screws out (if you still use these) rotors means you can change them with almost no effort) rotors is wonderful and then to discover the those rotors are vented (each braking face is separated by cooling fins) is another. As to brake upgrades beyond Aspire-size is a moot point; you've already instantly moved up from a 6 to a V8 so just how big does that V8 have to be. Aspire is big, early Rio is bigger and 03-04? is biggest. The Aspire/Rio upgrade also gets you a more universal 4 x 100 bolt pattern for choice of 13-14-15" rims.


          Festys/Aspires/Rios (unfortunately) all have the same archaic (stupid) pre-load spacer front bearing setup and if you can learn to deal with one of them you can deal with the others.

          Capri brakes, as I understand it, are merely oversized versions of Festys; non-floating solids that will not allow you to re-use your existing Festy wheels (Capri calipers are too big for Festy rim contours) even though the screwball 114.3 x 4 bolt pattern is the same.

          This is a fast summary and I'm sure if there are errors in this text the next wizard 'coming up to bat' with advice will 'pipe up' with corrections to my advice.
          Thanks, I already have some 14" wheels (Festy pattern) that I really like so that's no problem. I need lower control arms anyway. Gotta check out the bearing situation on the Capri. From reading the suspension thread, there seems to be no real gain from changing the rear beam and I don't think I want dual bolt patterns and prefer period style wheels which rarely come with dual bolt patterns.

          This is helping tremendously, thanks,
          Jack Byrd,
          1991 Capri
          1988 Festiva LX, 240K
          1970 Chev C10
          1977 Airstream Argosy MH

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by greywolf200 View Post
            Thanks, I already have some 14" wheels (Festy pattern) that I really like so that's no problem. I need lower control arms anyway. Gotta check out the bearing situation on the Capri. From reading the suspension thread, there seems to be no real gain from changing the rear beam and I don't think I want dual bolt patterns and prefer period style wheels which rarely come with dual bolt patterns.

            This is helping tremendously, thanks,
            Timken SET11 is used on the Capri, the Festiva and the Aspire front knuckle. You need two sets per side.
            Last edited by TominMO; 05-27-2013, 08:58 AM.
            90 Festy (Larry)--B6M (Matt D. modified B6 head), header, 5-speed, Capri XR2 front brakes, many other little mods
            09 Kia Rondo--a Festy on steroids!

            You can avoid reality, but you can't avoid the consequences of avoiding reality--Ayn Rand

            Disaster preparedness

            Tragedy and Hope.....Infowars.com.....The Drudge Report.....Founding Fathers.info

            Think for yourself.....question all authority.....re-evaluate everything you think you know. Red-pill yourself!

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by TominMO View Post
              Timken SET11 is used on the Capri, the Festiva and the Aspire front knuckle. You need two sets per side.
              So all use this same shim set-up to set the adjustment of the front bearings so there is no gain in that area. The Capri bearing is the same design as the Festiva so the only improvement is in larger ventilated discs.

              Thanks, it's all getting clearer,
              Jack Byrd,
              1991 Capri
              1988 Festiva LX, 240K
              1970 Chev C10
              1977 Airstream Argosy MH

              Comment


              • #8
                ^And with the Capri swap you are still "stuck" with bolt on rotors. To me, if you're gonna do a swap, why not get the best you can, unless you're just set on the wheels that are stock bolt pattern.

                Best bang for the buck, IMO is the early Rio swap which seems to be the same as an auto Aspire swap. It gives you a knuckle that uses the same calipers as an Escort( read easily and cheaply available; as an example my loaded rebuilt calipers were $50 for the set plus shipping) The later Rios use a different caliper design that is unique/bad/expensive. It's too big and bulky IMO, and I don't care for the more modern pad design is uses.

                Only benefit to using the late model Rio to swap, IMO on a mostly stock Festiva, is that is uses studs from the factory, but the conversion is so cheap and easy that it's a moot point, again IMO.
                Any difference that makes no difference is no difference.

                Old Blue- New Tricks
                91 Festiva FSM PDF - Dropbox

                Comment


                • #9
                  Only thing I would add is that if you wanted to stay with 4x114, Rocketman has a conversion to a Mitsubishi rotor that can be installed from the front. But I would only go this route if I wanted absolute maximum possible braking force (without going to expensive custom components, that is) and wanted to keep 4x114.

                  Aspire or Rio = no-brainer.

                  Sketch, what years are you referring to as "early Rio"?
                  Last edited by TominMO; 05-28-2013, 07:52 AM.
                  90 Festy (Larry)--B6M (Matt D. modified B6 head), header, 5-speed, Capri XR2 front brakes, many other little mods
                  09 Kia Rondo--a Festy on steroids!

                  You can avoid reality, but you can't avoid the consequences of avoiding reality--Ayn Rand

                  Disaster preparedness

                  Tragedy and Hope.....Infowars.com.....The Drudge Report.....Founding Fathers.info

                  Think for yourself.....question all authority.....re-evaluate everything you think you know. Red-pill yourself!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    02 and under use the old style caliper and you have to add studs if you want them.
                    Looks like this


                    New style has threads in the caliper and through hole mounting ears on the knuckle.
                    Here is a link that shows the new style knuckles, pads, and calipers.
                    Last edited by sketchman; 05-28-2013, 08:44 AM.
                    Any difference that makes no difference is no difference.

                    Old Blue- New Tricks
                    91 Festiva FSM PDF - Dropbox

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Any garage with a press should be able to change the rotors and bearings for you. I took the steering knuckle off my 88 festiva and took them to the local garage and had the bearings and rotors changed for 20 bucks per wheel. they used a hydrolic press to separate the assembly and put it back together again.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by TominMO View Post
                        Only thing I would add is that if you wanted to stay with 4x114, Rocketman has a conversion to a Mitsubishi rotor that can be installed from the front. But I would only go this route if I wanted absolute maximum possible braking force (without going to expensive custom components, that is) and wanted to keep 4x114.

                        Aspire or Rio = no-brainer.

                        Sketch, what years are you referring to as "early Rio"?
                        Bhazard is the only one I know of to have done the 323/Capri Big Brake upgrade & apply it to the Festiva. It solves the captured rotor problem and offers more rotor and swept area



                        It's really not that involved. If you're not up to the job, I sell machined hubs or even whole bolt on Big Brake upgrades depending on your budget
                        Last edited by Rocketman; 05-28-2013, 05:15 PM.
                        1991 Mercury Capri XR2 "GTXR2" BPT Swapped AWD Conversion

                        Rocketchips!
                        High Flow B3/B6/BP VAF Adapters for sale!
                        Bolt-on Weber Carb Adapters!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Huge brakes suck. Just do an aspire swap and be done with it.
                          91GL BP/F3A with boost
                          13.79 @ 100, 2.2 60' on 8 psi and 155R12's

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Brad is right. ^
                            1988 Ford Festiva "Sonic" BPT g25mr MS2 standalone ecu, FOTY '11, Best Beater FMV, Fan Favorite FMVI

                            1989 Ford Mustang GT 5.slow

                            1996 Ford F-150

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by sketchman View Post
                              ^And with the Capri swap you are still "stuck" with bolt on rotors. To me, if you're gonna do a swap, why not get the best you can, unless you're just set on the wheels that are stock bolt pattern.
                              Pardon my ignorance, but what is the problem with "bolt on rotors". I'n aware of them, but no experience.

                              Thanks,
                              Jack Byrd,
                              1991 Capri
                              1988 Festiva LX, 240K
                              1970 Chev C10
                              1977 Airstream Argosy MH

                              Comment

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