My daily beater is looking better and better
Sep 18, 2005, 10:25 PM
#1
My daily beater is looking better and better
I've been driving my old '92 Miata a lot lately. The better gas mileage is a great motivator and it's alot easier to drive the Miata at legal speeds 
...
Anyway, the other day I noticed the rear brakes making a horrible sound... I took it immediately to the shop but it was too late and I'd ruined a rotor
. Well, I had the brakes redone and while they had it up on the lift, we noticed that the shock absorbers were the original set!! Yeah, 1992 shocks with 142K miles 
I decided to get new shocks and had a set of Bilstein HD shocks installed with the original springs (those don't wear out and I did not want stiifer ride or drop). Those Bilsteins made an incredible difference.. The car rode like new 
. I also had the oil changed and a can of MOA additive put in and amazingly the lifter noise at start went away completely 
. Now I'm getting all pumped up. I decided to return my friends Panasport wheels to him and get rid of the Falken Azenis. Those tires are great for dry grip but they are scary in the wet and murder on the ride (the sidewalls are so stiff that they are practically run flat tires ). I replaced them with some very sweet 8 spoke 15" silver wheels and Toyo T1Rs....Anyhow, the car is looking pretty good and running great too. The ride is much better. I hope I have not lost too much in dry traction but I feel much safer on these new tires for all around driving.
What do you all think?
... Anyway, the other day I noticed the rear brakes making a horrible sound... I took it immediately to the shop but it was too late and I'd ruined a rotor
. Well, I had the brakes redone and while they had it up on the lift, we noticed that the shock absorbers were the original set!! Yeah, 1992 shocks with 142K miles I decided to get new shocks and had a set of Bilstein HD shocks installed with the original springs (those don't wear out and I did not want stiifer ride or drop). Those Bilsteins made an incredible difference.. The car rode like new . I also had the oil changed and a can of MOA additive put in and amazingly the lifter noise at start went away completely . Now I'm getting all pumped up. I decided to return my friends Panasport wheels to him and get rid of the Falken Azenis. Those tires are great for dry grip but they are scary in the wet and murder on the ride (the sidewalls are so stiff that they are practically run flat tires ). I replaced them with some very sweet 8 spoke 15" silver wheels and Toyo T1Rs....Anyhow, the car is looking pretty good and running great too. The ride is much better. I hope I have not lost too much in dry traction but I feel much safer on these new tires for all around driving.What do you all think?
Sep 18, 2005, 10:49 PM
#5
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lol
beaters.. i drive a beater ... cause i dont have an evo yet.... ill take a picture of my beater... i just redid my radio cause i need a new one badly... it had the original speakers from 1990, they were blown and only 15 watts but now its fully loaded pioneers and a brand new jensen 200 watt radio
i love your miatta though.. but i wouldnt be able to fit in it. how much did you get the tire/rims for?
and my nissan still riding on the stock springs and shocks with 169000 miles oh and the stock clutch too AHHAHAA
beaters.. i drive a beater ... cause i dont have an evo yet.... ill take a picture of my beater... i just redid my radio cause i need a new one badly... it had the original speakers from 1990, they were blown and only 15 watts
but now its fully loaded pioneers and a brand new jensen 200 watt radioi love your miatta though.. but i wouldnt be able to fit in it. how much did you get the tire/rims for?
and my nissan still riding on the stock springs and shocks with 169000 miles
oh and the stock clutch too AHHAHAA
Sep 18, 2005, 11:06 PM
#6
Originally Posted by EvoLoverForever
lol
beaters.. i drive a beater ... cause i dont have an evo yet.... ill take a picture of my beater... i just redid my radio cause i need a new one badly... it had the original speakers from 1990, they were blown and only 15 watts but now its fully loaded pioneers and a brand new jensen 200 watt radio
i love your miatta though.. but i wouldnt be able to fit in it. how much did you get the tire/rims for?
and my nissan still riding on the stock springs and shocks with 169000 miles oh and the stock clutch too AHHAHAA
beaters.. i drive a beater ... cause i dont have an evo yet.... ill take a picture of my beater... i just redid my radio cause i need a new one badly... it had the original speakers from 1990, they were blown and only 15 watts
but now its fully loaded pioneers and a brand new jensen 200 watt radioi love your miatta though.. but i wouldnt be able to fit in it. how much did you get the tire/rims for?
and my nissan still riding on the stock springs and shocks with 169000 miles
oh and the stock clutch too AHHAHAA Oh yeah, those wheels weight only 15 Lbs each...I did get a very good deal though.... lets just say that most folks pay a whole lot more for one cheap EVO replacement tire than I paid for the wheel/tire combo complete with balance, lugs, mounting, etc.
Oh yeah, you really ought to change your shocks though... It will make your old car feel like new again, not to mention a lot safer
Last edited by silverEVO8; Sep 18, 2005 at 11:09 PM.
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Sep 18, 2005, 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by silverEVO8
You wont believe it..... I paid for those wheels and tires (all 4 of them) mounted, balanced and with the tuner nuts, less that the cost of 2 Volks or Works wheels for the EVO Oh yeah, those wheels weight only 15 Lbs each...
I did get a very good deal though.... lets just say that most folks pay a whole lot more for one cheap EVO replacement tire than I paid for the wheel/tire combo complete with balance, lugs, mounting, etc.
Oh yeah, you really ought to change your shocks though... It will make your old car feel like new again, not to mention a lot safer
Oh yeah, those wheels weight only 15 Lbs each...I did get a very good deal though.... lets just say that most folks pay a whole lot more for one cheap EVO replacement tire than I paid for the wheel/tire combo complete with balance, lugs, mounting, etc.
Oh yeah, you really ought to change your shocks though... It will make your old car feel like new again, not to mention a lot safer
Sep 18, 2005, 11:44 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by EvoLoverForever
lol
beaters.. i drive a beater ... cause i dont have an evo yet.... ill take a picture of my beater... i just redid my radio cause i need a new one badly... it had the original speakers from 1990, they were blown and only 15 watts but now its fully loaded pioneers and a brand new jensen 200 watt radio
i love your miatta though.. but i wouldnt be able to fit in it. how much did you get the tire/rims for?
and my nissan still riding on the stock springs and shocks with 169000 miles oh and the stock clutch too AHHAHAA
beaters.. i drive a beater ... cause i dont have an evo yet.... ill take a picture of my beater... i just redid my radio cause i need a new one badly... it had the original speakers from 1990, they were blown and only 15 watts
but now its fully loaded pioneers and a brand new jensen 200 watt radioi love your miatta though.. but i wouldnt be able to fit in it. how much did you get the tire/rims for?
and my nissan still riding on the stock springs and shocks with 169000 miles
oh and the stock clutch too AHHAHAAyd u buy a jensen that just silly.
Sep 19, 2005, 08:13 AM
#12
Originally Posted by EvoLoverForever
it actually feels really good... and i dont do any racing.. so i dont expect to change them soon... not to mention im a senior in highschool and this is my first car. its a nice one though i constatly clean it and give it engine treatments and always just keep it clean.
.... Although it's been a while, I still remember how hard it was to get my hands on actual cash. Still, it will definitely be worth spending some bucks on your shock absorbers. Even if you get some decent replacement units. Bilsteins are about the best but they are pricey. OTOH, the installation can be pretty expensive as it's a hard, time consuming job. You could save a ton by doing it yourself. Just be sure to borrow or rent the right tools and take your time..... Good luck
