the p5nugget
- Thread starter 323
- Start date
a couple months ago, i drove through a construction zone where they patched the road across multiple lanes. i've driven over it before and it was something similar to a very flat speed bump. nope, not this time. imagine a speed bump with a mountain peak on top. my friend was in the car and it said it physically hurt when we ran over the s*** at full speed. fast forward to last week, i checked my wheels because the front end didn't feel right since said mountain peak. front left tire is out of round (broken belt i'm told) and front right tire is worn for other reasons i won't get into (stupid tire pressure gauge malfunction). took off the 03 p5 wheels and threw on a set from an 01 with summer tires on there. tis the season! surprisingly this photo is hiding the pollen really well
Riot_Polizei
Comp Engineering Student
- :
- 2002 Mazda Protege5
I need to get me one of those stickers lol.
It looks like you removed the splash guards under the engine bay. I've been thinking about doing that, although I have a CAI (with a wrap) so I'm a bit scared..
Has your engine been getting really dirty because of that? Also does that little breather intake on the valve cover bring any benefits?
It looks like you removed the splash guards under the engine bay. I've been thinking about doing that, although I have a CAI (with a wrap) so I'm a bit scared..
Has your engine been getting really dirty because of that? Also does that little breather intake on the valve cover bring any benefits?
The car came that way. The fender liners are all busted too near the front of the bumper. I*ll have to replace them one day. Little breather is just a method you use when the intake hose doesn*t have a nipple for a hose. No real benefit that I*m aware of except for possibly preventing a bit of oil getting back into your intake pipe.
Riot_Polizei
Comp Engineering Student
- :
- 2002 Mazda Protege5
Supposedly, a major advantage of valve cover breathers are blow-by prevention. Too much pressure in that engine spells doom for your gaskets and piston rings (I think).
Going off of what 323 said, you recirculate that pressure through your air intake if it has a line for it.
Going off of what 323 said, you recirculate that pressure through your air intake if it has a line for it.
Got car back yesterday with a new driver inner tie rod installed (203k miles). Car feels more solid and doesn't make that knocking noise after being driven on the highway for a while. Front left corner still doesn't feel 100% but i'd say i feel a 70% improvement from before the repair. That road construction speed mountain did me in. So far ruining a tire and sending an inner tie rod to hell.
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Surprise! I ended up driving the car all day last Thursday. On my journey home, bout my 5th or 6th trip of the day, the car starts making the knocking noise and wobbling at the front left corner again meaning I misdiagnosed the inner tie rod being at fault. Good news is I have a new inner tie rod lol. I took the strut assembly off the car today. Found the strut bearing pretty seized up. It is hard to move and had a lot of grease surrounding it and the bearing looks uneven (see pics). Surprised that tiny little part could cause me so much trouble. The actual strut is still good. A new one comes in on Tuesday and I'm hoping that's my problem.
Riot_Polizei
Comp Engineering Student
- :
- 2002 Mazda Protege5
Of course when I was about to start, the rain started coming down pretty hard off and on. I decided to work through it. Didn't take me too long because I've done it a ton of times and nothing was seized since I've been in there recently. The sun came out as I was putting the wheels back on lol. Went for a quick drive and it feels smooth as butter. Who knew these tiny little parts take so much load? There's Gabe's new engine in the corner of the picture.
Got pretty wet under here while working.
New gold nuts. Won't look nice for long I'm sure.
Screw you strut bearings! Initially I was being lazy and was only going to do one side but figured I should be smart and do both.
Car will be aligned sometime next week.
Got pretty wet under here while working.
New gold nuts. Won't look nice for long I'm sure.
Screw you strut bearings! Initially I was being lazy and was only going to do one side but figured I should be smart and do both.
Car will be aligned sometime next week.
