Turbo Smurfette - Build in progress (slow)
#641
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The hope was to get the car prepped for a track day at Summit early September, but being that I only have one weekend left before then, it's not looking too good. Too many people are deciding to get married. Worst decision ever.
The original bushings are rotted and in some cases missing (at least from the rear). The lower outer suspension bolt was seized and it just made sense to replace what couldn't be recovered. This was originally a New England car after all.
I'm hoping this will help with all the jiggles the car has and make me feel more confident and comfortable (Read: predictable) when driving hard. It's a full car makeover for smurfette; first outside, then now below.
The original bushings are rotted and in some cases missing (at least from the rear). The lower outer suspension bolt was seized and it just made sense to replace what couldn't be recovered. This was originally a New England car after all.
I'm hoping this will help with all the jiggles the car has and make me feel more confident and comfortable (Read: predictable) when driving hard. It's a full car makeover for smurfette; first outside, then now below.
#642
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New avatar for you: http://www.virkki.com/jyri/miata/ppf/ppf_sleeve_out.jpg
The rear subframe is pretty impressive. The only assembly issue was getting the bottom of the shock mount to clear the LCAs.
The rear subframe is pretty impressive. The only assembly issue was getting the bottom of the shock mount to clear the LCAs.
#644
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Thanks duder! If I took a trip out to you someday to hang, could you help me out with some exhaust hanger action (blob weld stainless)? For some reason I totally forgot the NB rear subframe does not share the same mount position as this NA and could totally use the extra support as the MT.net approved big muffler is only supported by the two body mounts on the passenger side. ick
#646
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Thanks duder! If I took a trip out to you someday to hang, could you help me out with some exhaust hanger action (blob weld stainless)? For some reason I totally forgot the NB rear subframe does not share the same mount position as this NA and could totally use the extra support as the MT.net approved big muffler is only supported by the two body mounts on the passenger side. ick
#652
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It ended up just having a lot of air in the lines. Even though I tried bleeding it twice. Maybe I just suck at this.
Got the car yesterday, the suspension feels very comfortable. I'm not at all worried about driving it around here and it feels more agile, but tends to understeer. They could only get -2.1° camber max in the front so I'm going to try to push for installing the new subframe and arms Friday/Saturday and get it aligned again.
Beyond that, the caliper that replaced the seized caliper is seized. I ******* hate this ****. Hope I didn't roast my wheel bearing. The wheels and everything where just ridiculous hot. The OSgikin was just clunky as hell. Now I also get a bit of a clunk sound up front after switching to wilwoods. It's not in the pedal, but when jabbing the brakes at slow speeds, the front right seems to shudder/clunk but everything is tight. I'm suspecting a combination of fucked bushings, bad balljoints, bad wheel bearings.
Got the car yesterday, the suspension feels very comfortable. I'm not at all worried about driving it around here and it feels more agile, but tends to understeer. They could only get -2.1° camber max in the front so I'm going to try to push for installing the new subframe and arms Friday/Saturday and get it aligned again.
Beyond that, the caliper that replaced the seized caliper is seized. I ******* hate this ****. Hope I didn't roast my wheel bearing. The wheels and everything where just ridiculous hot. The OSgikin was just clunky as hell. Now I also get a bit of a clunk sound up front after switching to wilwoods. It's not in the pedal, but when jabbing the brakes at slow speeds, the front right seems to shudder/clunk but everything is tight. I'm suspecting a combination of fucked bushings, bad balljoints, bad wheel bearings.
#653
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Put that bitch on a jack stand so the wheel is off the ground, grab that wheel and start yanking across different load axes. If you've got a bad bearing, bushing or ball joint you should be able to feel it.
Just don't pull the car off the jack stand and kill yourself, because that would be bad.
Just don't pull the car off the jack stand and kill yourself, because that would be bad.
#655
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Procured another remanned caliper during lunch. If this fails, then I'm just swapping to wilwood rears and ditching ebrake. I need this to be ready for Sept 9 but don't think I'll have an oil cooler installed by then.
#656
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Tonight I hope I can get the front subframe and control arms and new front knuckles installed so I can get an alignment first thing tomorrow morning at an Acura dealer that aligns my buddies NSX. Hard to find alignment racks on weekends for low cars and custom specs.
The exhaust rattles against the new subframe, not sure if I should try to bend the hanger so it sits a quarter inch higher, or just cut little bits off the subframes underbracing mount.
The exhaust rattles against the new subframe, not sure if I should try to bend the hanger so it sits a quarter inch higher, or just cut little bits off the subframes underbracing mount.
#660
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Front subframe has been changed. The steering rack was kind-of difficult, I had to cut the universal joint to remove the steering shaft. I don't have an axle nut socket (29mm?) or castle nuts for the tie rod ends.
SADFab sleeves where easier in front than rear.
Fat racing beat bar has also been installed.
I have to cut the singular brake shields because they contact the rotor and cannot be clearenced because the tie rod end sits right behind it .
That's about it. Run to parts store tomorrow morning, finish up then align