Crap.

I knew I should have started this on Saturday, but Elise wanted to go Christmas shopping.

I started the whole thing at 12:30..and had until 4:30 to get it done.

I didn't finish it. Now I have TWO days to wait till I can finish her. The auto hobby shop is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

While I was working on the rotors, I took time to inspect my pre-cat, and that stupid oil leak. It's pretty nasty...any idea where it could come from?



Anyways, here's some pics so I can get a little enjoyment after wasting the entire afternoon.

Before rotor removal


Removing the Rotors...gotta pound the crap outta the rotor to loosen it up.

Re-inserting Safety screw (these things were a BIATCH to get out!)

After rotor replacement with Brembo X-Drilled and Slotted



Cont...

 

Cont...

Replacing rear Caliper pads after clean-up...

Removing Front Caliper pads....what a fuggin' MESS!

G-Stop Braided Steel Brake lines...

Removing old ones...and putting in the new ones...



And finally..the car as I left her, unfinished... :wtc:




Just a word to the wise(although I'm sure everyone here has done this before, I haven't)...if you've never done this sorta thing before..make sure to do it when you have plenty of time. It kills me to leave her up on a rack for two days.

Oh..and you get REALLY dirty working on brakes...ugh...

The only thing I had left to do is bleed the brakes and put the rims back on!

 

Speedbleeders, get them if you don't have them already. One of the greatest inventions ever.

Jim

 

nice, u have access to lift?

 

Take the tranny shield off, check out your motor mounts and I bet that its the source of your leak. If not you will get a good look at the most potential place that the leaks will usually start from.

Looks a little like mine when I was putting in my DP, found the sam little annying crap leak.

 

I'm ordering some Speedbleeders..I couldn't wait...I'll take a pic of the front brake pads..

I'd say about maybe 2-5% pad left on them...

Some people have to figure out their priorities....Stereo before Stopping Power?

The Auto Hobby Shop is a military dealio...it's located on base and you're charged like 2.50 an hour for the lift...and pretty much have every tool known to man available to you. Great deal! Unless you don't finish. Which isn't so bad..because storage is only $1.50 and they charge you only on the days it's open.

Thanks for the input, Shred...I'll be sure to do that on Wednseday when I go back to finish her up.

I'm getting a rebuild..so I'm not too worried about fixing the small problems...but could this cause any problems during regular driving? I don't get on it at all..usually stay under 3,000rpms for the short 10-15 minute travel back and forth to work.

My WRX is my beater car right now...

 

Oh..and in case you're wondering...I used anti-seize on the the Safety screws.

I had to use an Impact Drill(the one you use to remove tires..sorry for the terminology). The air wrench that didn't do squat against those screws.

I had to hammer the squatters in..and then wrench them out, because the regular bits weren't doing anything but stripping them.

You guys weren't kidding when you said it'd be a pain in the butt to get out. I only put one back in.

As you can tell from the pics..the car does need a little work..the front bump stops are gone, the bushings are shot on the right side, and it really needs to be cleaned up. The calipers were HORRENDOUSLY dirty..I mean like super NASTY...some of the rubber from the caliper was actually STUCK to the pads..I've never seen that before. I like to keep my wheel wells sparkling.

I did get tons of compliments, though. Everyone in the shop stopped by at least once to take a look at it, and quiz me on it. (some stopped by several times to ask me even more questions about the car)

Out of all of it...it was SUPER simple to do the installation for everything.

From reading the FAQs I read, you'd think changing the rotors, pads, and brake lines was rocket science or something.

One final thing....I've still got this annoying CLUNK in the front..and I was wondering if these bushings look shot to you guys? I'm going to replace them all, but I'm kinda starting to think it might be something else in addition to this...any ideas? Could these actually cause the CLUNK?




See how they're sorta slanted, and crooked, is that normal?

 

The rotor retention screws are a pain. I didn't put any back in. Once the caliper is on the car, they aren't necessary.

After what I went through to get them off, there was no way they were going back on.

 

Usually you can't tell by looking at the bushings that they are bad. BUT... In the bottom pic, front of the upper control arm, something isn't right there. It looks like the forward mount IS in crooked but the back looks straight. That arm doesn't get bent that easily so I'd say you need a closer shot to tell what is going on. Otherwise take a rubber mallet and bang the control arm front to rear (relative to the front/rear of the car). If the bushings are worn you should hear it clunk. You probably won't be able to do this with your hands, unless your really strong or the bushing is completely shot.

Otherwise it looks like you did a great job!

Later,
Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff..that means alot coming from you.

I guess we'll know how well I did once I actually have to use the brakes.

Another thing I did take a look at was the sway bar mounts...those things look incredibly tacky..and VERY weak...the weld doesn't even cover the entire mount...looks very rickety.

I can see why they're a weak link.

 

On my car, the bushing that i circled in the attachment is making all sorts of noise. you might want to check that one. if you stand parallel with the rotor, see if you can push or pull it. mine moves without taking a whole lot of force.

I agree with Jeff, something about the front upper A-arm joint looks odd.

 

Okay...thanks for the info.

Here's a little more info to help diagnose the problem.

If I turn the wheel too far (as in trying to make a HARD turn) the front right of the car will go CLUNK at a point as I reach the full turning radius.

Let's say I'm backing outta a parking space, and as I'm coming back and straighting out...or if I'm going into on, turn, turn, turn, CLUNK, turn. Opposite going in.

Very loud clunk....does that help a little more? Sound familiar to your problem bushing?

 

Fawking sweet!!!!

 

Okay...this database has got my head all screwey..now... WTF?