alright, wholesome update tiem.
lots of pics of lots of goodies that have arrived recently.
starting with a great big present that was on the doorstep for me.. :)
aah!
first impressions? nice! not taking whats actually INSIDE into account, the outside fit and finish is top notch. really nice welds, unnecessarily shiny paint, nice thread on the strut, good and strong bracket locations, nicely machined top-mount etc etc etc. really great.
..Also the Twosrus stainless rear toe link's:
nice to see a good quality German tie-rod end used, and overall nicely made. comes with small spacers to locate/centre the hyme joint.
..bit of a impulse buy since ive always wanted one, but a Razo (RA112) 100g black-chrome aluminium ball knob:
replaced a TRD Duracon ive had in there recently. feels very similar, but no more feeling like im shifting with a light-bulb! :P
..but moving onto other big goodies:
SSR Type-C
15x6.5 +30 all round.
forged... and a very impressive 3.9kg per rim!
i bought them second hand, but are absolutely as-new..
got the healthy RE001's swapped on from my Simmons. really was no point letting another good set of tires get old.
after getting molested by the local Jax Quick-fit, the wheels had a meeting with Mr Ray!
nicer than the tired old black-racing nuts ive run for the last few years, thats for sure!
not quite 100% on the lock-nuts to be honest. its a seven-sided nut with a small tab on one side; but i dont know what stops you using a shifter on it??
meanwhile, BAM - new brakepads:
and while i was there; well, i just couldnt help myself: (id wanted to wait until i got the suspension set up to save damaging wheels/nuts)
Today was the big-day though..
got the Struts and toe links installed, and a nice 4wheel wheel alignment done for the second time in a month or two. almost TRD specs, but cant get that much damn positive caster out of the stock strut rods!!
Unfortunately "just above the tyre, all the way 'round" seemed higher than reality. probably seems high to some people, but to me its fkn low..
have the dampening set to full soft, but the 6/8 kg spring rate combo is probably too hard for such a light little car.
ideally id raise it up 20mm or so all the way round, and go a more gentle spring rate. luckily King springs do the KPS coil-over springs - since these look to be a standard 65mm ID spring, getting replacements would be very easy, and very cost effective.
ill enjoy how it is for the time being though! almost NO body-roll is a bit of fun, and the turn in is ridiculous
a couple quick pics from this evening; i couldn't help myself. :$
and an update on the Recaro's? The rails left Japan last friday, and STILL waiting for the replacement bolsters n fabric to come from the UK.
..i think the rails are gonna goddamn get here first! blarg! :)
all for now. :)