Monday, January 31, 2011 - 05:25 pm, by: Alex Haines(Hainesinho)
Hey guys my airbags started leaking so I bought bilsteins from a mk4 supra... I had a look at the walkthrough on how to swap but don't think I've got the skills to do it... Can anyone suggest somewhere good and not too expensive to get the swap done??? I live on the nth side of Sydney...
Monday, January 31, 2011 - 05:30 pm, by: Scott Vim(1uz1jz)
I've got two new airbags and I'm gonna swap it myself if you want I can let you know how I go? I've done coilovers before and it's pretty straight forward it's just time and patience. Time= longer then you think it will take. Patience= when you realise you need something and have to run down to the shop.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 - 12:36 am, by: Matthew Tai(Matttai)
Ok I am going to give a short rave on this guy recommended to me from another on a import forum. He has just opened up a new shop and I came away very impressed :
Rat of Rational Automotive : 0401 817 000 - 122 Long St Smithfield. Does weekends and after hours you just need to book.
He has done work on his friend's V8 - airbag replacement for all 4 on it as well as service/alignment on my NA6. He also won apprentice of the year 2010 so know that you are in good hands.
One of the best places I have been to : great attention to detail doing before and after drives with all suspension work. will drive, align, drive, and realign if not up to spec. Took his time to explain everything that he was doing and ensuring the end experience was what i wanted for the car. All equipment is new and latest in wheel alignment tech.
Has complimentary soft drinks which is nice in this heat
I am not the only one who has come away recommending this guy. For those of you on JDMST look up the wheel alignment thread!
As for price he is cheaper than my old mechanic (in general i think mechanics out west are more competitively priced in labour) so its worth giving him a ring and he should give you a price on what you need to get done.
Let him know that Matt with the black soarer sent you and he will take good care of you!
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 - 09:05 am, by: Vincent Chan(Vincent191)
Great, Smithfield is a lot closer than Botany and open for weekends is great. I do have to work Monday to Friday to earn my Soarer's upkeep. I will make an appointment to see if he can sort out the noise from my rear suspension.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 - 10:21 am, by: John Stafford(Johng12)
Vincent, tell me about the noise in your rear suspension. I have a noise too. Have changed my coilovers (New and tight as far as I am game to go), replaced the sway bar links (New) checked out the bushes in the upper and lower arms but still noisy. It is less so on the right hand side but clatters a bit on both sides. The main issue is that it has a big clunk, like metal to metal when I hit a pot hole on the left. Can't see any anything so think that it must be the main subframe bushes, which is probably about $1000 labour, plus bushes too. It seems that I can't do it myself without a hoist. Not sure about this but would like any input that is out there. If anyone has pulled the rear subframe out themselves with the car on stands could you drop me a line so I can talk about it with you. Vincent, if your noise is like mine and you are able to fix it please let me in on the secrets. Cheers John
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 - 11:09 am, by: Vincent Chan(Vincent191)
John, my noise is a thumping sound on roads that are not runway smooth. Sounds like I have something loose in the boot (but there is none).
I am on airbags. I wasted $30 going to Peddlers they just told me to change all the bushes and change over to coils.
I am going to give this new guy a go and see what he has to say. I took mine to my usual mechanic and he tighten everything in sight for $30 and still I have the noise.
I will keep you informed when I find the cure. My usual mechanic is not keen on replacing the lower control arm bushes, apparently they are a mongrel to remove.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 - 12:06 pm, by: John Stafford(Johng12)
Thanks Vincent, Sounds the same thing as mine. I will wait to hear what your guy finds. After checking every bush that I could see with a jemmy bar we put a jack under the subframe and found that it would lift a fair bit, that is why I think it is the subframe bushes. But then I read somewhere that these subframes do float, so I will see what you find. Cheers John
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 - 02:53 pm, by: Vincent Chan(Vincent191)
John, sounds similar. My mechanic also told me there is some movement in the subframe but there should be none. He told me to put me finger on the lower control arm bush while he rock the car. I can feel the bush flexing. It does feel different from the other side and he reckons I should change the lower control arm and the sway bar (D) bushes.
But on ONE condition, after changing it and the noise doesn't go away I will not blame him. According to him there could be other factors like worn dampers in the strut.
I will get a third opinion before biting the bullet and change the bushes and report back.
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