Nothing to see here, just project Sisyphus, move along
#2947
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (37)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Very NorCal
Posts: 10,448
Total Cats: 1,900
2.5" at the pinch weld is what's going on here. Get on my level, breh
A rite-hite this classy requires something a little more quality, like Rotas, or American Racing or 'RAVS'
Now it's full Racing Beat stem to stern. My only regret at this point is not having bought the dual tip model. Such class, much wow.
NA is best! Boost just destroys the balance of the car. Just you wait, you'll see.
NA is best! Boost just destroys the balance of the car. Just you wait, you'll see.
#2954
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (37)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Very NorCal
Posts: 10,448
Total Cats: 1,900
lol, it has more than enough low
I sold my FCMs and picked up some used Xidas. I'm in love, so much win
The only complication right now is I can't get the ride height I was expecting, but the seller indicated that he may have given me the wrong set of springs for the rear. Being the doofus I am I didn't look at the PN or measure anything before I installed them, so I'll check it tonight and see what's up.
I sold my FCMs and picked up some used Xidas. I'm in love, so much win
The only complication right now is I can't get the ride height I was expecting, but the seller indicated that he may have given me the wrong set of springs for the rear. Being the doofus I am I didn't look at the PN or measure anything before I installed them, so I'll check it tonight and see what's up.
#2955
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (37)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Very NorCal
Posts: 10,448
Total Cats: 1,900
I really like the xidas. Like, really really. But I need to stop driving the car until I can get the ride height thing sorted out. I haven't decided if I'm going to post about it here, or start another thread.
But because I touched something, now I have to fix something else. My ball joints are super loose. Like, work them around with your finger loose. They aren't floppy and clicky yet, but it does not take much effort to move them around. Sigh. And because I have an NB, instead of $30 replacement MOOG ball joints or whatever, I have to replace the whole FUCA. Goddammit. The other option is of course something massively overkill like the V8R uppers, but I don't have money to burn at the moment so that isn't happening. Yes V8R makes a replaceable ball joint for the NB arm, but each one is only $20 than replacing the whole arm. Ungh. I pulled the boots and skooged some Dominator into the ball joints and reassembled until I can afford to buy some new FUCAs. I'm not really driving the car right now anyway so fuckit, I just wanted it back on the ground.
Then I drove it anyway. lol. I put new suspension on it, why would I NOT drive it? Today I switched back to the WRX it feels like I'm driving a tank. Even though I have the heaviest NB1 on the planet, in comparison to the Subaru it feels super light and nimble and almost aggressive. The higher rate springs, bigger sways and smaller 195 tires make it super duper responsive. At this point I'm a set of bushings away from the "949 Big Grip Kit" and I completely understand why everyone loves that combination so much. I can't wait to get off my *** and get the ES poly + SadFAP bronze retrofit installed. Its gun be gud
But because I touched something, now I have to fix something else. My ball joints are super loose. Like, work them around with your finger loose. They aren't floppy and clicky yet, but it does not take much effort to move them around. Sigh. And because I have an NB, instead of $30 replacement MOOG ball joints or whatever, I have to replace the whole FUCA. Goddammit. The other option is of course something massively overkill like the V8R uppers, but I don't have money to burn at the moment so that isn't happening. Yes V8R makes a replaceable ball joint for the NB arm, but each one is only $20 than replacing the whole arm. Ungh. I pulled the boots and skooged some Dominator into the ball joints and reassembled until I can afford to buy some new FUCAs. I'm not really driving the car right now anyway so fuckit, I just wanted it back on the ground.
Then I drove it anyway. lol. I put new suspension on it, why would I NOT drive it? Today I switched back to the WRX it feels like I'm driving a tank. Even though I have the heaviest NB1 on the planet, in comparison to the Subaru it feels super light and nimble and almost aggressive. The higher rate springs, bigger sways and smaller 195 tires make it super duper responsive. At this point I'm a set of bushings away from the "949 Big Grip Kit" and I completely understand why everyone loves that combination so much. I can't wait to get off my *** and get the ES poly + SadFAP bronze retrofit installed. Its gun be gud
#2958
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (37)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Very NorCal
Posts: 10,448
Total Cats: 1,900
Not really. There are no good solutions to this problem. By "good" I mean "inexpensive and functional." I consider a pair of replacement $30 MOOG ball joints (like you can buy for an NA, and almost any other car on earth) to meet this requirement. Unfortunately, because the ball joint is riveted into the FUCA from the factory, MOOG would take on a significant amount of liability telling people to change out the rivets for some sort of bolt and nut fasteners, so they don't bother doing it.
The V8R replacement ball joints are pretty much the only option: V8 Roadsters adjustable/rebuildable front upper control arm ball joints ($150/pr)
But then you get to grind the rivets off the control arms to remove the fuckered ball joints, press the V8R ones into the old arms and pray nothing cracks or shears off, then tack weld them in place because lol? Plus you get to resuse your old, dirty, bent control arms!
OOOooooorrrrr....
For $350 I can buy V8R tubular FUCAs with fancy V8R ball joints: V8 Roadsters control arms - tubular Steel
OOOooooorrrrr....
For a measly $950 I can buy V8R Billet FUCAs with fancy V8R ball joints: V8 Roadsters X-Lite Billet Aluminum Control Arms
OOOooooorrrrr....
For $215 I can buy a pair of new OEM arms loaded with new OEM ball joints and new OEM rubber bushings that will probably go another 120k/mi (if I can stay off the curbing) for $215 from Mazdacomp.
OOOooooorrrrr....
There are a smattering of complete FUCA and ball joint combinations out there: DORMAN 524465 ($43.79/ea) MEVOTECH CMS80174/CMS80175 ($44.79/ea) MAS CB65027/CB65028 ($81.79/ea) but I'm not sure I trust Dorman or whomever Mevotech is to make a ball joint AND control arm AND bushing set for $44. As far as MAS goes, I don't know who the hell they are, but that's within ~$25 of the OEM price.
I think I'm going to buy OEM ones.
Last edited by EO2K; 07-11-2017 at 08:22 PM.