Lachstock and Four Turbo Charged Cylinders ['04 NB SE]

[SKYHI]

I really think it's time for a different daily driver in your life

[ManiacLachy]

I really think it's time for a different daily driver in your life

My girlfriend doesn't understand the concept. "But you have a car, why do you need 2?"

But yes, I do need a daily driver.

[apsilon]

How would you get by with just 2?

Actually, I do hope to get back to 2 later this year. Not sure I'll manage it though, too many wants.

[ManiacLachy]

I think I'd be happy with 3

But we all know the answer is: n+1; where n is the current number of cars owned.

[bruce]

I drive one. Hardly drive two. Had to stop myself getting three.
It is a strange thing we do owning multiple cars for no logical reason.

[ManiacLachy]

I got my shocks back late last week. Andre at TT Suspension was super helpful, anyone with Xida's in Australia would do well to talk to these guys when it's time for a service.

Andre said that all 4 shocks were in need of a service, the oil in all was quite aerated, he thought my milage/age was about appropriate for a service, maybe a little on the low side though. He said the leak was due to a slight bend or nick in the shaft of the shock, that would allow pressurised oil to press out at the right point in travel. One other shock also had the mark, but no sign of a leak. The nick could have come from lateral force over a sharp bump, makes me wonder if the Supermiata Coaxial top hats would help?

I should be getting a before and after dyno plots for the shocks in the next few days, won't mean a lot to me, but the difference between tired and fresh should be interesting. I'll post them up when I get them.

So, I cleaned up all my components, rebuilt the coilovers and put them back in the car this weekend. This job is getting pretty easy for me now. No surprises. Even managed to get my ride height pretty much spot on with only one adjustment.


Spring cleaning (get it!)


Almost like new

In the front I have been running a pair of Flyin Miata tophat spacers, these push the shock down a little, allowing for a little more room in the wheel well at full bump travel, but I'd still ocasionally get a little scrubbing, so I stacked a Beavis Motorsport spacer on top of that. The Beavis spacer is about half the size of the FM one, and together I have just enough threads to get the top nuts on fully.


Stacks on stacks


Made it by this much!

So, all back together again. Currently still running my OEM SE front swaybar. I'm looking into some better greasing options for the 1.125 Racing Beat bar. It seizes to easily. Think I might add some zerks to the brackets, we'll see.

Only issue is I'm running the 17" Boat Anchors once again

My "repaired" tyre was still leaking slowly, even after going back in 2 weeks ago, so I took it back to Jax again on Saturday morning, they wanted to keep it for a few hours. At 11:40am they call me, tell me the found another nail in there that was leaking, so repaired that. "Great", I said, "I'll be down shortly to collect". I arrive at 12:20pm, and they'd shut at 12.

They couldn't have said, "Oh, by the way, we're closing in 20 minutes so you'd better hurry"! I would have gone directly had I known. So I'll have to find time one day after work to get to them before 5pm. Think I'll find a new tyre shop going forward.

[ManiacLachy]

Well, that didn't last long!









Xidas are leaking again after about 2 months. Both fronts are leaking this time, and one badly enough to leave marks on the garage floor, so worse than last time. Bit annoyed about this, but I guess sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles. Rears appear to be fine and dry.

It put me in a pretty foul mood all weekend though. Not directed at anyone in particular, I was just hoping to be done with this suspension stuff for a while and I'm really not looking forward to swapping shocks in and out twice more (xida to stock, then stock back to xida).

I got in touch with TT Suspension who did the service. They we're apologetic and willing to take them back for another look and service. They won't charge for any labour and will cover freight even. I will have to pay for any previously untouched part that needs replacing, like the shock shaft, which is the primary suspect.

[ManiacLachy]

Oh, I don't think I mentioned when it happened. I got a flat tyre, again, the other week. Didn't notice it when I left home at 4am. Came out of the gym and saw a very flat tyre. Put the space saver on and went home to work remotely rather than go up the highway on that Frisbee of a wheel. When I got home I saw rubber marks on the drive from riding on the flat when I backed out. That tyre was shot completely, but given this would have been it's third puncture, I figured it was dead anyway. So, I needed 2 new tyres to keep the axle even.




No passenger seat, 2 fitted wheels and one loose 50% tread tyre

I get the two loose wheels fitted and take them home to put on the car, and find they've put the tyres on the same way for both wheels. AD08Rs are directional, surely a tyre shop would mount them so one would be left and one would be right? But nope! Argh, so I take one back to be flipped.

So, at this point my frustrations with the car are rising, and we're coming into summer which is never a pleasant time to be commuting in my car. And I need to find time to do my timing belt service before the garage becomes a sauna for 8 months.

[Daffy]

Bloody hell, I’m feeling the pain mate
I also thought you had the shocks issue sorted after the rebuild. At least they are doing the right thing by you to get them sorted. I’m surprised at the tyre shop stuff up- must have a new apprentice on

[bruce]

Xidas must be rubbish shocks.

[SKYHI]

Mate that sux. If you get stuck for time, or just can't be bothered doing the shock swap twice, come and grab my SE and use it as a daily whilst your Xidas are getting fixed.

[greenMachine]

I know what you are feeling, I discovered yesterday that one of my PSS9s has just started to leak . I suspect a scratched/chipped shaft is the culprit, they were fine coming off the racecar, but my dirt road may have done some damage .

[ManiacLachy]

Mate that sux. If you get stuck for time, or just can't be bothered doing the shock swap twice, come and grab my SE and use it as a daily whilst your Xidas are getting fixed.

Thanks, very much appreciate the offer. As much as I like trying other cars, even near similar ones, I'll just bite the bullet and do the work this weekend, I'm getting pretty efficient at it. Practice, practice, practice! (though I can never remember the torque specs for anything other than the wheels!)

Would love a quick spin/swap one day though to see how yours goes though

I know what you are feeling, I discovered yesterday that one of my PSS9s has just started to leak . I suspect a scratched/chipped shaft is the culprit, they were fine coming off the racecar, but my dirt road may have done some damage .

Yeah, that's what mine appears to be. They did note it, polish/buff it to smooth out the shaft and thought would be OK, but perhaps not after all? They'll dig into and see what's wrong.

On a different tack, does anyone know if there's any difference in upper and lower radiator hoses for the SE compared to the normal NBs? I figure it's a good time to replace them while doing the timing belt job soon. I've done some research that suggests there's a difference, but I can't find anything definitive.

[bruce]

So the two most hyped up and expensive models of shocks can't handle a bit of normal day-to-day grit. That is very disappointing.

[KevGoat]

So the two most hyped up and expensive models of shocks can't handle a bit of normal day-to-day grit. That is very disappointing.

... in one of these moods today are we bruce ?

It is rather frustrating the amount of things that need to be returned to get it right these days though. Even the amount of new stuff that needs work to work!

I'm really liking those RPF1's more and more on the SE ...

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