TommyC

Woah!! Yeah, that's a lot of material applied there! I bet it made a big difference though?! Yeah, 50% increase (or there about)?! Damn you Brexit!! 😆😆😆

Coincidentally just had an online chat with someone at Wheelbase. They don't have 5x100 in stock, that's why they 'won't fit the vehicle' 🙄 Wheelbase said there's one set of Graphite Grey Ultraforms in 17x8 5x100 ET40 in America though, which I've ordered and should be delivered in a couple of weeks!

Sorry for digging this one up, but I just wanted to see if this was the pack that people were buying... https://www.deadening.co.uk/products/silent-coat-2mm-mat-volume-pack

Oh yeah! Good spot 😳😆 Wheelbase seem to think they don't fit the GT86 too 🤔 Maybe need 5mm spacers to get the offset to clear the suspension etc on an 8J rim?!

There are loads of sites out there to try. It might help to settle on a wheel you like the look of and then shop around for the best deal you can find. I've been trying (although not very hard) to decide on some wheels for mine! Struggling to choose between these three at the moment... (looking at 17x8 ET35) Konig Dekagram in gloss bronze https://konigwheels.com/wheels/flow-formed-wheels/dekagram/ JR21 in silver https://www.tarmacsportz.co.uk/brands/japan-racing.html?wheel_colour=461%2C1257&wheel_model=2793&wheel_pcdms=2814&wheel_size=330&wheel_width=397 or Konig Ultraform in gloss graphite https://m.wheelbasealloys.com/alloy-wheels/konig/ultraform/graphite/17-inch Decisions, decisions... 🤔🙄

Yeah, that'll be the direction for now I think 🙂 But not some of these nasty things!! 🤢 https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Black-3D-Style-Brake-Caliper-Covers-Universal-Car-Front-Rear-Kits-10-5-UK-/112656908220?ul_ref=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F710-53481-19255-0%2F1%3Futm_source%3Dtwenga%26utm_param%3DeyJlcyI6MCwicyI6OTcyMDIzNywiY2kiOiIwMzRlYjZhZTgzMTMyMDgwOTJiYWJmMGMyYzRkMzI3NiIsImkiOiIzMzE2MjA2MDE3ODczNzAyNjMyIiwidHMiOjE1NDA1Njk1MjEsInYiOjMsInNvIjoxNTAwLCJjIjo2MzcxN30%3D%26utm_campaign%3Dtwenga%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26ff3%3D4%26pub%3D5574631662%26toolid%3D10001%26campid%3D5338353462%26customid%3D034eb6ae8313208092babf0c2c4d3276%26mpre%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fitm%2F4x-Black-3D-Style-Brake-Caliper-Covers-Universal-Car-Front-Rear-Kits-10-5-UK-%2F112656908220%26srcrot%3D710-53481-19255-0%26rvr_id%3D1717831764500%26rvr_ts%3Db11962571660a86689a72c83ffff33bc&_mwBanner=1&_rdt=1&ul_noapp=true

I've been trying to understand how brake bias and pedal feel/travel are affected by big brake kits. I'm really stuck on the fact that 4pot calipers must end up needing a greater volume of fluid to be 'moved' by the master cylinder than the standard ones. So I mean the distance the pedal travels under braking must surely increase with a 4pot?! I've read on other posts that the standard calipers have 2 pistons slightly larger than 40mm diameter. This gives 10,250mm2 (square millimetres) of piston area. For a 4pot caliper to have approximately the same piston area (and therefore achieve the same pedal travel) the pistons would need to be about 28mm diameter. Most 4pot calipers I've seen offer different piston sizes, but none this small. Does this mean you need to upgrade the master cylinder at the same time as fitting 4pots? Has anyone with a BBK noticed greater pedal travel after fitting? I like to understand the engineering/mechanics behind stuff and if anyone can explain I'd be grateful 🙂

I do have some bits of yellow banded walnut... Wasn't sure that the wood and plastic would go well together 🤔

Yeah, they just slot in and stay put by themselves. They're 35mm deep so they rest against the headunit mounting brackets. I'm not sure whether to drill a small hole in the brackets and screw the blanks in from behind. They'll probably get in the way of bolting the headunit back in though 🙄 Best option would be some kind of clip so they push in from the front, once the headunit and trim are fitted, and click in and stay put... 🤔

The overhang at the front fits the step in my headunit on either side. Also just noticed I didn't put the height... It's 100mm. (All dimensions in mm. Forgot that too 😳)

Ok, so here's my attempt at a dimensioned drawing for you Nerdstrike... Can't remember what First angle or Third angle projection is these days 😳 (was 20 years ago when I did my Engineering OND). Anyway here's some more pictures with the right hand one (There's obviously a cut out in the left hand one for the phone holder bracket, but I guess you don't need the dimensions for that?!).

Yeah, that's well written and reasons out the folly of pushing bias forward from standard. I'd never really considered that throwing it forward like some badly thought out kits do, or chucking on 4pots that 'fit', can actually INCREASE stopping distances 😬😲 The more I explore this the more I feel things are best left alone brakes-wise unless there is a real need for improvement (track use etc). That said, I still want something better looking behind the wheels! I think I'll have to save up and buy proper stuff front and rear. Best get on a few track days so I have some justification 😆😆😆

I'll see what I can draw and label up for you. Although I used my Router Table for the radius on the top and bottom because I have a cutter with the perfect profile 😁 I had also considered making some from recycled HDPE plastic (which I have experimented with a little). I'll keep you updated of any progress with this 🙂

These are also my concerns Church. I'm rather impressed with the standard brakes but I just don't like the fact they're covered in surface corrosion 😕 My thoughts were to take them off to clean them up and paint them, but then if I'm going to the hassle of that I might as well go for something that looks far nicer and performs even better! (But then there's the price 😲). I'll have a look 🙂 Are these bells and rotors? (I would hope so at the price).

Cheers 🙂 Yeah, wasn't sure though. Already had a rattle can of matt black and thought I'd see how it looked before buying some gloss black...

😁 Might need to go at the back though! 😆

Sounds interesting and fun! Mind if I come along? 🙂

The lack of power thing is down to people's expectations... if you're used to power then it can be a disappointment, but it's not quite what was intended by the designers. You have to drive one more than once, and in a spirited way, to 'understand' what the car is about. I've started to think it's like comparing a scalpel to a cleaver (but my performance car experience is somewhat limited). Many have said it's a car that teaches the driver! I would recommened a couple of test drives and reading plenty of the info on here to get a better feel for what the GT86/BRZ is about. The majority of people are happy with a 'torque dip' removing NA tuning package, suspension mods, wheels and tyres, and some braking mods (not necessarily a big brake kit). If you decide to joins us in GT86/BRZ ownership I don't think you'll be disappointed 😀

One of my neighbours (in his 70s) said he thought I'd got some inheritance and bought a Maserati.... until he got close up and saw the Toyota badges. Then mentioned Specsavers 😂

Every day is a school day 🙂 Personally I'd still go for steel 😁

Having studied engineering materials technology I'm pretty sure Duralumin is just an aluminium alloy to improve durability in most conditions (DURable ALUMINium). Aluminium is prone to dissimilar metal corrosion when in direct contact with steel (wheels studs will be steel). Add in water/salt and this accelerates the process. It's possible that some of the ingredients of Duralumin resist this and/or slow it down drastically. If the car is a daily driver with regular exposure to the elements, and regular wheel removal for tyre changes, then Steel nuts would be the better option for longevity. Alloy ones (duralumin or not) are likely to corrode at a faster rate under these conditions and will require replacements far sooner. Also being generally softer and less tough, in direct comparison to steel, they are more likely to round off/shear/pull threads if over tightened (from personal experience many tyre fitters don't really understand the ins-and-outs of torque loading), my choice would be steel! If it's a track/show car these factors will vary in their effects. As with all things in Engineering, there is a compromise to be weighed up. Depends on which property you prioritise for your wheel nuts, longevity/strength/lightness/aesthetics etc. Hopefully this Info/opinion is helpful... 😬

Need a couple of bits from the supermarket and thought "I'll go in the GT, I'll be able to have a bit of fun!" In my mind... What actually happened... I walked there! 😕 😂😂😂😂😂

Yesterday afternoon/evening I was driving back to Telford from Oxfordshire for the weekend. M5 traffic as usual so I ditched it and went through Kidderminster up the A449 & A442. It took 3 hours to get from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth as we had to get round a few stuck BMWs and a stricken Lorry. There were a few time I thought I'd end up stuck as it was very difficult to get moving again in the stoooop-start-stooooop traffic! I actually found it better and easier to get going with traction control fully off. It seemed to interfere too much and hinder things, not help?! Also decidedly to have some low speed fun on the twisty bits of our estate... and ended up perpendicular to the road and stalled 😳 15 point turn saw me to my driveway with some emabarrassment 😂😂😂 Anyone else having any Snowy moments/adventures?

I wonder what buttons they have in X-Drive BMWs? Whatever they have, it doesn't seem to work...?! The maker of this video is clearly an Audi fan, but it made me laugh! Mostly because it was stuck BMWs causing most of the issues on friday night, and at one point when I was leaving a bit of 'run-up room' I was passed by an impatient Audi!

More snow due today, and I'm due back in Oxfordshire tonight! It shall be getting some use! 🙂