Really? Another Miata thread....

[Kaan]

OMG I just had a flash back... video game life. thank god I don't have a good internet connection.

[V1GiLaNtE]

OMG I just had a flash back... video game life. thank god I don't have a good internet connection.

Don't lie. You still have your cellular phone with all that sweet sweet data. 

[Senor_Taylor]

This car looks so good. Ugh

[rherold9]

This car looks so good. Ugh

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On to z vids

Slidey-boi's:



Fastest Lap (see long vid description if you care):



Following a 160whp NA Miata:

[rherold9]

Did a little pre-track inspection tonight for the last track event this weekend. Since it's been a few months thought I'd check before sending it and trying to drop 2 seconds this weekend.

Noticed a few weeks back when I drove the car my exhaust was hanging lower. Got under the car tonight and the Flyin' Miata Polyurethane hanger was torn.... How? Mid-pipe is currently lightly resting on a chassis brace. Guess I'll be contacting FM to see if they'll warranty it. I'd rather not be replacing these two times a season...



Next, I knew the car was getting low on brake pad as the abs light was coming on and off randomly. NC Miata's for some reason get angry when the brake fluid is close to the low mark and throws the abs light on. The first time it happened I had to Google it and was told to check the brake fluid and sure enough the fluid was close to low and the brake pads were low as well. Nice safety feature for the driver though!

Was just going to swap the front pads inside to outside as the outside was wearing faster. Had probably 1-2 sessions of pad life left but I noticed on the passenger side one pad was missing pad material completely. I'm shortly about swap new pads in instead. So that is another 3 events with some daily driving. Guess I'll be doing brake ducts to try to get 4 weekends out of the brake pads!



I've also noticed significant increased in stress cracks on the front rotors. I'll be bringing my used spares just in case they decide they want to crack. We'll see how long they'll last. If they make it past this weekend that'll be a full season on the same Centric blank rotors.

All bolts were nice and tight for suspension and brakes.

I did notice some rear suspension ball joint boots were looking like they are trying to crack. They got that tiny crumbled rubber look to them along one seam. Nothing major but I'm sure that's a sign of them going to needing to be replaced soon enough... Yehhh /sarcasm.

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[rherold9]

Welp, that was fun. I took a break on replacing the front brake pads due to a production support call. I come back out. Slap in the passenger side. I walk around the back of the car and I go to pump the brakes to push the piston back out. The pedal goes all the way to the floor... I pump 4 more times and nothing changes. I say "that's weird" out loud... I get out and walk around the car and notice the picture below....



Well fuck me in the ass, right?

Mind was definitely not in the correct place after the call so I just forgot I didn't finish the other side before going in I guess.

I start panicking because I'm like welp did I fuck this shit up and can't drive this weekend? I've never dealt with brake caliper stuff before so I have no idea what happened. Post in TTD and look online. TTD folks are like just push it back in. Okay. I look online and see. Oh okay so that's how this works.

I take off the caliper. Remove dust boot which is now torn. And the piston goes right back in. Voila. I keep dust boot off as TTD folks say it's more harm in there than good.



I look for unopened ATE brake fluid that I know I bought. Can't find any. Run out and buy some AutoZone Pentosin DOT4 fluid just to top off and do a quick flush for air. I thankfully didn't pull a Scotty and checked pressure before putting fluid in... Wasn't going to have two fuck-ups in one night



I bleed both rear no problem and they have no air. Go to passenger front. Bleeder screw won't budge and starts to round. I spray pentrating oil. Nothing. K. Guess I'm not bleeding that bitch. Driver's side pops open no problem and there is almost no air.

I go to put back the bleeder and I see the ATE DOT4 right in the bin where I removed the Motive Bleeder... K.

Welp I guess time to add another thing to do over the winter. Find a way to remove passenger side bleeder screw and replace it.

Hopefully the seal holds on that caliper for this weekend. There were no reman's in stock near me at AutoZone, Advance, and NAPA....

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[ScottyB]

I thankfully didn't pull a Scotty and checked pressure before putting fluid in

i'm glad i could prevent a potential (golden) hydraulic fluid shower! i know how "those days" can go buddy, i sure do.

you don't need 10PSI, hell i'd back it off to 5 or 6.

[Kaan]

Hopefully the seal holds on that caliper for this weekend. There were no reman's in stock near me at AutoZone, Advance, and NAPA....

There is a carquest regional warehouse in Winchester.... they have everything. never fear.

VIR is a nice track but you have to bring ALL your stuff (at least Honda distributors) because their parts stores SUCK. But Summit Point has part store support.

[rherold9]

The bads: Pedal went to the floor when I was loading the trailer this morning. A couple pumps got it stiff but then went back to the floor a few seconds later. For sure there is air in the lines

The goods: So far no fluid has leaked out. Fluid is still at the full line. I assume without the boot the seal will wear a bit quicker but oh well I'll just buy a reman as a spare this winter.

I'm running to two separate auto parts stores to snag bleeder screws for the car since I don't know if it's a m8-1.0 or m8-1.25. I'll be replacing the front passenger side screw Saturday morning as well as doing a full bleed so my brakes actually work... Since I bled the car with the motive last night I did not check the pedal pressure. I assume I just didn't let enough fluid out to get to the air point. Hopefully can get it buttoned up in the morning quickly so I don't miss any track time!

[JustinG]

The bads:....A couple pumps got it stiff

[rherold9]

The bads:....A couple pumps got it stiff

[Senor_Taylor]

Why did you take the caliper off to push the Piston back in? Am I missing something?

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[ScottyB]

The bads:....A couple pumps got it stiff

So far no fluid has leaked out.

[rherold9]

No reason, at the time I didn't know what I was doing until I looked online. So I removed. Caliper is only held in by two screws that's attach to the slider pins. Nice design for easy removal

Why did you take the caliper off to push the Piston back in? Am I missing something?

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[Senor_Taylor]

No reason, at the time I didn't know what I was doing until I looked online. So I removed. Caliper is only held in by two screws that's attach to the slider pins. Nice design for easy removal

Why did you take the caliper off to push the Piston back in? Am I missing something?

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img

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That's every caliper ever. You introduce more difficulty when removing the banjo bolt for the brake line.

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[rherold9]

Hmmm... where do I start

TL;DR I met my goal of a 1:25 at Summit. Car is back home in one piece. Brakes were fine

Wow, what a weekend. Saturday carnage was unreal, oil dropping, coolant dropping, a friend going over a concrete wall when he lost brakes, and so much more. I don't think I've ever seen it that bad. I don't think there was one session out of all groups for the whole day where there wasn't a problem....

In total I think I had 7 or 8 laps total Saturday where there wasn't a yellow, red, or black flag all. I maybe had 1 clear lap on Saturday out of those where I wasn't in traffic due to piss poor track etiquette. Not to mention the wind kept the track ice cold so I didn't get a chance of pushing it as the car felt very floaty/snappy/oversteer-y. Started at a 1:34 and I ran a 1:31 and was extremely disappointed but started to gain some confidence as the day went on. I knew I had several seconds left as I wasn't on the throttle, I was braking early, entering slow, etc. My last time I was at Summit I was something of the tune of a 1:27-1:28 range with worn out RE-71r's and the old alignment

Sunday I didn't run the first session as it was below freezing outside (~25 degrees). I decided to keep my cold tire pressures at 31 front and 28 rear. I softened the rear damping 2 clicks. I went out in the 2nd session and I did warm-up lap->1:33->1:31->1:29.0 and then we got black flagged for a vette hitting a tire wall... The car felt much less snappy when completely cold and gave me considerable more confidence every lap. When the car started to get warm the car was perfect too minus some pushing between T7-T8

The third session, I got two laps in and hit a 1:28 but then got stuck behind a new WRX STI RA for 4 laps. I was going to back off but faster cars were passing. He eventually let me by, but even though my tires were overheated at that point I still ran a 1:26.5 on lap 8... A new personal best

The last session Sunday, luckily half the field didn't show and I was in the very back. I was slowly catching a TT5 car after the first couple laps so I was taking it easier and my tires were starting to get hot. The 4th lap I decided I'm going for it so I gave just enough room and pushed a little harder. Started catching pretty hard by T10 and he let me buy on the front straight to where I ran a 1:25.93 'official' time (1:25.97 AIM). I knew my tires were done after that lap as the car started to push in a lot of places so I kind of just cruised around the track in the low 1:26 range again. FINALLY... I was so happy to see it especially with the amount of traffic and flags I fought the entire weekend it was a sigh of relief




That was good enough for 4th out of 7 in TTD on Sunday. 1st place (4.2 seconds faster) was a FRS with aero, Hoosiers, and at the weight to power (due to dyno reclass). 2nd place (2.2 seconds faster) was an RX8 with aero, Toyo RA1's?, and at the weight to power. 3rd place (only 0.2 seconds fast) was another NC Miata that was 100 pounds lighter (stripped with only dash), fully caged, aero, and on Toyo R888R's.

I definitely left time on the table too in several different places but that's all good. We'll push for a new PB and goal next season!

Overall, very happy with how the season ended. Another PB and another goal I achieved. A great season overall too. I snagged every goal I set in TT over the 2.5 events I ran this season. I started out HPDE2 solo in March in this car. First time ever out on track in it. I started TT at August VIR and set a goal of 2:16 and did it. Dominion I got my goal alas I had way more time left but the rain was miserable. And now 1.5+ seconds faster at Summit. I'll take it

I'm very happy with how I did in the car for so little time in it and how the car sits.... 154whp peak at 2620-2650 pounds and on cheap 25 heat cycled r-compounds. 3:1+ off the TTD weight to power. Ugh. I can't imagine how fast I'd be able to go with a fully maxed car with a dyno reclass in TTD. Aero, hoosiers, shave off 100-150 pounds, and add a few hp. 1:22s I think would be possible.

Anyway, off the bench racing subject and on to next season plans, which I'm not even sure of. I've possibly been thinking in this order is to strip the car besides dash, lightweight battery, get ride height and alignment set up nicely, maybe change the exhaust out and get Dyno tuned, possibly do OSGiken differential, and possibly do brake ducts. I'm thinking I'll kill the RC-1's off middle of next season and find some 225 Hoosier take-offs. If I'm feeling it next season I'll upgrade to a splitter and wing near the end or save it for the season after!

Thinking of doing instructor school in March to help save some money that I'll turn around and spend on the car as well as being able to help some people get faster! It's always a feel good when you give someone tips and then they go implement them on track. Not sure if I'll stay in TT and get slaughtered in 5 or just run HPDE4 until I get the car built out! We'll see how much they beg me to come help for contingency lol

I'll post videos when I decide to edit them

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[ScottyB]

I snagged every goal I set in TT over the 2.5 events I ran this season. I started out HPDE2 solo in March in this car. First time ever out on track in it. I started TT at August VIR and set a goal of 2:16 and did it. Dominion I got my goal alas I had way more time left but the rain was miserable. And now 1.5+ seconds faster at Summit. I'll take it

damn right, that's awesome. if forgot you started this quest in earnest in March, considering that i'd call your progress a big old winner winner chicken dinner. 2.5 events at a class underdog level of equipment prep is just scratching the surface. looking forward to you climbing up the ranks further with a full year of development under your belt.

still happy with the NC? i seem to see more and more of them turning up at events. i still think its a great chassis that just gets derided by NA/NB purists for no other reason than it has a miata badge.

[rherold9]

damn right, that's awesome.  if forgot you started this quest in earnest in March, considering that i'd call your progress a big old winner winner chicken dinner.  2.5 events at a class underdog level of equipment prep is just scratching the surface.  looking forward to you climbing up the ranks further with a full year of development under your belt.  

still happy with the NC?  i seem to see more and more of them turning up at events.  i still think its a great chassis that just gets derided by NA/NB purists for no other reason than it has a miata badge.

Thank you!

Yeah, I really am happy with it. It's lacking in power but still manages to do well in comparison to other cars. The car is so much fun to drive. Point and go. Super neutral when the tires are right in their heat zone. A little snappy when cold. I love the way the car just will rotate just like you ask it to do and is super progressive/easy to reign in if you start to over drive it. I'm super glad I've gone down the path with this car. I can't weight until more seat time and getting the rule book max. I'm really curious what this little car and I can do!

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Here is the video of the fast lap:

[rherold9]

I hope this guy gets his TT licensed revoked. He should not be out there. Complained at the event to Scott and sent him this video as well today. Hopefully I get a response... 3 other people I talked to after were pissed about it too (Including the other NC Miata and red Civic SI). I stayed out to record him because I couldn't believe my eyes.

[ScottyB]

i think novice/retiree drivers in purpose built cars are the most dangerous combo, even worse than noobs in overpowered stock cars. there's just too much size/speed/commotion inside the cockpit of those cars for people like that to deal with anything else outside of their sphere of concentration of just keeping the thing on the road.

sucks and i hope they slap him with a penalty. for a while there you guys looked like you could have put the cruise control on and just draped your arm out the window to catch a breeze.