Escort caliper compatibility with aspire knuckles/rotors.

[tripod808]

I am in the process of gathering misc parts including aspire knuckles to upgrade my braking, steering and suspension.

I am leaning towards running manual aspire rotors since they have less unsprung weight. Those who have run both auto and manual seem to agree that there is little to no difference in braking power between the two. Will the manual rotors be less durable and have a shorter life since they are thinner? Why run the thicker auto rotors?

I would like to use Escort calipers since I have read that they are priced cheaper than aspire calipers. Will the escort calipers be compatible with the auto or manual aspire rotors?

Thanks,
Will

[getnpsi]

manual rotors and calipers are fine. The only issue is in the future for replacements and upgrades for others. In the case of the years of kia rio which we take pieces from: all brakes are the same auto or manual=the same as the aspire automatic. Just slightly less available on 94-97 manual transmission stuff. Plenty of people have mixed and matched and can tell you what they run. On one car i had a manual aspire upgrade, the current car eventually im going 100% kia rio. Some people rock the egt/protege stuff and will help you on the right path.

[PhoenixSHO]

if you want relly better brakes , a full on kia rio swap. rio 03-05. You will need the front knuckles , calipers - bracket and rio outer tie rods. And you will end up with 10 inch vented rotors , studs instead of bolts for wheels , and bigger calipers. The down side = it changes the wheel bolt patern , plus I don't think the 12 inch rims will fit with those big brakes.

[eurotiva]

I have aspire everything with escort calipers.

[90fastiva]

if you want relly better brakes , a full on kia rio swap. rio 03-05. You will need the front knuckles , calipers - bracket and rio outer tie rods. And you will end up with 10 inch vented rotors , studs instead of bolts for wheels , and bigger calipers. The down side = it changes the wheel bolt patern , plus I don't think the 12 inch rims will fit with those big brakes.

Do you know what the wheel pattern is on the rio? I was thinking going this route on my 2nd festy.

[moz]

4/100. Same as protege, and aspire.

[getnpsi]

I don't see location. If rust isnt an issue Id overpay for a whole car and plunk it on a festiva used pads calipers and everything. Still alive to tell about it. It's nice to paint and replace everything pretty with a build thread but i like to drive my S. Oh rio struts top hats springs when all of that is bought seperate it's a few hundred too. Wheels and tires...100-200 bones on this hypothetical rio. if you can get a manual car for under $600 and never are going to swap engines the transmission is worth offering to us. I bet the seats and center console closely fit the festiva...the kia rio is the plains buffalo nothing goes to waste EVEN MORE than aspires and mazdas of the same vintage thanks to research done by many members here. To do an "aspire" upgrade in the rear you still need the aspire beam and handbrake however.

[sketchman]

^Or just drill the stock drums as Charlie did. That seems like the better option any more.

[getnpsi]

true sketch...but i do see spindle issues creep up on here and if i heard any bearing howling from rear id rather go for a whole aspire beam sight unseen before i made my own broke my own rear shock fastener/spindle is stripped/ squirrel cant find a castle nut on xmas car thread. I'm scared of the back end. Ive yet to have an issue but i see others' woes.

[Skrapbob]

What is your location Tripod? I have a rear beam that needs some work (broken captive nut, corrosion), but it's taking up space in my shed. I also have one aspire knuckle assy (left I think).

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to your question about the Escort calipers.

FWIW, I went with early Rio knuckles and calipers. The calipers were included with the knuckle assy from the yard. These were identical to the aspire manual transmission knuckles and calipers in about every way if I remember correctly. I had new Festiva drums redrilled to 4x100 and installed new shoes on the rear.

A $60 alignment, some 13" 4x100 wheels and tires (or larger), and DON'T forget to buy a spare 4x100 spare tire. (Rio will work)

[Team Lightning]

My 93L like Eurotiva has the full Aspire swap and Escort calipers, and a Protege master cylinder.

[Flyin4stroke]

Escort caliper compatibility with aspire knuckles/rotors.

I'm running all aspire calipers, spindle, and rotors manual trans w/escort master cylinder.

[90fastiva]

4/100. Same as protege, and aspire.

Thanks.. Reason I ask I got set nice chrome wheel 4/100 have no use for right now so I just found one.

[tripod808]

if you want relly better brakes , a full on kia rio swap. rio 03-05. You will need the front knuckles , calipers - bracket and rio outer tie rods. And you will end up with 10 inch vented rotors , studs instead of bolts for wheels , and bigger calipers. The down side = it changes the wheel bolt patern , plus I don't think the 12 inch rims will fit with those big brakes.

I'd like to stick to mods that are more common, proven and relatively easy to install. I'm sure I'd be happy with the aspire brake upgrade but I'd be more inclined to do a late Rio swap if I knew more about it. Are there any good write ups? Does 10" rotors necessarily translate to better braking? I plan on having a well rounded system (Miata NB master cylinder&booster,stainless lines, new rotors,calipers and pads).

Is there anyone using a proportioning valve with their aspire setup?

[tripod808]

I don't see location. If rust isnt an issue Id overpay for a whole car and plunk it on a festiva used pads calipers and everything. Still alive to tell about it. It's nice to paint and replace everything pretty with a build thread but i like to drive my S. Oh rio struts top hats springs when all of that is bought seperate it's a few hundred too. Wheels and tires...100-200 bones on this hypothetical rio. if you can get a manual car for under $600 and never are going to swap engines the transmission is worth offering to us. I bet the seats and center console closely fit the festiva...the kia rio is the plains buffalo nothing goes to waste EVEN MORE than aspires and mazdas of the same vintage thanks to research done by many members here. To do an "aspire" upgrade in the rear you still need the aspire beam and handbrake however.

I'm in Oahu, Hawaii and Aspire parts are hard to come by. I have had to buy all my parts online. I agree with you though, I would prefer to buy a whole parts car to donate it's organs.