freddi's build thread!! finally lol.

[Freddiii]

Ahh yes. I forgot about the sway bar. Thanks Nix

 

[Nix]

NP. I bet an intake or exhaust is more fun though cause you get the sound increase!

 

[death_roll]

So I'm thinking of getting the pro kit before the dragon. I asked my bf for an intake or exhaust for our anniversary but I think he's planning a trip. I think the drop would be the thing to get for the dragon right???

Good tires will do far better than a prokit or even a rear swaybar. The swaybar allows the car to rotate and "feels" more capable overall, but without the added grip from better tires all the RSB will do is make the rear end kick out faster.

 

[Freddiii]

Yea but my budget is around $300 n I won't get summer tires for that price. I don't have a formal job I jus babysit on weekends.

 

[death_roll]

Yea but my budget is around $300 n I won't get summer tires for that price. I don't have a formal job I jus babysit on weekends.

Then run about 36-38psi in your tires, it will firm up the handling nicely.

 

[squiggy]

But if you must mod....

I sound like a broken record: Upgraded larger rear sway. I always recommend the Progress 22mm rear sway bar.

A great bang for the buck mod that you can feel right away and you can get it for under $200.

Sounds like it is time to update your signature...

 

[Freddiii]

Then run about 36-38psi in your tires, it will firm up the handling nicely.

K.

 

[Freddiii]

You need nothing for the dragon! Just to show up and have fun from what I understand.

But if you must mod....

I sound like a broken record: Upgraded larger rear sway. I always recommend the Progress 22mm rear sway bar.

A great bang for the buck mod that you can feel right away and you can get it for under $200, which leaves the BF plenty of room to also take you out for a nice dinner.

ok so what else do I need if I get the sway bar, it says endlinks not included. what are endlinks??

 

[squiggy]

what are endlinks??

These are endlinks (Moog). They connect your sway bar to the control arm. Highly recommended. They are probably about twice as thick as stock. They will help stiffen your suspension in a similar manner as the bigger sway bar(less flex). Plus, these have easy access to be greased. The can be found for about $63 or less.

 

[JaydiemTRAN]

Looking good bud looking good! Keep up with the good work!

 

[Nix]

There are endlinks on your car already. The stock ones are fine to reuse. The moogs are a nice upgrade but it is a spot you can save a couple bucks and be fine.

 

[Freddiii]

Thanks guys!

 

[hotdogjohnny]

Good tires will do far better than a prokit or even a rear swaybar. The swaybar allows the car to rotate and "feels" more capable overall, but without the added grip from better tires all the RSB will do is make the rear end kick out faster.

The rear needs to kick out faster in this car. Pro kit is the best mod I did. Car handles far better than before. I was shocked when after delivery I put it through some corners with speed. Rather than plow with fwd understeer, I really thought I was going to roll it bc it was top heavy! And I've rolleed cars (years ago, more than once, not proud of it) so I know what it feels like. Pro kit lowers and stiffens and lets the tail out a little, all good stuff. But you'll pay $300 or more for installation unless you diy it. I have not done the stiffer sway bar, but if it accomplishes what I am describing while the car rides higher on oem springs, then do it, it's prolly a way better bang-for-buck mod than pro kit. As far as getting better tires, I've never found that to be a fix, but maybe that's just me. And with the way you and BF are racking up miles, $$$$ summer tires that have to switched out for winter, tpms sensor BS etc, is prolly not a cheap mod either.
I enjoyed reading your buuild thread today Freddi, Good luck!

 

[death_roll]

Pro kit is the best mod I did. Car handles far better than before. I was shocked when after delivery I put it through some corners with speed. I really thought I was going to roll it. And I've done that (years ago, more than once) so I know what it feels like. Pro kit lowers and stiffens and lets the tail out a little, all good stuff. But you'll pay $300 or more for installation unless you diy it. I have not done the stiffer sway bar, but if it accomplishes what I am describing while the car rides higher, it's prolly a way better bang-for-buck mod than pro kit or tires.

Springs only give a perceived 'feel' of better handling because the car is stiffer, responds a bit quicker, and has less roll. Tires do far more because they're the actual part that is supplying the grip for turning and braking.

Are you still on the OEM michelin MVMVMVVMVMVMMVV4 tires? Change that crap out and really enjoy better handling.

There was a time where I thought I was hot **** because I lowered my SE-R on hypercoils and AGX struts, thing is while the car 'felt' better, it was just as fast through corners as the stock suspension because I never upgraded to summer performance tires.

 

[hotdogjohnny]

Springs only give a perceived 'feel' of better handling because the car is stiffer, responds a bit quicker, and has less roll. Tires do far more because they're the actual part that is supplying the grip for turning and braking.

Are you still on the OEM michelin MVMVMVVMVMVMMVV4 tires? Change that crap out and really enjoy better handling.

There was a time where I thought I was hot **** because I lowered my SE-R on hypercoils and AGX struts, thing is while the car 'felt' better, it was just as fast through corners as the stock suspension because I never upgraded to summer performance tires.

Make no mistake. You are right about summer tires. They are great, in summer conditions. It's just an expensive thing to do on these cars for some folks, considering you have to switch them out, have two sets of tpms sensors, pay to have the tpms sensors in the winter tires assigned to the car, etc. This is undoubtedly the case for a NY driver, where sleet and snow are an issue. And this is a dd for 2 people. No way op could get through a NY winter on summer tires. We're looking for solutions to op's situation, not a hypothetical, that's all I mean.

 

[hotdogjohnny]

Then run about 36-38psi in your tires, it will firm up the handling nicely.

I would not recommend overinflating tires and sending op out to test the limits of adhesion. Can someone back me up on this? It's a bad idea.

 

[death_roll]

I would not recommend overinflating tires and sending op out to test the limits of adhesion. Can someone back me up on this? It's a bad idea.

People do this all of the time, exactly how is inflating a tire to 36psi bad? 40+ is overinflating the tire. I have run pretty much every tire on every car I owned at at least 35psi with no ill-effects. Lecture me on how this is so bad.

She only asked for tips on how to improve the handling, and adding an extra bit of air is a good free way to make the car a bit more responsive.

Make no mistake. You are right about summer tires. They are great, in summer conditions. It's just an expensive thing to do on these cars for some folks, considering you have to switch them out, have two sets of tpms sensors, pay to have the tpms sensors in the winter tires assigned to the car, etc. This is undoubtedly the case for a NY driver, where sleet and snow are an issue. And this is a dd for 2 people. No way op could get through a NY winter on summer tires. We're looking for solutions to op's situation, not a hypothetical, that's all I mean.

There are plenty of A/S tires that are better in winter conditions that the OEM, yet still will outperform in the dry and wet handling (conti DWS, Bridgestone RE970,)

 

[Freddiii]

I enjoyed reading your buuild thread today Freddi, Good luck!

Thanks!!!!

It's been interesting hearing all the diff opinions. I think for next years dragon I will be on rims for the spring summer n summer tires if the money is willing. I wanted it this year but the wheels I want aren't cheap.

 

[hotdogjohnny]

People do this all of the time, exactly how is inflating a tire to 36psi bad? 40+ is overinflating the tire. I have run pretty much every tire on every car I owned at at least 35psi with no ill-effects. Lecture me on how this is so bad.

She only asked for tips on how to improve the handling, and adding an extra bit of air is a good free way to make the car a bit more responsive.



There are plenty of A/S tires that are better in winter conditions that the OEM, yet still will outperform in the dry and wet handling (conti DWS, Bridgestone RE970,)

OK then. I guess that says it all.

 

[hotdogjohnny]

Thanks!!!!

It's been interesting hearing all the diff opinions. I think for next years dragon I will be on rims for the spring summer n summer tires if the money is willing. I wanted it this year but the wheels I want aren't cheap.

I was thinking specifically of your trip to the dragon this year when posting above. Have fun!