OK so have tackled doing suspension and downpipe all in one hit. This is the first time ever doing this kind of work so i was taking my time. When i CBF i stopped and even took a couple days off it just cuz needed a change of pace.
My dogbone is confused! (old bush on top, Black Forest Industries bushes on bottom)
Superior - bushes of choice - did the other end of the dogbone and all the front end bushes too
ordered the wrong fuggin' size
ordered 19mm - needed 21mm (is even embossed on the original bush... iiiiiidiot)
it's a SQQUUUEEEEZE but got them on
THIS was also a piece of poo to put on
these guys finally to be put on!!!
non VAG tools = 22m deep socket and grinder + vice grips and long allen key. LOL
While the subframe was off... this came off too (broke some bolts hahaha)
the tools of choice to remove the biatch downpipe nuts
and a bit of worry as i saw this...
however once all bolted up it doesn't touch the steering rack heat shield (sorry pic is upside down)
and last thing before Val goes back into running around. Some people say take them off, others say it'll help... i dunno! Will see how it goes over the summer and monitor things when weather starts becoming wet again.
I did have to undo the down pipe again as when I first put it on I tightened it while I pushed up on it (because it was touching the steering rack heat shield as pictured above). On starting up it was hitting the heat shield above causing a rattle on startup/reverse. So undid the driveshaft, drivshaft heatshield and the 3 DP nuts and it dropped itself down into perfect position - clearing the heatshield. So take note if you've got the 42DD downpipe to bolt it on as it sits on the turbo bolts and NOT to push up on it as it WILL clear everything once everything's back together.
I think that's all for under there! Everything feels great!!!
Coilovers - nice and smooth. Not harsh or anything like that. I went flown some bunny roads and yes. It's firm but not uncomfortable. You really feel it on turns. I point the car in a corner and it goes in. Hard. I think upgrading the the back sway bar has really made this possible as well! Most noticeable is no more body roll which I had on the stock suspension.
Bushes - Well no more crackling noise/leaf stuck somewhere in my wheel area noise and I guess it's all helped to firm things up. I do not feel any vibrations or whatever that I've read about when people change the dog bone. I've changed both the big bushes and the round little one and vibrations are nil. This is still under 100km's when vibrations are usually felt.
The downpipe - Oh god the downpipe! Don't know why (or if it's just me imagining things) but it sounds like the induction noise has lessened even though I put a larger filter in there however sound when lifting the foot off the throttle is brilliant. Don't even know how to describe it. Also when I hit 3.5-4k Val pulls some kind of trick and pulls even harder!!!
Will log to see if there actually have been changes or if it's just because I've become accustomed to driving a 1.6L EG Civic.
Am proud as punch knowing the only thing I paid for installation wise was some of the bushes. Everything else was done manually. Not even pneumatic tools. So. Time to enjoy!!!
very happy with it
very happy with it
