kia rio big brake swap??

[88festivasam]

OK, before i get yelled at i searched the forum for like 45 minutes for the thread on the Kia Rio brake swap and never found it. I remember reading it a while back and now it seems to be missing. The only real question that i have is which tie rod ends do i need? I remember something about the taper was different than a festiva's but i don't remember which make/model/year that i need for the swap. I would love to see that post again or gain some information/ pictures of the swap. Thanks guys! Sorry if i missed it and just posted for no good reason.

[TominMO]

The problem with our searches is that we can't do three-letter words, like "kia" and "rio". :-(

[purg3d]

Looks like 01-02 Rio swaps can use Festiva rod ends.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?41641-Official-Kia-Rio-Front-Strut-Assembly-Brake-Install&highlight=kia+rio+brake+swap

03-04 Will need Escort GT rod ends.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?46125-KIA-RIO-brake-parts&p=641588&viewfull=1#post641588

[purg3d]

Good reads, but dont mind what I said. Try the search term "kia rio".

[bravekozak]

Search for "Rio brake" using double quotation marks.

[mr2gq]

I have them on my car and the tie rod ends are specific to the rio hubs. The festiva is smaller in diameter

[Safety Guy]

I just checked Rockauto parts numbers.

Rios from '01 and '05 are all the same outer tie rod end part numbers for Beck/Arnley, Moog, Auto 7 and Raybestos.

These are also the same as for '94 Aspire.

They are NOT the same for '94 Escorts, though we have used Escort tie rod ends for standard Aspire knuckle swaps.

My guess is there is some small difference between Aspire/Rio and Escort tie rod ends which warrants a different part number but seems to work identically as the Aspire/Rio part.

I WOULD ONLY USE FESTIVA TIE ROD ENDS AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE!! They will get you to the shop but they are not taper compatible with Aspire or Rio knuckles! Any long term or hard use of Festiva rod ends with the Aspire/Rio knuckles is not even close to design specs. Dangers unknown.

To be fair, use of Escort tie rod ends is a bit of an unknown. They look alike and seem to have proper taper. They seem to work fine.

Be careful where you cut corners, especially with your steering and suspension!

Karl

[88festivasam]

thanks everyone for the replies. greatly appreciated. also the tip about the search function was very helpful. thanks everyone!

[88festivasam]

I have a random brake hangup issue. About 2 months ago I did my Rio swap. It had no problems until a month ago I had to replace the right rear brake hose and wheel cylinder because it was hanging up. That fixed that problem. Now the left front is hanging up but it is weird. It is random when it will do it. And it goes away as soon as I come to a complete stop and start off again. It never happens right after I've hit the brakes. So I don't know if its maybe the caliper or brake hose or master. When I did my Rio swap I reused the left caliper and put a new one on the right because the left squeezed back easily and the slides were nice and free. The pads aren't stuck either. Any ideas

[Gomez]

The Rio set-up is really bad about holding water inside the caliper itself. Remove the cir-clip holding the seal on the piston. I bet you see all kinds of rust or corrosion. I have a set from Autozone that has a lifetime warranty. I bet I have replaced them at least 3 times in the past 2 years because I have the same issue as you are describing. I've tried painting them and pretty much everything to no avail. They just require maintenance. Moving forward I only look for the 03-05 swaps at the junk yards now since it has a totally redesigned set-up.

[88festivasam]

Ok thanks. I wish I had known that beforehand. Haha. Is it equally as easy of a swap for the newer years or is there other things that go along with it? Also are they bigger brakes than on the 02's or not much difference other than design? Thanks for the response

[Gomez]

They are bigger and have a better design. Also just as simple to bolt on. I ALWAYS buy the tie rod end for the corresponding car. That way there isn't any chance of error in sizing.

[88festivasam]

Sweet. Thanks for the info. Ill have to keep that in mind for my other festy lol

[Gomez]

The 03+ is for the brakes swap only. I think the struts are different.

[88festivasam]

Ok. Ill keep that in mind. I can't believe how well these cars stop with even the 02 swap. Wow. It is about enough to put you through the windshield.lol now if only it would accelerate as fast as it decelerates. Haha.