towing festiva's- can you do it without hurting transmission

[belld]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but can I can tow the festiva with all 4 wheels on the ground... will that hurt anything? I would like to tow it behind my van. I built a front hitch receiver that I am towing it around with now, but it doesn't have an engine or transmission or axles put in it yet. Thanks for your help!

[Unicornasaurus]

It should be fine if you leave it in neutral. Festiva's have 2 tow hooks on the front anyways.

[FB71]

to clarify;

4 or 5spd, no problems, just place in neutral (as stated by Uni)

auto trans, DO NOT DO IT. The engine must be running to run the pump inside the trans, which provides pressurized lube to the bearings and bushings and clutches inside. Flat towing an auto trans results in catastophic failure.

(there are a few exceptions to this statement, but none apply to the Festiva/Aspire)

[25Horseplay]

^Yep, what he said!

[FB71]

It should be fine if you leave it in neutral. Festiva's have 2 tow hooks on the front anyways.

those aren't tow hooks. Those are tie-downs for shipping the car. Its not recommended to tow the car by the tie-downs, although it can be done.

[kzbill]

I think he said:

"but it doesn't have an engine or transmission or axles put in it yet".

Then what exactly will hold the spindles in it????????The axels and nuts hold the bearings in place with the proper torque and the spindles can slip out!!!!! Or at least they can bind on the calipers and have the inner bearing get dirty or creep off, they need that axel or a CV joint end in there.

CAR GO BOOM!

[FB71]

I missed that part. DO NOT TOW WITHOUT HALFSHAFTS IN THE FRONT HUBS!!!!

[phantorn]

they make kits for towing behind motorhomes tho

[scitzz]

Best way to tow any front wheel drive is by getting the front tires off of the ground, always, and every time.

[kzbill]

even on a tow dolly you want the halfshafts in, Most clamp on the front wheels. The only thing holding the front wheel hub together is the halfshaft and nut.

[belld]

I have the wheels on and had the bearings replaced (inner and outer) then put a big washer on both sided ot the wheel to hold the bearings in place while I was towing it back and forth to the local college to do the body work- did I hurt anything? The shafts were not in the wheels (they are on a shelf at home). I'm glad to hear I can tow with my tow bar- makes life much easier (4 sp)

[kzbill]

a big bolt going through them? 3/4" or so?

[nonamekid]

As long as there is something to keep the bearing in the hubs, that is the most important part. I had a bearing fall out the hub just by pushing the car across the yard. It didn't matter because I was taking it to the crusher anyway, but it made it tough to get on the trailer.

[Maxtiva]

NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO you kill a Festiva. OUPS I kill one too to get the roof NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO I'm a Festiva killer too. LOL

[nonamekid]

LOL, I have only gotten rid of festivas when they gave life to other festivas and I didn't have titles for them. One was really really rusty, and the other had been in an accident.