Well, it looks like the rear axle is bent. Aspire time?

[Larry Hampton]

The bearings make a squalling noise, but the top is leaned out and the front is toe'd in a bit, likely a curb shot.

The tire is worn on the inside and outside.

I'll head to PAP some day this week at lunchtime to see what's available.

As I understand it, if you get the Aspire axle, you need to get the front mounts as well. Anything else? Then I guess the problem is, I'll need wheels as well. Maybe just going back to the Festy axle is best, or can you put the Festy hubs on the Aspire axle?

I bought the car for the mileage, not performance.

[TominMO]

Aspire time!

[htchbck]

you cannot put the festi hubs on the aspire axle, the bolt pattern is different. You can use aspire wheels on the aspire axle, or many many other small wheels. The aspire axle is 4x100mm and the festiva axle is 4x114.3mm.

[TominMO]

Aspire time!

Aspire time!

[blkfordsedan]

Depending on how bad it is, you may be able to put shims between the axle stub plate and the axle beam. Might be able to get it close enough that that you get acceptable tire wear. Trying to find an old-school alignment shop in your area that's willing to do it may be a challenge. You may be able to buy some shims from them and do it yourself.

[Larry Hampton]

Well, are the axle stubs the same? if not, is the axle stub bolt pattern the same?

I have (I guess) 12" aluminum GL wheels on the car with almost brand new tires. I really don't want to change wheels at this time.

Looking at a manual, it has Festiva and Capri in it, I know the Capri had a different rear axle, independant, but would the bolt pattern be the same on the wheels and would it bolt in? (I'm guessing not, that the pan is probably totally different.)

[Larry Hampton]

Depending on how bad it is, you may be able to put shims between the axle stub plate and the axle beam. Might be able to get it close enough that that you get acceptable tire wear. Trying to find an old-school alignment shop in your area that's willing to do it may be a challenge. You may be able to buy some shims from them and do it yourself.

Yeah, shims are kinda scary though. I really would like to do the Aspire swap, but that's not really in the cards right now. I guess if I did, aftermarket wheels with the 4x100 & 4x114.3 would be the trick. Is the backspacing the same for the Aspire and Festiva?

[blkfordsedan]

If an Aspire swap doesn't fit the bill right now, the next best would be a replacement axle beam from another Festy. It may be the problem is in the stub shaft assy itself and the actual beam is OK? You may be able to just swap the stub shaft assy from another Festy....that would be fairly easy to do. My guess, however, is the mounting flange on the axle beam is bent. Have you had it put on an alignment rack? Do you know how far out it is?

To answer your question, the Festy axle stubs will not bolt to an Aspire beam.

[Larry Hampton]

Haven't put it on a rack, the top of the tire leans out and the front is toe'd in, I'm pretty sure it's the flange.

Found a white '93 at PAP, still had the full rear axle under it. $35, planning on getting it Saturday. The car also was an A/C car, has most of the wiring and has the stuff that goes on the firewall. The condenser and compressor are gone and the hoses cut. I'm going to try and snag some of that stuff too.

Drove it over there, had problems getting back. Will post in the REPAIR HELP FORUM.

[freshtiva]

Ive got a couple of unbend original torsion beams already removed from the cars collecting dust. Id take $50 for your pick.

[Larry Hampton]

Went to PAP today at lunch to pull the axle out of the only Festy they had. Got the whole thing minus the cables as I couldn't figure out how to disconnect the main cable. I even got the control arm mounts, drums, ect. The assembly was $35, but the rats charged me $7.50/ea for the drums, two $2 core charges for said drums so $49!!! I grabbed my ankles and took it like a man, no lube.....

[freshtiva]

Went to PAP today at lunch to pull the axle out of the only Festy they had. Got the whole thing minus the cables as I couldn't figure out how to disconnect the main cable. I even got the control arm mounts, drums, ect. The assembly was $35, but the rats charged me $7.50/ea for the drums, two $2 core charges for said drums so $49!!! I grabbed my ankles and took it like a man, no lube.....

Nice lunch break !!

[Larry Hampton]

I did it in right at 50 minutes, in and out the door. The engine looked pretty complete, but that was about it. It was a 5-spd car that the tranny was gone, no good body panels, maybe the hatch. It was an L, no front seats, had A/C but the compressor and condenser were gone and the lines cut. Might go back for the radio harness as it still had the factory AM/FM radio in it, mine is hacked. Most of the glass was out of it, no bumpers. The radiator and fan were in the back seat.

[htchbck]

$49 ain't bad at all for the complete assembly. I've seen yards asking a couple hundred before, both for Aspire or Festy.

[bravekozak]

I drove the car with just the Aspire rear swapped for a while. The slight tilt made it look like a rear wheel drive car. Braking was great though.