Garage in Melbourne

FWP · Postby **FWP** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 5:37 pm

Hi, does anyone know good garage in Melbourne? I'd like to fit an aftermarket suspension part imported from Japan:knuckle support from Neilex.
http://nielex.net/footwork_nsnd.html
I need a hoist and would like to use Box wrench, ratchet, spinner handle.
I think I can do it by myself if I can borrow them.
Not only my first time to buy a car in Australia but also I am quite new to this country, so appreciate any tip!

I am happy with everything but the handling. Especially on the highway, It feels quite wobbly and I always need to adjust the steering.So I asked other ND drivers in Japan and everyone recommended this tiny aftermarket part is very effective.

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Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 5:55 pm

No professional business is going to make equipment available at no charge. I would have thought it would be smart to pay a professional to do the work. Incidentally Melbourne is a huge metropolis. I dont even understand why an ND could be "wobbly". There are some businesses where you hire out equipment hoists etc but there is a charge.

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 5:59 pm

As far as I know there is no place that will rent you a hoist and tools.
Go to MX5 factory, Dick will get it done quick smart and I don't see it costing an arm and a leg. He's quite accomodating for custom bits.

FWP · Postby **FWP** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 6:02 pm

Thanks guys. I don't mean to use for free but hoped if there is any place for hire. Smy003,Who is Dick?

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smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 6:18 pm

He's the owner of MX5 factory in Ringwood. Can't recommend them enough, very knowledgable, flexible and usually the cheapest workshop as well.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:34 pm

Can forsee major health and safety and insurance issues with your using a hoist at a garage. Probably easier and the same price to pay a professional to do the work. It would only be a tiny fraction of the total you paid for your ND, surely?

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:08 pm

You don't need a hoist to fit this part. A jack and a car stand is all that is needed. Any car should have a jack in the boot/trunk. Just buy some stands.

This part will not fix alignment issues.

FWP · Postby **FWP** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 11:06 pm

I heard alignment issues as well.
MX5 factory can handle this I hope. Or can this be done by a Mazda dealer since it's a new car? is there anyone who complain to them and had them fixed?

I found a place offering professional equipment for hire.
http://yourgarage.net.au

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hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 12:21 pm

First and foremost is to talk it over with the Mazda dealership.

if it's a manufacturing fault it's up to them to fix it.
If you go and have other bits bolted/welded on and the issue remains it's likely that the dealers will just assume the parts you've added have caused it (and perhaps not honour warranty on components related to that)

Alignment can be done by the dealership, or any tyre shop. Most good alignment shops will be able to work out settings if you describe the issue, and what you would prefer it to feel like.

If you are very much set on installing the brace bit, then it's cheapest to do it yourself. If it can be installed with basic hand tools as you said, these can be purchased quite cheaply.

A good, but not amazing ratchet set can be had for $50 or so (will be perfect for home use, if you're doing it every day maybe look at something better)
A set of spanners (box wrench? weird term i've not heard before) can be had for between $50 and $100 depending on size (i'd just guy a secondhand set for less, they dont wear out)

A pair of jack stands will be $60 or so, being a lightweight car you can safely use the cheaper ones rated to 1300kg (or whatever, as long as it's more than the weight of the car which is 1100kg from memory), rather than the more costly 2200kg ones etc.

kalt · Postby **kalt** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 1:42 pm

Hey FWP

Sounds like your steering is very touchy at highway speeds - have you checked your tyre pressures to see where they are at (overinflated)?

Would be good if Dodgey Days were organised in Vic, I have a few small items I'd like to rectify myself but don't have a hoist to use.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 3:03 pm

I think this is all very weird. A guy buys a new car on warranty and then wants to do a little modding because its wobbly. Repeating myself but MX5s dont normally wobble when new and then require a mod , all new cars are covered by warranty,and you dont pay for steering alignments on new cars either. Boxwrench is an American term - means essentially spanners. Just ring the dealer and tell em "my car's wobbly" and they will book it in for a test drive and inspection...hmmm

FWP · Postby **FWP** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 8:49 pm

Thanks hks_kansei and Kalt, yes I have checked tyre pressure already and it's quite normal.

I don’t think my MX5 has any manufacturing failure. This is the the First World Problem I reckon.
I started believing that this unsettled steering feel is innate characteristic across the major Japanese manufacturers. I've dríven many of them since I am from Japan and had the similar impression on all of them; I've never dríven Subaru so I have no idea how the STI drives though. Comparing BMW Z4, Audi A3 I owned before and Alfa Giulietta I was using for a while, Japanese cars are certainly not as stable as I want them to be. Since Mazda is advertising MX5 as the great handling car, I was hoping BMW level of driving fun/stability at high speed.

Anyway I will contact my dealer and MX5 factory.

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hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:55 am

I'd go dealer first.
You've got a warranty, get your money's worth from it.

I personally dont rate MX5 Factory, and being a regular mechanic shop they likely won't have much, if any, experience with the ND yet.

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:36 am

hks_kansei wrote: they likely won't have much, if any, experience with the ND yet.

Dick has an ND, saw him zipping along Springvale road in it the other day.
But he'll be taking it to the dealer for problems, because warranty.

Remember that the MX-5 shouldn't feel like a BMW or a German hot hatch. It's a different sort of fun. The MX-5 is a throw-around car that is fun at low speeds, while the Germans are built to be absolutely capable at high speeds.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 11:37 am

Depending on where in Melb you are, there's also:
Dan & Daz @ Road Track Rally 1 Banfield Crt, Truganina <http://www.roadtrackrally.com.au/>;
Dean @ Motorsports Essentials, 6 Macbeth St, Braeside, 9587 0079;
Allmaz, 492 Clayton Rd, Clayton, 9544 7044; &
Gerald & Chaz @ Mammi Motors, 10 Industrial Drv, Somerville, 5977 7973.