aspire suspension swap questions.

[weside]

1st off is there a link to it because i cant find it? i want to switch over the suspension on my 93 festiva L to aspire suspension. i want all 4 struts to raise it up(and because i need them) to put 13 wheels on it. do i need aspire or 01 kia rio struts or 2 aspire in back and 2 kia rio in front?
i NEED LCAs, TREs, bushings, cv axles. cv axles there are 2 one is 23 7/8 long, the other(higher performance) is 24 3/32 long for drivers side which one should i get? same with passenger side there is a slightly longer one.
thanks!

[FestYboy]

what the...???

ok, you want the ENTIRE rear beam from the aspire (including struts and springs) that will bolt DIRECTLY to the festy.
next you want the aspire knuckles and outer tierod ends.
you use FESTIVA LCAs and CV axles (so, the shorter cv options) there is no "performance" axle for the festy or aspire.
you can use either festy, aspire OR rio struts up front with any combination of spring (all will interchange).

[georgeb]

I've never done one but one of mine has it...at least some of it. You can use your old axles and LCAs. The Tie-rod ends need to be from Aspire. The Rio struts have ball bearing hats that make it steer easier.

[nonamekid]

cv axles there are 2 one is 23 7/8 long, the other(higher performance) is 24 3/32 long for drivers side which one should i get? same with passenger side there is a slightly longer one.
thanks!

what the...???
you use FESTIVA LCAs and CV axles (so, the shorter cv options) there is no "performance" axle for the festy or aspire.

The longer axles are not performance axles, they are aspire axles. If this is a parts store telling you they are performance, walk away and go to another parts store.

[weside]

oreily has 2 kinds, heres the link for the 93 festiva L .
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/se...iva&vi=1128259.

as you can see for manual transmission there is 59.99 shorter ones and 69.99 little longer ones.

the aspire cv axles are (for drivers side) are 24" for "performance" and 24 1/8 for regular. so at least for oreily there different.

i am die hard o reily, i have had nothing but great luck with parts, service and i get a discount since its my dads store. napa and autozone have constantly gave me wrong parts and defective parts, but that my opinion and experience.

[weside]

thanks festyboy for the info. but why do i need to change the rear beam? cant i just change the rear struts?

[Festiva_Fred]

I dont get where your coming up with the ''perfomance'' no such thing but anyways you use festy axles with the aspire swap. Theres no change in the axles with the swap, swap out the front knuckle assembly and use aspire or escort tie rod ends, they have the right taper on the end to fit the steering knuckle correctly. DO NOT use festiva tie rod ends, the taper is wrong.

[Occhty]

Maybe you should clarify what you want?

Aspire swap consist of swapping the rear beam for suspension upgrade and tire size, not just height.

[weside]

oh ok, i want higher on back for 13" tires, but i'm not rich so if i cold just use struts, but what difference would the rear beam make? if its worth it then it worth it.

and i use the word performance, its called "select" look at the measurements one is 610mm which is 24 3/32(also in pic of cv axle) and the other is 23 7/8 (about a milometer difference.)

i'm not trying to be an ass, this is the research of many hours on computer since my driver side axle was way stretched to the point it popped out on me while driving and leak t-fluid all over the road and my driveway.

[Occhty]

It's typically the aspire struts, brake hoses, knuckles, rotors, calipers, wheels. (in front)
Complete ibeam axel, emergency brake cable, brake line hoses, and wheels (in rear)
Master cylinder, sometimes brake booster. (engine compartment)
And aspire coil springs (for improved handling)
Oh... And some also get the front swaybar, it's beefier

The aspire automatics have thicker rotors too.

If you use the aspire axel unbolt from the body as the hinge perch is slightly wider.

The aspire bolt pattern makes it easier to find rims and tires as well as brake and handeling improvements, the rear beam has sway/torsion bar. The festy doesn't.

In my opinion it's worth it to upgrade.
But if your not looking for performance, just get some geo 13 inch rims.

I've always used the cheep orielly cv axles, never had any problems with pull out

I'm running a full aspire suspension swap with uncut springs, escort zx2 14 inch rims, tires 185/60/14 . It's a little rough ride, like a truck, but handles better than my Monte Carlo SS on corners

[FestYboy]

thanks festyboy for the info. but why do i need to change the rear beam? cant i just change the rear struts?

well it usually comes down to this: when swapping rear struts, on a festy, it's usually a PITA and requires much cursing and cutting. swapping the entire I beam is all of 4 bolts a side and routing the e-brake cable and brake hoses. this gives you larger rear brakes and a more readily available wheel bolt patern. same goes for the front (except the cursing and cutting part) and it's 2 bolts and 4 nuts.

if you're looking for more load handling, find some aspire front struts, put them up front and use the festy front springs in the rear cut down to level the car.

[Bert]

You're getting lots of valuable advice.

Best/easiest thing to do is get hold of an entire dead/derelict/dying Aspire (automatics have thicker rotors than the manuals but either way you're going to get way better brakes) in that way you know you will have everything you could possibly need, and you'll be able to carefully disassemble everything. Plus you get a spare engine and a more effecient-design rocker arrangement. Let me warn you some of the bolts are gonna be a bugger to get loose. Shock absorber to trailing arm will likely be one of them.

Front strut top hats will need to be scavenged off a '2 hole' Kia Rio. You don't have to have those to do the job but you'll never regret putting them on while you're at it.

[Ozark Whizzer]

Great info guys! I acquired my Festy about 6 months ago and am still trying to just figure out where to start. I think the brake/suspension swap will be first. Thanks.

[1990new]

Ok... Today I pulled the front strut assembly and steering knuckles/hub assemblies from a 2001 and a 2002 Kia Rio (4 total), I also pulled the rear beam assembly and e brake from
a 1997 Aspire.
On my 89 automatic, I'm really just looking to make the steering easier. If I install Rio strut assemblies and keep the Festiva knuckles/hubs, will that do the trick without causing other problems?

If I do the complete swap on Bessie (90 LPlus), will I be able to use the 14" alloy wheels from the Kia Rio without other modifications?

[1990new]

More questions...
The rear shocks on the beam I pulled are both totally shot. There was no sign of rust anywhere on the car but the struts bolts were frozen into the strut so bad that
I had to cut them both off. I could back the bolt stubs out easily after cutting off the shocks. I have ordered new KYB's from Rock Auto but
one of the spring insulator is in bad shape. Could not find any at rock auto and I cannot seem to find any that are vehicle specific to the Aspire.


Can someone give me a recommendation about where they got theirs?