Bought a 91 Festiva L. Scary Sloppy Suspension.

[scitzz]

Come out for a few hours tomorrow night! Grillin'. Chillin'.

[nc_festiva]

So my shift got changed until this evening so I decided to go tackle the LCA's balljoints tierods etc. The ball joints, inner and outer tierods were so worn that I could touch them with my pinky and they would just flop around. I took some pics and videos so yall can see I'm not exagerating lol. Makes me feel better that I can be pretty sure the replacement of these parts will fix the issues I was having.

[nc_festiva]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3ms61ifuzm2ma5x/20131005_134836.mp4

[nc_festiva]

[scitzz]

Good lord, what happened to that pinch bolt?!?

[nc_festiva]

One could only imagine. It took me using a breaker bar the entire time to get it out. The suspension on this thing is rather scary at the moment. I'll just keep plugging along.

[nc_festiva]

In the morning I am hoping to rent the inner tie rod remover to finish the suspension. I will probably install the new rotors I got from a box of parts I bought on CL from a previous owner of a Festiva. They are so pretty and shiny(yes I am easily enamored).

I got the short shifter installed.

Still scouring CL for a good set of 13's.

Just got a pizza delivery job so I can't wait to get the ole festiva on the road and making me some money.

[scitzz]

In the morning I am hoping to rent the inner tie rod remover to finish the suspension. I will probably install the new rotors I got from a box of parts I bought on CL from a previous owner of a Festiva. They are so pretty and shiny(yes I am easily enamored).

I got the short shifter installed.

Still scouring CL for a good set of 13's.

Just got a pizza delivery job so I can't wait to get the ole festiva on the road and making me some money.

Perfect job for that car!

[TominMO]

I have changed inner tie rods without any special tool. You have to turn the wheel all the way to one side (I forget which) to access the roll pin; knock it out; then use a wrench to unscrew the tie rod itself from the rack. When installing the new tie rod, I used blue Loc-tite rather than a roll pin.

[nc_festiva]

Well, I was unable to find a roll pin on it. I got the tie rod remover tool but the adapters were all way to big for a Festiva application. I have a wrench that fits it but its a stubby wrench that doesn't provide enough leverage. So I am going back to the hardware store to try to buy a longer wrench as the adjustable wrench doesn't want to grab on correctly so i can break it loose.

[nc_festiva]

Finally got the tie rod off. Now I have another issue. LOL. The retention nut on the rotor is destroyed. Gonna have fun trying to get it off.

[nc_festiva]

Finally got all the lcas and tierods switched out. I'm gonna leave the old rotors for now as I afraid that I will probably have to replace the knuckle if i am able to get the old rotor nut off because its so destroyed.

Side note. Any idea if the clearance is wider in the front than the back. I had put 2 geo 12's on the back and they rubbed the suspension really bad. Was hoping i could put them on the front and the fronts on the back and ride until i had a better solution. AKA 13s that fit.

[Spike]

Metro 13s are about the easiest-to-find direct replacement.

'95 and newer Geo Metros.

[TominMO]

Finally got all the lcas and tierods switched out. I'm gonna leave the old rotors for now as I afraid that I will probably have to replace the knuckle if i am able to get the old rotor nut off because its so destroyed.

Side note. Any idea if the clearance is wider in the front than the back. I had put 2 geo 12's on the back and they rubbed the suspension really bad. Was hoping i could put them on the front and the fronts on the back and ride until i had a better solution. AKA 13s that fit.

12s should be too short and too narrow to rub. Can't imagine why they would. Unless you put the wheels on backwards!

[nc_festiva]

they were rubbing on the inside of the tire against the struts and coils.