What is the aspire brake swap advantage?

[iceracerdude]

Would someone please tell me, what is the advantage to this aspire brake swap/upgrage?

[fastivaca]

Bigger brakes, easier service as the front discs are mounted from the front, more common bolt pattern for more wheel choices. Those are the main ones I think.

[htchbck]

yep, basically just bigger better brakes and the 4x100 bolt pattern opens up a lot of new wheel choices... plus the big shiny brakes look cool

[mattswabb]

Re: What is the aspire brake swap advantage?

Would someone please tell me, what is the advantage to this aspire brake swap/upgrage?

stopping is a nice advantage.

[Jimmy]

If you use the whole rear beam (not sure there is any other way to do it) you also get a stiffer beam - same function as a rear sway bar.

[Safety Guy]

Like Jimmy said, the Aspire rear beam has the stabilizer bar welded into it. Look at both rear axles and you'll see it. This bar keeps the axle from twisting as much, adding rear roll stiffness, where the Festiva needs it most (adding a thicker front bar will only increase understeer at the limit!).

Advantages, in approx order of importance (to me):

-larger front brakes with vented rotors (cooler and stronger braking)
-larger rear drums (same as above, to a lesser extent)
-better bolt pattern for more wheel choices
-can remove front discs w/o special tools for easier/ cheaper maintenance
-rear stabilizer bar stiffens rear roll radius considerably
-you can actually use your new parking brake, which works really well!
-some of the Aspire brake and suspension parts are cheaper

If you use cut down Aspire springs like I have on two cars, you also get stiffer springs at little added cost. For the parking brake, either install the Aspire cable (prolly from the 2 door) or make an adaptor for one of the brake sides, since the distance side to side is about 1/2" more for the Aspire axle.

Also, using Aspire rear struts gives you about 3/4" more clearance to mount bigger tires in back.

One example of cheaper parts is to use '91 to '95 Escort tie rod ends in place of the Aspire ends. Saves you at least $10 to $20 PER SIDE.

One more thing...

The satisfaction of having a "custom suspension and brake setup."

"I DID THAT!"

The Aspire brake setup is meant for a 200 pound heavier car, and the same size rotors are used on even heavier cars (Kia Rio, Ford Escort). Keep that in mind!

Karl

[Damkid]

before i did the aspire swap, i could not get my stereo to move around from hitting the brakes, with the aspire swap, the box comes flying at me

[25Horseplay]

with the aspire swap, the box comes flying at me

Better think about bolting it down!

[iceracerdude]

I've noticed that the control arms are about 3 times more money than the Aspires. However, I do like the more conventional front rotor configuration. I've upgraded to a 97 Aspire and I'm going to give my racing buddy the 90 Festy. I'm giving him the 97 Aspire b3 engine and I'm keeping my b6. The first thing that I've noticed, is that the rear end is way tighter than my old festy, even after having put Aspire springs and fresh kyb's on the back of it. In fact the whole car is way stiffer. By the way, I'm looking for some parts for the Aspire. The guy I got it from had hit a deer, and I need a drivers side fender, front bumper, and a hood.

[Damkid]

with the aspire swap, the box comes flying at me

Better think about bolting it down!

it only happens when i slam on the brakes, but yeah i agree that it needs to be bolted down

[Safety Guy]

Iceracerdude wrote:

I've noticed that the control arms are about 3 times more money than the Aspires.

On ebay I recall that Festiva control arms are either the same or cheaper than Aspire arms. Last price I recall was about $80 or so with shipping from either FMS or Bestsuspension.

Check it out!

Karl

[iceracerdude]

Thats what I'm talkin about (ebay), now they're $75 each or 2 for a buck fity. I think the ones I got for the festy only cost me $54 for two last year!

[mattswabb]

You shouldn't be using the aspire control arms on the swap. Use the Festiva arm.

[Sho_tyme_psi]

Owned by ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/88-93-Ford-Festiva-Lower-Ball-Joints-Joint-Control-Arm_W0QQitemZ190056634308QQcategoryZ33580QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Hope that helps.

[iceracerdude]

I thought the aspire arms are longer than the festy's?