The first track day of our season is drawing near and is just 4 short weeks off. So I think it is time for me to put the snow tires away and slap on the summer treads. This also gives me some time to tweak the settings on my shocks and CZ unit. Now if we could just get rid of those damn frost heaves. :p

I also bought a couple of new lenses for the camera. So I should be able to get some better video while we are flying around the track.

Spin9k, are you going to be using your mini camera or your DV camera?

 

I just mailed my last minute application in. So hopefully I'll be running with you guys in NHIS in 2 weeks time

 

Nice! So that means that we have at least three RX-8s going (Speed Racer, Spin9k, Downshift). I think that RPIRX-8 and Tigger are still on the fence.

So should we plan on doing a tech day before the event? This would give us a chance to change the fluids, bleed the brakes, and install any recent purchases. I think Spin9k still has a few things left to install (exhaust?) and RPIRX-8 should have his Racing Beat intake by then. I should also have a set of sway bars and end links too.

I'm planning on ordering some basic maintenance items next week. Let me know if you want me to order some extras.

• Oil filters
• Crush washers - oil pan, trannsmission, differential
• Redline gear oil - transmission and differential
• Racing brake fluid

 

I just had the dealer do the exhaust, SS lines, and speedbleeders, of course it didn't go as planned , but it's done anyway. But I'll bite if you're getting some race brake fluid (colored), and tran/dif fluid. That would be a good tech day for me.

Also Speed Racer, I have your in-car spinMOUNT ready and I can either send it to you or do it with the tech day. So to answer your ?, the DV camera.

Also I have 2 more slots left for any of you guys that are track/camera nuts and would like to beta the spinMOUNT. Lots of pics/installation guide are at www.spin9k.com. The only requirements to sign up are that you will use it at track (ASAP) to video your driving, you'll give me feedback on design and improvements, so please PM me for details, and with any questions, 1st PMs get the slots.

It would be great if we could all be videoing each other during NIHS :D

 

So what problems did they have with installing those items?

I think it probably makes more sense to hold on to the spinMOUNT until we have our tech day. As you will get a chance to show it off to everyone else at the same time. So when and where do we want to meet up?

I normally use Motul RBF600 brake fluid because it looks the same as stock but I can order ATE Super Blue instead if that is the way you want to go. It is all good! :D Let me round up some prices and we can go from there.

Note: This is not a "group buy". There are no volume discounts. This is just to make it easier to get the proper fluids, filters, and crush washers for this motley crew.

 

I wanted to get a color so I will know when I've flushed through old stuff. I saw this http://www.apexperformance.net/cartg...t.asp?scat=289 and was going to order a gold and a blue. Can you get one of each for me?

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About the mods, the dealer guy had to cut a tad of the exhaust finishers to fit the fancy pipes through. And the engraved plaques a very evident as they stick out significantly more just to show them off. Nice! What a difference in sound though! I'll hopefully get used to it :o around others.

The brake lines I'm not sure what was the problem, the mechanic or the SS lines. He said he had a time fitting them, but succeeded. Then when I went to pick it up, he said the brake pedal was "MOANING", and he didn't undertsand why(!) as he said he took it out and it was "OK" (his words). So off I went ... stepped on the brakes and nearly to the floor - scary to say the least. Since this was going into 30 hrs they had had the car, AND they FORGOT to do the Mazda service (the reason I brought it there actually in the 1st place) I didn't go back.

Driving home I figured there was a reason I passed on 'being a mechanic" as a career path and figured I knew the answer anyway (being the smart kid I am). So I took it home and bleed the master cyclinder and all was back to normal. Boy do speedbleeder make that a snap!

Called the dealership and the service writer mumbled something about he told him to do that...bla bla bla. Meanwhile I'm sure I paid this 'mechanic' an hour or so extra labor as he racked his brainium trying to come up with a solution (he said he put it back on the lift and bleed them again and no change .

Anyway it's done, and it only cost me $400 labor. Guess it's back to do it yourself... at least I get to make my own mistakes - no extra charge!

 

Yikes! I don't know if I would want that mechanic working on my car. It is one thing, if I stand around and wonder what I screwed up. It is an entirely different thing, if this guy is supposed to know how to work on cars.


If you look at the service manual it tells you to bleed the master cylinder first. Then do right rear, left rear, right front, left front, and the master cylinder one more time. What it doesn't tell you is that the car has to be perfectly level when you bleed the brakes. I found this out the hard way when I changed my brakes lines in a driveway last year. The rear end was just a little bit higher than the front and I had the same thing happen to me. That first drive around the block was more than a little scary.

Sure, I'll order a Blue & Gold for myself too.

 

Well, I haven't done my break lines yet... but as you know it is on the list for this spring... so I'd might as well get some break fluid as well :-) I'll join the blue and gold club.

As for the diff and tranny... you doing your's again? i'm at 40k... I suppose I should do them as well again, perhaps... so if were all doing it, and you feel it is a good plan, I might as well give into the pressure :D Won't need to do an oil change though... so you can leave me off that list.

Speed bleeders would be great as well, I have the clutch one, thanks to you... so I guess it's time to do the corners!

Thanks, let me know the bill :-)

--Tigger!

 

Tigger,

So how long has it been since we changed the fluids in your diff and tranny?

The only reason I'm changing mine is because the dealership put in normal gear oil when I they did the 30k service.

So why don't we just plan to do the brakes and Speed Bleeders on your car.

 

I'm open to where ever... so I'll be the first to volunteer my place. I have about 125 ft of flat driveway, two separate garages, a 4 ton floor jack, 4 jack stands, lots of tools and car stuff, RX-8 shop manual, 4 computers, and lots of ah...how shall I say...lubrication available for all in case it (or we) gets hot with all that work.

 

Looks like we have a good place to do all this work, considering that all of our cars are going to end up on jackstands! I could use some Red Line transmission and diff fluids since I'm getting some grinding on the gearbox lately but it is a bit too early for an oil change for me. As for the brake fluids, is this required for track driving?

 

Probably a good idea to at least bleed the brakes before and certainly after track use. That way you can check the brakes over anyway... don't want any surprises out there :D

 

SR:

Can your order me up a container of ATE Super Blue fluid? It's not for the 8, it for the Miata. Gotta do a complete brake job on her in the next coming weeks. I have everything ready to go too, Brembo slotted rotors, Axxis pads, SS lines, and speed bleeders

 

Spin9k,

I'm game for taking a ride up to Portsmouth. I can also bring up my tools, another jack and jack stands, hose to bleed brakes, and another to refill the tranny/diff.

 

OK, I'll add you to the list diff/tranny fluids.

You can use the stock DOT3 brake fluid on your first time out and see if you run into any isues with brake fade. On my first day I didn't notice any issues until it was time to drive home. The brake pedal felt a little squishy and I had to press harder to get the car to stop. Once I got home I bled the brakes and everything was fine again.

Now if you use the better brake fluid it is much harder to get the fluid to boil and cause brake fade because the boiling point is about 150-200 degrees higher. That is great but there is one downside. The fluid is more hydroscopic (absorbs water) and needs to be changed more frequently than the OEM brake fluid. The boiling point drops as more water is absorbed into the fluid.

 

Consider it done. Why don't you bring the Miata up and we can tackle it at the same time.

So do you think we can talk you into bringing the Miata out to NHIS?

 

Portsmouth cool with me, I'll bring some tools and another Jack with me...

 

SR:

If you guys are up to doing a complete brake job on the Miata, then I'm game. Just be forewarned, I have not yet done a set of brakes on a Miata so I'm still kinda "green around the gills" when it comes to this job.

As far as heading out to the track, I'd love too. I think my wife can come up with many other ways to use the track money for our new house. If I went she'd kill me. Not a nice scenario. I am interested, but the funds are budgeted for this year.

 

If the Miata's brakes are similar to the RX-8 there is only one thing that might gives us some problems. On the RX-8 the brake rotor is secured to the hub with two large Phillips screws. They can be a bitch to remove and if you strip the head it is even worse. The rest of it should be a piece of cake.

Hey, I'm going to keep throwing out the invitation until you finally break down and say yes. :p

 

RPIRX-8,

Have you found a Snell 95 helmet to use or do you think that you will need to buy one?

 

I've got the solution for my10ae! :D How about this...

OK, the Miata needs a brake job, so he tells the wife..."It would cost about I donno maybe $450 parts & labor give or take to fix up the old girl. So the guys have all got together and said "We'll take care of the labor, we'll get discount parts from somewhere...."

BUT THE ONLY THING IS they'll do it ONLY IF I go to the track with them (to play) because they miss me out there! :D . So hows about I kill the proverbial two birds with one stone, after all it's really all the same, yes... GREAT then it's all settled then! ?"

 

I have a impact tool so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Parts have been ordered but a few things are out of stock. Regardless, I should receive everything by the middle of next week. That doesn't leave a lot of options for our Tech day. Sunday 4/24/05 would work best for me. Will that work for the rest of the group?

 

Works for me!

 

my10ae,

Don't forget to bring your limited edition SR jack pad.