Right, just ordered oil for my self service. Which oil filter should I buy?

Subaru blue (black ones have issues don't they?)

STI pink filter

HKS filter

K&N?

Any preferences?

 

Think it's the blue they are having the issue with.

 

I've always used the blue subaru ones and never had a problem, however I did use a K&N on one of my old cars and the ratchet shape made taking off a doddle!

 

here is a picture of mine prior to japfest 2



also got a couple of pics of salsa kings at japfest







Also found this as my inspiration for a few ideas for mine in the future as and when i have the money



only real progress was a service and leak down test and chevron stafford, wanted to check the reliability of the engine the best i could before mapping etc as i dont know how the care was cared for before me.

 

Thought I'd seen it before................







http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...-man#100430360

 

Ironic

 

what film is that then? the new IoM record attempt?

 

At least it's been properly bedded in

 

Does anyone know it you can remove the grey front grille section off the car so that I can get It painted preoperly off the car?

 

 

Ah brilliant so if I just want the grey part off does it just un clip?

 

will you spray it with plasti dip stuff?

 

No mate, there is screws holding it all together. You will need to remove the complete top grill off and then take it apart.

 

Which, if like the 2011's is easier if you remove the complete bumper skin/grill combo first.

Not that hard to do single handed........

 

What brake discs and pads do you guys recommend or have good/ bad experience of? My rear discs need replacing and I'll probably upgrade the fronts too.

I currently have the standard flat discs all round with Pagid pads which are ok but I'm tempted to go with grooved all round and perhaps Kevlar pads.

I only do 4k miles a year and its not often driven hard. As long as they don't squeal I'm not that fussy with noise or dust.

 

Thanks for the help guys got it off does anyone know the paint code of the my11 piano black grille. Planning to paint it that colour

 

AFAIK it's just a plain gloss black. The piano black is a Cosworth "thing" Has extra clear coat on a solid finish (which you wouldn't normally do).

 

Ah I see. Well I have found a paint code for a gloss black which I like used on the Megane 250. Will see how it goes will be doing spoiler and mirrors too all being well

 

I use Godspeed's grooved disks. They're a bit noisy to start with but once bedded in they are fine. I tried the Kevlar pads and find them OK, but they do clunk in the callipers when going from reverse to forward or vice versa as they seem to be a fraction smaller than the OE pads. I've heard that Ferodo are very good, if a little expensive but I've not tried them yet. I'm currently running Pagid pads and I've had no issues with them on the road in normal day to day driving.

I tried some Kinetix disks on the rears and although they fitted and seemed of a good quality, they didn't have the handbrake adjustment hole, so I binned them (expensive lesson learnt there :-( )

 

Thanks for the info, so I'm guessing Kevlar pads were not significantly better than the pagids?

I think I'll probably go for the Godspeed discs too and look into more pad options.

Last year I had access to my brothers megane R26 which had the same size Brembo calipers but with drilled discs, I'm not sure which pads but the car had noticeably better stopping power than mine I know this goes against the fact that flat discs have more surface area and so should be better, so maybe the pads made all the difference. Anyone got drilled discs and a harder pad on their hatch?

 

Drilled discs can crack easier, starting from the hole. Stick with grooved discs, they sweep away any brake pad gasses just fine.

I liked Mintex 1144, 1155 pads and Ferodo 2500 on my classic hatch; forthe 2009 hatch just used std OEM pads and then EBC NDX BLUE RACE pads on Godspeed 2 piece grooved discs on the front, pretty good - from cold and when trying.
Only EBC pads I would use.

Are rear discs ( non Subaru ) available now, weren't a couple of years ago!

 

godspeed do rear discs.

front & rear grooved discs + kevlar pads = £409

 

Is the R26 not a lot lighter than the STI, if so I'd say the lower weight has a lot to do with the better braking.

 

Does anyone know where I can get some red light overlays from??

 

Thanks for the info guys, yeah the R26 is about 200kgs lighter so that must have helped. I'm going to go for the Godspeed ones I think.

I'm also going to flush the system, is it worth upgrading to braided lines while I'm at it?

 

This is more a question for Rob, but any one else have any views on it?...I took my car to Walldonway to have it's 60k service and some ProDrive lowering springs fitted...all seemed good then my clutch went (not blaming dealer for that, but as it was on its last legs, surely they should have noticed it slipping and the peddle being creaky/lumpy?). I took the car to Neil@Slowboy-Racing (top guy!) and as he lifted the car, the front struts almost fell off...the mechanic who fitted them had only finger tightened the nylock bolts that hold the uprights to the turrets...then, on inspection of the rears, he noticed both shocks were knocking and leaking...now I assume that it's possible to see the struts when you install the new springs so any reason why the dealer wouldn't let me know of this dangerous condition? Lastly, whilst being serviced and road tested, would the mechanic be listening for wheel bearing failure? my nearside front is on its way out.
Thanks and sorry for the ramble...just not happy :-(

 

Steve. I think the trouble is they don't bother with test drives anymore so no one hears what we hear whilst driving.

 

Irresponsible on there behalf, all components should be tight and torqued to spec so there's no excuse for them not to do this.

yes they would also have seen the rear struts failing as they have to be removed to fit the springs etc.

the dealer should test drive the car after any work has been carried out and all findings should be written down on both the job card and the invoice in the recommendations section..

 

Cheers all. I just wonder what else they missed? Spark plugs? Oil? Makes me angry...also I didn't get the usual piece of paper with all the usual "this needs doing, that needs doing, tyres have Xmm tread etc"...the funny thing is I rang to find out if its ready and they said "it's just out on a test drive now, we'll let you know when it's back so we make sure everything is OK" bah!!! It didn't even get a once over with a sponge. Well, I won't be using them again! Hopefully the subaru warranty will sort the struts and bearing and I may call IM to see what they'll do regarding the shocking practice at this dealer. I think I'll just use Slowboy from now on

 

did you ring the dealer to tell them the problems you've found, what was their response?