Advise on Struts

[bolokid]

For both the 91 (auto) and 93 (5 speed) I am about to purchase KYB 340009 rear struts from Rockauto. Any comments, suggestions, experience, advise?

Thanks.

[TominMO]

For both the 91 (auto) and 93 (5 speed) I am about to purchase KYB 340009 rear struts from Rockauto. Any comments, suggestions, experience, advise?

Thanks.

The rear KYBs are made for the Festy, not the Aspire, and so have a lower spring perch that is ~5/8" lower than the Aspire Monroe lower spring perch (there is no Aspire KYB, unfortunately). You can compensate for this by having narrow tires, like 165s, or short-enough tires that it is not a rubbing factor, or use 1/4" spacers--preferably with studs, which will be far more convenient if using spacers. A 175/70x13 tire might fit the KYBs without spacers. I'd still strongly recommend studs anyway, tho, installed with red Loc-tite.

Front studs, 1.5 inch long: http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Automo...=gorilla+studs
Rear studs for spacers, 1.75 inch long: http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Automo...=gorilla+studs

By all means get the KYBs, and deal appropriately with the clearance issue. They definitely damp better than the Monroes.

[bolokid]

I am currently running 12's but will probably change over to 13's on the 5 speed when I wear out this set of tires.

Thanks for the info on the studs.

[TominMO]

I am currently running 12's but will probably change over to 13's on the 5 speed when I wear out this set of tires.

Thanks for the info on the studs.

If you go with 155/80 or 165/70x13, you'll be fine with the rear KYBs, without spacers. For convenience, get studs anyway tho--the 1.5" long ones.

These are very good tires, and even inexpensive. Don't get cheap Chinese tires.

http://www.tires-easy.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=135&cart_id=3648983.135.29976&sowigan=GAN&Breite=155&Quer=80&Felge=13&Speed=&LoadRange=&kategorie=6&Marke=&ranzahl=4&tyre_for=Passenger&x_tyre_for=&rsmFahrzeugart=PKW&search_tool=standard&details=Ordern&typ=R-145727

[F3BZ]

i never had luck with kumho. they used to have 12" ones. i went thru 2 sets. both after about 20K miles of moderately aggressive driving. now the GFs kia amanti with 17K miles of very sedate driving needs the OEM kumhos replaced.

[TominMO]

i never had luck with kumho. they used to have 12" ones. i went thru 2 sets. both after about 20K miles of moderately aggressive driving. now the GFs kia amanti with 17K miles of very sedate driving needs the OEM kumhos replaced.

12" Kumhos will be cheap Chinese tires, like all others. I have had four sets of Solus KR21s and never a problem with any tire. And they last a very long time.

Somebody recently mentioned a Japanese 12", but I forget the brand; and they might be cheap Chinese tires anyway. My current fave is the General Altimax RT43.

[bhazard]

Yoko

[TominMO]

Yoko

Right, these.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=Y372&partnum=67SR2372&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

Don't look all that impressive and are very expensive to boot. Better to move up to 13" rims and get some good tires.

[Team Lightning]

Those Yokomaha's are the factory tires mine had when I drove it off the dealers lot with 12 miles on it

[TominMO]

Those Yokomaha's are the factory tires mine had when I drove it off the dealers lot with 12 miles on it

Right, entry-level tires for an entry-level economy car. And tire technology has improved a lot in 20+ years.

[Team Lightning]

They might have been entry level, but they were the best 12" tires mine ever had on it. Nothing in 12" ever matched them in 260,000 miles when I switched it to 13"s.

[TorqueEffect]

I run 175-70-13s with KYBs all around, I got some rubbing on the fenders with passengers in the car, but that is about it.
Also I am using aftermarket Konigs with a 38mm offset, and have a rear aspire swap.

[scottmartin49]

Has anyone used VW MK2/3 rear shocks in their Festiva? What springs and perches did you use? How much do they raise the ride height?

[rmoltis]

I looked up aspire kyb struts on some foreign kyb catalogs for cross reference. And the 34009 are spec'd for the aspire.

Also when I lined up my stock OEM old struts with my new excel 34009 rear struts. The perches look to be exactly the same height?
I'll double check when I get off work tonight.

Id rather double check first to verify my claims before "locking" in my answer lol.

[TominMO]

I looked up aspire kyb struts on some foreign kyb catalogs for cross reference. And the 34009 are spec'd for the aspire.

Also when I lined up my stock OEM old struts with my new excel 34009 rear struts. The perches look to be exactly the same height?
I'll double check when I get off work tonight.

Id rather double check first to verify my claims before "locking" in my answer lol.

I've measured the Festy KYB rear strut alongside the Aspire Monroe, and the Monroe has a spring perch that is ~5/8" higher.