Bought a 91 Festiva L. Scary Sloppy Suspension.

[nc_festiva]

So I just bought my first festiva for 960 this morning. It seems to run good but while test driving i noticed when i made any sudden turns of the wheel it had tons of body roll, super sloshy. I haven't taken it above 45 as its not plated or insured yet but don't care too until I can address this issue. I have searched and read that it seems to be a common festiva. I've never ridden in one before but it seems extra bad. I have read about switching out sway bars from the aspire and possibly adding one to the rear. All seems simple enough and I am more than willing to takle the project but I just wanted to get opinions about what would be the best option for strictly a daily driver, not trying to race or anything, just want a safe driver that doesn't scare me to drive in the rain. I also read about upgrading to a 13 inch rim with a wider tire should help also. Which i would like also if there is a direct swap without any spacer or adapters, which i don't want. I am going to the junkyard tomorrow and kinda need the advice of you seasoned festiva guys to point me in the right direction when it comes to which parts to go after.

Also is it possible that switching out the shocks will help? I want to ask this prior to buying since they seem to be 60 bucks a piece at the autoparts store.

Thanks in advance for the help.

I will be on a lot in the coming weeks as I have two weeks to wait on the title to be switch into the previous owners name before I can switch it into my name and start driving it and I would like to have it road worthy by then.

I am also looking into the aspire brake swap cause the stock festy brakes don't seem to have enough stopping power to me.

[1chrisapple]

do the aspire swap.
needed
aspire front knuckle, outer tie rod ends and brake hoses.
for the rear
the whole aspire rear beam with brake hoses and struts also grab the wheels.

you will now have a 4x100 bolt pattern wheel 13" and better brakes and u can grab the front swaybar of aspire to and no it doesn't matter what year aspire

the rear aspire beam has a sway bar built into it the festy don't so that helps a lot

I have 2 festys and both are aspire swapped u will like it way better.also grab the aspire master cylinder and brake booster.they are both bigger.its not required but it bolts on just have to bend ur lines just a bit and that way u have all aspire brake system.works the way it did from a factory aspire good luck.

[rmoltis]

Just buy a set of new kyb struts.

On eBay you can buy a full set for $147 for all four.
And it would help I think the most if just making a dd.
And don't want to modify too much.

[Zanzer]

Where are you located? There are a ton of NC members on here that can help you out and probably find any parts you are looking for.

The quick/cheap path would be Geo Metro rims so you can run 175/70/13's no spacers needed and it will handle much better. The 12" tires are the single most dangerous thing on a Festiva. Then add an NB Miata brake booster and master cylinder, it will double your braking power and can be found on Ebay all day long for $50 or less.

New shocks/struts wouldn't hurt and also check the sway bar end link bushings. You can get Moog K9737 poly bushings at O'Reilly for $14 and it's a nice upgrade.

I (and a few other members on here) still run a mostly stock suspension and brake setup with great results. There's even one member who road races his and gives cars that are worth 100x the price of a Festiva a very hard time

[TominMO]

If it's scary sloppy, I'd immediately look at the LCA ball joints and tie rod ends. Don't drive it again until you do; make sure those parts are safe. A super-worn LCA ball joint can separate from its socket and cause a crash. You might even have worn inner tie rods. And while you're at it, look at the two bellows on the steering rack. They are likely bad, but are cheap to replace and easy too, esp. if you are doing tie rod stuff anyway.

My Aspire SE was scary sloppy driving home from the purchase. Couldn't take it over 55. It needed both LCAs, both rack bellows/boots, and one outer and inner tie rod. Plus new struts front and rear.

Big +1 on the 13" Metro rims (1995 and later Metros). I found four in a JY, with new mounted and balanced 175/70x13 tires, for $64!

[nc_festiva]

I'm located in Greensboro but I frequent Salisbury and Durham to visit my parents. As far as scary sloppy it is to me no idea what a festiva is supposed to be like but my truck suspension isn't great but seems like a Cadillac in comparison.

[Zanzer]

Good call on the LCA's Tom! I thought about it but didn't include it in my post. My fingers move faster than my brain LOL

My 93 had worn LCA's and bad tie rod ends when I first got it and it had the lateral stability of a pat of butter on a hot skillet :mrgreen:

[Zanzer]

NC_Festiva...if you go to Salisbury then you should drive on down 85 to Kannapolis. That's where Festievil3 is and I'm down at his place quite a bit. We could look over your suspension and you can drive our cars to get an idea of what they handle like in good stock form.

And since you're in Gboro and go to Durahm you can bring it to Madness in a couple of weeks

[nc_festiva]

^^^^ Butter on a Skillet describes it well.

Planning on going to the Pullapart in Charlotte tomorrow since they say they have two festivas. Need a drivers fender and possibly door. Light damage but would rather just replace if i can find them in good condition.

Also need a bezel that goes around the hvac controls and radio mine is busted to shit. Also gonna try to get escort seat inards to fix mine as they are shot. It needs some tlc but i think for 960 i still got a good deal with only a 134k miles.

Was able to give it a full tuneup including air filter for 57 bucks. Which is a welcomed price considering that plug wires for my truck are 88 dollars.

[Zanzer]

Getting rid of the 12's will help that A LOT.

The aqua car on the first row at PAP should have what you need. The white one is pretty much stripped and I don't recall seeing the bezel on either. They have a ton of Escorts.

[nc_festiva]

Since my car is aqua that is great it will already be color matched.

Also any tips on a good quiet exhaust that won't negatively affect the mpg? The PO owner gutted the exhaust and its loud and sounds awful. I don't want an aftermarket sound just something that is clean and quiet.

[Zanzer]

Mine has 2" stainless exhaust and a Borla muffler so quiet isn't in the equation LOL

I'd suggest just getting a factory style replacement muffler at any of the McParts stores. They should be very quiet. If he gutted the cat too we should be able to round you up one of those. I just replaced mine with a high flow one.

[kingstonpygmies]

I have a factory muffler I will sell. Bought it off a member here but have never installed it. Pm me if your interested

Sent from Kingston Ga from my hillbilly handheld

[nc_festiva]

Also what is the deal with the lack of a passenger side mirror? Did it come as an option? Or is there another car I can pull them from?

Thinking that best option would be to get these off ebay? Good Price a third of what it would cost to get the parts from the auto store? Would there be any compatibility issues with the aspire components I am looking to put on?

Thanks for all the quick responses.

[nc_festiva]

Sorry forgot to post the link.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-lower-Control-Arms-TIE-END-Ford-FESTIVA-90-91-92-93-/160543333486?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AFord%7CModel%3AFestiva&hash=item256120dc6e&vxp=mtr