Since i bagged my car and i didn't bought the swaybar end links to fix it it to my air struts, when i got it installed the swaybar got removed.
Now as my swaybar is off i might upgrade, my question is, Is an h&r front swaybar much better than an OEM one, and if yes should i pick a 26 or 28 mm o e (what's the difference, pipe size?)
I just installed some Neuspeed sport springs with Koni sport shocks on my .:R and it appears like my swaybar is knocking against my front axle on the driver side.
Now, I read somewhere that is not supposed to be possible, but I can see the marks on the axle. Also, the swaybar link looks like it is twisted quite a bit with the new struts. And, when I look at them with the car on the ground, the distance between the swaybar and the axle looks to be at least 2 inches.
Do I need to center the swaybar? Maybe my control arm bushings are worn out really bad? The camber on the front of my car is -1.4 on both sides.
I'm working on a couple of repairs and have encountered a few questions:
1. Are the bolts supposed to come out of the top of the end link? Mine don't so I don't know if that's the way it is or mine are so far gone that they are frozen in the sleeve. My poly bushing kit does not have any new bolts so I'm hesitant to lay into it with a 10 ton press and ruin the bolts (I don't know how much they are from Ford to buy or if I can even buy them).
2. HPO rail plug. I'm removing my HPX as I'm tired of it leaking (hopefully when my HPOP comes back as a T500 I won't need it anyway). I've seen 33 ft-lbs and 96 ft-lbs. As I go towards the 96 ft-lbs it feels like I'm going to strip the threads out so I backed off and they are at 33 ft-lbs now (I don't need that headache and my wife would go through the roof). I got the ones from Riffraff as I misplaced the ones I took off 8 years ago (go figure). The HPO line connections to the head (or pump for the matter) are 19 ft-lbs. I use Loc-Tite on those but both have an o-ring (which provides most of the seal) so I'm not to keen on gronking the rail plug.
3. I'm also replacing both HPOP gaskets. I know that the HPOP and reservoir mounting bolts are 18 ft-lbs (from Ziggy. in the tech sticky) but is there a spec for the cover bolts too? I know the gasket provides the seal but I'd like to make sure that the force is distributed evenly across the gasket (Sous isn't the only OCD person around).
Hopefully this fixes most to all my oil leaks (still have to tackle the oil cooler). The valley is covered (as well as the front of the reservoir) and there is a lot of weepage on the paper towel test. There are years of buildup everywhere and will take a few tries and several cases of Simple Green to see the metal again.
My H&R rear sway makes some pretty consistently loud popping sounds when it flexes when it's cold out... like, SCARY cold... below 20 F. I assume it's just the bushings getting all hard and grippy, but it's still disturbing, distracting, embarrassing. Should I worry? And can I do anything about it?
View 4 RepliesIn your opinion what looks better on a R. Classix or Denvers? Need to decide what i am going to run for winter.
View 18 RepliesWe have both a 2005 Golf TDI (150,000 miles) and a 2001 Passat GLX (100,000 miles). We need to reduce our number of vehicles, so we need to sell one of them. The question is, which one?
The Passat is a rare manual transmission version and is in immaculate condition. The Golf TDI is a reliable and efficient workhorse. (I no longer have the 35-mile commute that caused me to buy the Golf in the first place.) We love both vehicles and can't decide which to sell. Both vehicles are garaged.
I have a 2008 GTI, black, DSG - I love this car, best I have ever had. It has worked flawlessly - never in the shop for anything other than routine maintenance. Anyway, my lease will be up at the end of the year and was considering either buying out the lease or getting a new 2011 model. What's new and "improved" in the 2011 model?
View 21 RepliesMy husband and I are considering getting a small SUV. We've narrowed our choices down to the 2012 Tiguan SE 4-motion or the CR-V EX-L AWD. I'm working on a pro/con analysis between the two. I've looked through some threads here, and would like to get some updated opinions from current owners.
Why would you pick the Tiguan over the CRV or vice versa?
I'm a long-time VW driver, so I'm naturally leaning towards the Tiguan. The Honda is slightly less expensive to start, and gets slightly better gas mileage, potentially translating into a few $1000s in savings over the VW during the life of the car. We have no real experience with Hondas. My mother has an Accord and decided she hates it after about 1 year. I do think it's mainly because she liked her Subaru and only traded it in because my father hated it.
Some more background info:
This would become my husband's daily driver and his Wrangler would become our third/weekend car. We're in no rush, and may decide to just keep the status quo. My husband commutes 40 miles per day, so better gas mileage is a plus. We have a Lab who will ride in the car pretty often, but we will buy a waterproof seat cover for the backseat of whichever car we get.
Is there any difference between the 2010 v6 and the 2011- 2016 V6's ? Reliable? Highway gas mileage? Maintenance issues to look for? Is there anything you know that would keep me from buying this vehicle?
View 7 RepliesI bought a new 2008 ISF back in the day and acquired a 2009 M5 with 6,000 miles late last year.
My ISF has headers, exhaust and throttle control which absolutely changed the car from a Lexus to a contender, consider the mods with the following comparison. I enjoy my M5 a lot, it is my out of town car- drives great at 180, corners well, solid, roomy (being from Vegas I can fit 4 bodies in the trunk)..I can go on about all the positives.
However, the F is faster with the mods, better ergonomics, and has fewer repair issues. It feels like a go cart. It pulls the 5 until it hits the limiter. As there were only 500 or so produced each year.
This chart compares what my C's computer calculated for MPG to simple arithmetic. Seeing consistent optimistic numbers from your computer like I am?
The average error is -2.7 mpg and the STD is 0.85 mpg. So the error is fairly consistent. I also have shown the gallons purchased, but there is no correlation to mpg error.
So the LX and Landcruiser have shared platforms over the year but I've always wondered why Toyota / Lexus never released a stretched version of the trucks like an Escalade ESV or Yukon XL, etc? I know the trucks currently seat 8 people but the 3rd row is a little tight except for little kids. Also, if you have the 3rd row up, then the trunk space is all but gone. For example, with the Escalade ESV, with the extended version, the seats in the 3rd row are laid out just a little better than the 3rd row in the shorter truck version so it's a little more comfortable. And the trunk space in the stretched version is way more than the normal version.
Of course, the Escalade is not sold in other countries where it's seriously taken off road. I know that it's mainly a US vehicle that roams the crazy parking lots of many upscale malls whereas the Land Cruiser / LX570 is primarily the same in the US but it's also sold in many foreign countries where it really is used off-road and having a stretched version is not really the best for off-road maneuvering. Even so, I think Toyota/Lexus would sell more of these vehicles if they did develop a stretched version. Maybe call it a Landcruiser XL or LX570 XL..
Actually if Toyota made a stretched version, I'd say calling it a Land Bruiser would be more appropriate. I certainly would love an 8 seater LX 570 with the larger trunk area and possible better sitting space with the stretched version. Couple this with the Lexus quality and reliability and Lexus would give the Escalade ESV some decent competition.
How do I turn the "fuel consumption comparison" off? I want to see only the quantity and price off the gasoline I have consumed.
There isn't a "disable" feature, so I am guessing I set it to 0 mpg?
So I recently got a 9006 8000k HID Kit off of E - bay and I'm planning on installing it in place of the stock HIDs. However , I just realized that the stock HIDs have a D4S ballast and connector which do not fit the 9006 HID kit that I just got.
So should I remove the old D4S ballast and put in the new kit, or buy D4S bulbs that fit the stock ballast ? Also, the driver side headlight is flickering and goes out at times so I don't know if the stock ballast is acting up.
I just gonna buy a new car. How this two car compared? I have test two cars, and like ford's handling, while Prius drives like a toy. Also ford seems safer than Toyota.
View 19 Replies2011 Honda CRZ emission test result from EPA is out. I am providing comparison graphs with other hybrids. Enjoy!
Non-Methane Organic Gases
Carbon Monoxide
Nitrogen Oxide
Just bought a new grill and I was trying to take off the original one but idk where the other bolts are apart from the 4 on top.
View 11 RepliesI have a stock GTI MKVI and now if I turn or cut the wheel sharp to park (all at slow speed) I get a ratcheting sound from up front. It is not the suspension "clunk" that some lowered cars get.
View 7 RepliesI have an 04 Jetta that I recently had the trans replaced and ever since I picked it up there is a vibration in the front end. I took the car back and they said it was my DP hitting the cross member. They suspected mounts. I ordered and installed all 3 new mounts but the noise is still there and the trans mount looks crooked where the mount bolts to the trans bracket.
View 8 RepliesYesterday i had taken my front grill off, 08 R32 including the bottom sections where fogs would otherwise be since you have to.... Anyway, i did all that to get my euro plate secured on my grille. Now I'm hearing a rattling noise when I go over a rough surface or descent sized bump. Everything with the grill is clipped and bolted back in tightly, any other things that could be causing this?
View 6 Repliesgot my new brake set up installed about 3 days ago. Adams double slot rotors, ebc redstuff pads. I put about 250 miles on the new set up after bedding in the setup. Im now getting a squeak from the fronts when i hit the brakes normally. Is this something that will work its way out or is there an issue?
View 7 Replies