Keef's Car Thread | Wheels on the Bus | 09/08/23

[Keef]

On either set of coilovers I've now had, from Stance and PIC, the collars were made of excellent material and the notches were deep and sharp. I anti-seized both sets and never had a problem loosening the PICs, even months later. I have had problems with collar durability, but only on cheap (think $500 cheap) sets of coilovers that were seized, meaning I had to hammer on the spanner. That will tear up cheap aluminum in a hurry.

Also, my wheels came! And so did I!

 

[eSZee]

Zing.
Whatcha get? Tire rack, right? Or am I thinking someone else?

 

[Keef]

I had to order them from Tire Rack, yeah. But first, coilover install pics!

Right front strut, ugly thing:

View from the front:

Ugly rusty stuff around the lower mount:

Getting to the rear dampers from the bottom is actually easier than from the top...

...because you have to remove the speaker grilles, speakers, and insulation at the top, and use a mega extension to reach the nuts.

Right front coilover almost installed. You can see my heavy anti-seize job that will attract lots of dirt but keep the black-oxide threads from rusting, and the collars from seizing:

You can also peek the joint between hard and soft brake lines in that picture, which are no longer supported by a bracket. I'll have to devise some way of fixing that or else the hard line will simply vibrate and break.

Right front top mount:

And how it sits at the moment. I just got my wheels today and it will be a while until they're finished (I hope to get them painted or powder coated, cost pending) and mounted with tires. And after that I have a give the front fenders hell to get them to fit. You'll see why in the next set of pics.

 

[speed junkie]

In for wheel fitment test photos.

 

[Keef]

Rear fits great but...

...gotta MAKE the fronts fit.

Also this:

 

[nk4e]

Awesome!

 

[Small_Fryz]

Sweet pics man 👍

Looking good

 

[speed junkie]

Fitment side shot mayne.

EDIT: Totally skipped over the first pics.

 

[Keef]

Btw, the reason I stick to low-angle shots is because half my roof is without paint. Also I haven't washed it in a month soooo.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Looks awesome man. Went from bone stock to something you'll actually enjoy walking outside and climbing into. Despite the slow.

 

[Keef]

Next step: Lots of stuff.

Need to buy some RBF600. Gotta get an alignment. Want to get these wheels painted or powder coated something rad. Might get tiny spacers for the rear to perfect the flush and make both ends look a little more cohesive. Seat rail. Camber adjuster in the rear. Steering angle adjusters in the front. The only super big thing I have left is replacing that craptastic exhaust with some pieces from Racing Beat and Buddy Club. Probably going to need brakes next year, though I would love to upgrade this year. Maybe a steering wheel and stuff too.

Oh, and a paint job which will be the most expensive thing I've ever done to it. That's a loooong way away.

And all that stuff is besides the things I already have the need to be installed. Firstly, the new brake master and stainless lines, rear toe eliminators, front and rear control arm bushings...

 

[Punknoodle]

Fun though, aint it Keef? Looking good dude

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Bouta hit baller status.

Looks like win on the stockers too though... Lows > wheels in this case by far.

 

[speed junkie]

Probably going to need brakes next year, though I would love to upgrade this year.

What brake pads do you have now? If you expect to get any kind of performance out of anything less than Hawk HP+ with 235 tires than good luck. Ben had HP+ on the 235 Federals and they would still get completely shot at the end of the run, glowing rotors and all

Lows > wheels in this case by far.

Cars RARELY look better lowered on stock wheels than vise versa. They just look riced out. the exception being cars that come from factory with decent sizes which pretty much leaves out everythign but expensive sports cars/super cars. And even still, you'd still figure if the owner can afford such a car he should be able to afford some proper wheels too. Although, I am aware that some times its not very convenient to get the wheels first for fitment issues but the two purchases should not be far apart if not made at the same time.

 

[Keef]

I'm going to have a friend bring over a fender roller soon, probably before I get tires. I already know the fronts need pulled (or pushed) to the other side of town so we'll see how far we can get it.

 

[Punknoodle]

Although, I am aware that some times its not very convenient to get the wheels first for fitment issues but the two purchases should not be far apart if not made at the same time.

Dude that's a bit ridiculous, I don't know about you but in real life people have to build their cars over time with the money they have.

 

[Keef]

Some of us plan extensively and save up for a long time. I could have bought all this stuff on the same day but I like to take it slow to drag out the awesome.

 

[Perfect Balance]

What brake pads do you have now? If you expect to get any kind of performance out of anything less than Hawk HP+ with 235 tires than good luck. Ben had HP+ on the 235 Federals and they would still get completely shot at the end of the run, glowing rotors and all

He said he discovered that was because the fog lights completely cover up the brake ducts, and without them it doesn't do that.

Cars RARELY look better lowered on stock wheels than vise versa. They just look riced out. the exception being cars that come from factory with decent sizes which pretty much leaves out everythign but expensive sports cars/super cars. And even still, you'd still figure if the owner can afford such a car he should be able to afford some proper wheels too. Although, I am aware that some times its not very convenient to get the wheels first for fitment issues but the two purchases should not be far apart if not made at the same time.

So what you've done here is say the exact same thing he did in a MUCH longer way....

Dude that's a bit ridiculous, I don't know about you but in real life people have to build their cars over time with the money they have.

I think it's more the point that wheels should be the next step after lowering, instead of how some people slap coilovers on a car and then go about turbocharging the car or something. (i.e. Lots of drifters and ricers)

 

[Keef]

He said he discovered that was because the fog lights completely cover up the brake ducts, and without them it doesn't do that.

Yeah, the fog lights only leave a tiny slot for air to slip through. But I mean come on, gotta have fog lights. Gotta tint something yellow.

I think it's more the point that wheels should be the next step after lowering, instead of how some people slap coilovers on a car and then go about turbocharging the car or something. (i.e. Lots of drifters and ricers)

The first step to making a car look good is usually lowering and wheel/tire fitment, and the first step isn't complete until both are done. The first step to improving performance is usually just wheels and tires, provided your suspension isn't so soft that sticky tires will flip your car over.

 

[Eric.]

Lowered cars on stock wheels often look about a thousand times better than stock height cars with <insert expensive wheels here>.

 

[Punknoodle]

Lowered cars on stock wheels often look about a thousand times better than stock height cars with <insert expensive wheels here>.

I agree.

 

[nk4e]

Lowered cars on stock wheels often look about a thousand times better than stock height cars with <insert expensive wheels here>.

Though usually a pain over speed bumps.

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

I agree.

I agree with your agreement.

I also think all American made cars (some imports too, but American cars are the worst) benefit from wheel spacers. I find some companies have the fenders rolled out, but then stick the wheels 6" inside the fenders. 👎

 

[Punknoodle]

My car is case in point, wheels are a long way inside the guard. Seen as I'm buying nice wheels though I can just get wheels at the proper offset to push them out rather than running a spacer.

As for the pain over speed humps, yup, but I think it's a small price to pay for the looks and the handling. You learn the little tricks like driving onto small blocks to get a jack to fit under it.

 

[Keef]

Going to attempt the new brake parts tomorrow...again. Woo looking forward to it.

 

[nobuffalo]

Lowered cars on stock wheels often look about a thousand times better than stock height cars with <insert expensive wheels here>.

Agreed, I wish I had went that route with my Miata, but it was more a matter of what's gonna make my car faster that I can afford the soonest. It was autocross season. To the untrained eye my car probably looks fine, but to someone who knows, it's ugly.

 

[eiriksmil]

**** me sideways this is HAMAZING

 

[homeforsummer]

It's a white Mazda, that automatically makes it amazing.

Does look good though. I'm not cool enough to know about wheels, but aren't those the same type you had on the Civic? Enkei somethingorother?

Actually, white Mazda on Enkeis? That sounds familiar...

God damnit.

 

[Keef]

**** me sideways this is HAMAZING

Gonna get a fender roller soon and go to town. Roll the rears, and pull the fronts into the next galaxy.

It's a white Mazda, that automatically makes it amazing.

Mazda crew 4 lyfe.

Does look good though. I'm not cool enough to know about wheels, but aren't those the same type you had on the Civic? Enkei somethingorother?

RPF1. Half the people out there bitch that everyone has them now, they're played out, whatever. Those are the people who park and talk. The reason so many performance guys and hard parkers alike are buying them up is because you won't find a wheel this light for any cheaper on the market, and yet it still has top-notch build quality. Objectively speaking, I honestly see no reason to get Volks or Works or any of the other big names in performance wheels. RPF1s are cheaper and lighter. I weighed mine at just under 15 pounds for a 17x9.

God damnit.

Sell that Ballerina and get another one!

 

[Omnis]

You should give the roof a rustoleum paintjob.