Author Topic: What did you do to your car today? (Read 3013229 times)

Triple Bob · « **Reply #4100 on:** April 30, 2015, 08:17:04 pm »

Quote from: HeliDriver on April 30, 2015, 07:58:36 pm

GTI got new spark plugs, coil packs, engine oil and filter, manual gearbox oil, and one rear shock absorber.

The rest of the shocks (and a bunch of other stuff) should happen in the next few days.

Quick question, when you use a jack like that on the jacking points, which part of the body are you putting on the axle stands? Or are they on the suspension arms?

quadzilla · « **Reply #4101 on:** April 30, 2015, 08:28:46 pm »

Quote from: HeliDriver on April 30, 2015, 07:58:36 pm

GTI got new spark plugs, coil packs, engine oil and filter, manual gearbox oil, and one rear shock absorber.

The rest of the shocks (and a bunch of other stuff) should happen in the next few days.

HeliDriver · « **Reply #4102 on:** April 30, 2015, 08:37:54 pm »

Quote from: Triple Bob on April 30, 2015, 08:17:04 pm

Quick question, when you use a jack like that on the jacking points, which part of the body are you putting on the axle stands? Or are they on the suspension arms?

I put the jack at the very rear part of the jacking points, then there's just enough room to put the stands at the front of the jacking points. There's not a lot of room, so I have to use my old Crappy Tire jack 'cause it's narrower than my good jack.

I couldn't put the jack stands under the control arms because I'm going to be swapping out the control arm bushings.

Also, I was impressed with how stiff the chassis is. Jacking up the front side lifts the rear almost as much. I was able to put the jack stands all around without ever moving the jack to the rear.

Julie · « **Reply #4103 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:06:51 pm »

Quote from: HeliDriver on April 30, 2015, 07:58:36 pm

GTI got new spark plugs, coil packs, engine oil and filter, manual gearbox oil, and one rear shock absorber.

The rest of the shocks (and a bunch of other stuff) should happen in the next few days.

Good stuff!

Solstice2006 · « **Reply #4104 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:16:36 pm »

Changing the shocks just for the heck of it ? Or did the car need them?

HeliDriver · « **Reply #4105 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:25:06 pm »

Quote from: Solstice2006 on April 30, 2015, 09:16:36 pm

Changing the shocks just for the heck of it ? Or did the car need them?

Depends on your definition of "need."

They weren't blown or leaking or anything, but the car just wasn't as buttoned down as it used to be. 90,000 kms on them, so they're certainly worn.

2JDM · « **Reply #4106 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:27:54 pm »

Quote from: HeliDriver on April 30, 2015, 09:25:06 pm

Quote from: Solstice2006 on April 30, 2015, 09:16:36 pm
Changing the shocks just for the heck of it ? Or did the car need them?

Depends on your definition of "need."

They weren't blown or leaking or anything, but the car just wasn't as buttoned down as it used to be. 90,000 kms on them, so they're certainly worn.

I've never changed the shocks on my TSX

11 years old and 243 km...

HeliDriver · « **Reply #4107 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:29:29 pm »

I think this is the longest I've ever kept stock shocks on a car. I usually change them out around 60,000 kms. I hate float.

Snowman · « **Reply #4108 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:34:07 pm »

Dig the OZ racing wheels

craigq · « **Reply #4109 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:34:15 pm »

Quote from: HeliDriver on April 30, 2015, 07:58:36 pm

GTI got new spark plugs, coil packs, engine oil and filter, manual gearbox oil, and one rear shock absorber.

Damn! Nice!

All I got done on the Wrangler was an oil change. MTX, TC and front/rear diff oil will be sometime this summer.

ArticSteve · « **Reply #4110 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:40:35 pm »

I've never changed the shocks on my TSX 11 years old and 243 km...

If you are the original owner you have just got slowly use to the degradation. By 160K km front struts on FWD cars are DONE.

Solstice2006 · « **Reply #4111 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:43:59 pm »

Quote from: HeliDriver on April 30, 2015, 09:29:29 pm

I think this is the longest I've ever kept stock shocks on a car. I usually change them out around 60,000 kms. I hate float.

Guess it depends on your definition of float... Isn't there a measurement that can be taken, to see how they are now, versus the new ones?

Changed shocks on the Sentra when it was passed 200km. And just the bushings (I think) on the Mazda5, due to bad design for that vehicle, known issue. Yes they are different class of vehicle. But glad to hear, it wasn't needed... First Mazda6 was great still after 110km...

Firm · « **Reply #4112 on:** April 30, 2015, 09:48:52 pm »

Nice work Heli! Car looks good too.

HeliDriver · « **Reply #4113 on:** May 01, 2015, 11:10:08 pm »

Didn't get much done today: replaced the other rear shock, one front strut and changed the fuel filter.

Spent a bunch of time cleaning the rear fender liners and all the sand and gravel stuck behind them. It's easier to do the rear shocks if you remove the liners, so figured I may as well. Bet I took 10 lbs of grit and gravel out of there.

And I also wasted an hour trying to get the wiper arms off so I could remove a plastic panel to get access to the front strut mounts. Stupid wiper arms were seized on unbelievably tight. I actually broke a puller on them and they still wouldn't come off. Finally had to pry them up with a 12" screwdriver while banging hard on the post with a hammer. It worked, but I cracked the base of the windshield in the process. Oops.

New Koni Yellows:

HeliDriver · « **Reply #4114 on:** May 02, 2015, 09:02:06 pm »

Slowly but surely... Good thing I don't do this for a living - paid by the job, I'd probably make like three bucks an hour...

Spent all day in the garage (with a quick trip to CT for supplies) and only did the other front strut, installed a dogbone mount insert (it's a VW thing

) and changed a couple of control arm bushings.

tooscoops · « **Reply #4115 on:** May 02, 2015, 09:42:21 pm »

you guys and your actual car work....

I switched my hard top for the soft top... that's it.

aquadorhj · « **Reply #4116 on:** May 02, 2015, 11:09:16 pm »

oh wow Heli. that's some serious work there, Heli.

how the heck do you keep the fender liners so clean???S?!?!?!

i just switched the winters off the VW. the passenger side front shock is blown.

Julie · « **Reply #4117 on:** May 03, 2015, 04:52:15 pm »

Quote from: HeliDriver on May 02, 2015, 09:02:06 pm

Slowly but surely... Good thing I don't do this for a living - paid by the job, I'd probably make like three bucks an hour...

Spent all day in the garage (with a quick trip to CT for supplies) and only did the other front strut, installed a dogbone mount insert (it's a VW thing ) and changed a couple of control arm bushings.

Great work heli!

Quote from: aquadorhj on May 02, 2015, 11:09:16 pm

the passenger side front shock is blown.

Hope it won't cost too much?

--------------------------------

Went to a miata club meet early this morning (over 100 miatas!) and drove our NC (3rd gen) miata and got to drive it through some countryside (

) before having to go work (

).

It was the first time I drove it as much since we got the Goodwin Racing header and exhaust, and man, this is the way it should have come from the factory. I understand mod-diction now. Uh-oh...

It also cemented my sense that I love driving a nice manual on weekends, but prefer my lazy auto/ DSG for the daily commute to/from work.

2JDM · « **Reply #4118 on:** May 03, 2015, 05:39:38 pm »

Quote from: Julie on May 03, 2015, 04:52:15 pm

Quote from: HeliDriver on May 02, 2015, 09:02:06 pm
Slowly but surely... Good thing I don't do this for a living - paid by the job, I'd probably make like three bucks an hour...

Spent all day in the garage (with a quick trip to CT for supplies) and only did the other front strut, installed a dogbone mount insert (it's a VW thing ) and changed a couple of control arm bushings.

Great work heli!

Quote from: aquadorhj on May 02, 2015, 11:09:16 pm
the passenger side front shock is blown.

Hope it won't cost too much?

--------------------------------

Went to a miata club meet early this morning (over 100 miatas!) and drove our NC (3rd gen) miata and got to drive it through some countryside ( ) before having to go work ( ).

It was the first time I drove it as much since we got the Goodwin Racing header and exhaust, and man, this is the way it should have come from the factory. I understand mod-diction now. Uh-oh...

It also cemented my sense that I love driving a nice manual on weekends, but prefer my lazy auto/ DSG for the daily commute to/from work.

Do you have a sound clip?

Julie · « **Reply #4119 on:** May 03, 2015, 05:46:35 pm »

Quote from: 1TSX on May 03, 2015, 05:39:38 pm

Quote from: Julie on May 03, 2015, 04:52:15 pm
Quote from: HeliDriver on May 02, 2015, 09:02:06 pm
Slowly but surely... Good thing I don't do this for a living - paid by the job, I'd probably make like three bucks an hour...

Spent all day in the garage (with a quick trip to CT for supplies) and only did the other front strut, installed a dogbone mount insert (it's a VW thing ) and changed a couple of control arm bushings.

Great work heli!

Quote from: aquadorhj on May 02, 2015, 11:09:16 pm
the passenger side front shock is blown.

Hope it won't cost too much?

--------------------------------

Went to a miata club meet early this morning (over 100 miatas!) and drove our NC (3rd gen) miata and got to drive it through some countryside ( ) before having to go work ( ).

It was the first time I drove it as much since we got the Goodwin Racing header and exhaust, and man, this is the way it should have come from the factory. I understand mod-diction now. Uh-oh...

It also cemented my sense that I love driving a nice manual on weekends, but prefer my lazy auto/ DSG for the daily commute to/from work.

Do you have a sound clip?

The sound has matured after break-in, so I'm planning to record next weekend.

I've also got the optional (regular) baffles in. I'm a woman, I can't take too loud.

The best thing though is the added hp and torque. On a car that doesn't weigh very much, changes in hp and torque make an appreciable difference through the butt-o-meter...