Clunking sickness

The Pocong started to clunks on uneven surface or through speed bumps for almost a month. Not exactly loud but irritating to hear it every time going through my office parking ramps everyday.

Since then, I've been doing some googling works, looking at that symptoms, possible causes involves worn arb bushes, ball joints and bent tie rods.

Upon inspecting the suspension, all joins and links appears to be fine and strapped together, no hell bending whatsoever. I've even spray silicone grease for good measure. But you know what, it's not working!

Things spices up more after my recent sunday drive. I guess accidentally running over speed bump going down Genting really turned things for worst. Now it's really getting on my nerves!

Scrapped all my to-do-list for today (oh well yesterday), went off to AVS Auto early morning and bought a pair of tie rods and ball joints. RM600 for all that (OEM mind you) is well ... pricey!

Visited my mechanic shop near home, he did plenty of test drives and checks, he guarantees me that it's the Mondeo’s drop links that spoiled. Funny enough after fitting my old drop link on right hand side, it's still clunking…. even louder like trashed 10 year old car.

Couldn't tolerate this kind of aggregation anymore, I went to Kawa Koshi immediately. Peter unexpectedly agrees with my mechanic that it's the drop links, which have excessive freeplay at its joints. And the reason why I keep hearing clunks is because it wasn't tightened properly. So now it's quiet except there's still clunks on the left.

Drove off to AVS and returned the tie rods, ball joints and got myself an arb link for the other side and got it installed right away. Walla! All is well and at a cost cheaper than what I expected except I’ve taken EL for the day. Luckily my boss was over the sea otherwise she’ll be pissed again! hahaha

Expensive affair, thank God it wasn't either of you

There's more to it than meets the eye

Just got back from my shiok sendiri sunday drive to Genting and Bukit Tinggi just like walking on memory lane on how I use to regularly do with the old GTi. It was cool and dandy on how Pocong behaves itself there and on the way back had fun toying with Gallardo and R56 MCS on Karak highway towards Gombak. Although there're plenty of performance machines which are more powerful and have better dynamics but there's more to 'it' than meets the eye when it comes to Picanto inspired looking Pocong!

Looks like RSR getting worn out alike Staedler Mars eraser being used excessively during PMR exams but these sure get the job done alright!

Quaife LSD

ECS has dropped in an interesting email to my inbox this week. As per other emails before, it’s just common product advertising campaign they’ve been doing for quite sometime but not enough to shaken me much until now.

Who would have though they’ve shredded down Quaife LSD for VW 02J gearbox by some margin! This will seriously help the Pocong on putting all the power down properly and of course getting better bite at corners. But, although it Pocong’s 02R box and Mk4’s 02J is almost identical and even sharing the same bellhousing but it would not guarantee this Quaife 114mm ring gear would slot nicely in it unless open it up. And finding the right shop to do this surgery is another matter altogether!

Oh well, this will still remains as my wishlist within 2-3 years down the road then.

Very tempting!

Bangau's ranting on Satria Neo R3 Lotus

Here's copy of ranting by my old friend Bangau in regards to Satria Neo R3 Lotus Racing. Frankly speaking, he has a very good point there and the Proton's folks may find it a bitter pill to swallow but that's the reality mate!

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Thanks to Proton Motorsports, I had the chance to sample the Satria Neo R3 Lotus Racing, the car that has the longest name in Proton's history.

Colleague Daniel Wong picked up the car from Proton, and I "curi" the car from him for a 3-hour drive around Bangsar, Cyberjaya and Putrajaya.

The car attracted enthusiasts while those who were not must be thinking it was just another modified Neo.

I have nothing to say about the appearance as looks is subjective. The Neo has always looked nice, and to me, it is Proton's best designed car.

I also believe the R3 team has done a splendid job, given the time and budget constraint.

And so my complaint goes to the management, the ones who decided that the project should be done.

Where sir, did you get the idea to sell a modified Neo for RM115,000?

I said modified because the car is using parts which are available in the market.

Yes, the FRP wings might be new but I heard it will be available soon in the market.

The Ohlins shocks are RM30,000, but that too can be ordered.

The bodykit is the same as the R3 Neo, the carbon fibre hood is easily available from many shops and the wheels are not specifically designed for the car.

The seats are stock, covered with Napa leather. The gear knob is R3's chrome unit (at least my Neo uses a Sparco one), the pedals are also R3 (and mine are Momo Corse, lagi best) and the mats are R3 (mine are from Momo, Italy).

The engine is a CPS, but has been done up by R3 but it is still the same n/a engine.

Why this half past six job? Why not give the team ample time to come out with something really spectacular?

The dashboard and interior can be covered with Alcantara. The two front seats should be Recaros, and the rear must also have matching patterns.

Get somebody to redo the instrument cluster. In the same time, get another audio system, with more speakers and a subwoofer.

Change the gearbox ratios, make it a close ratio box, then you can really harness the power.

Turbocharge the car, or supercharge it (its a limited edition unit, you don't need EU approvals). Give it more power.

And how about HID lights? A different designed bodykit is also a must, made from FRP.

Tell your suppliers that they are not to sell the design to anybody else, and sue companies who try to come out with imitation kits.

Only then you can start slapping RM100k plus price on the car. Don't get me wrong my dear friends at Proton. When everybody else is condemning you, the last thing you guys need is a project like this!

But it is not too late. Lotus had the Carlton before, so why not resurrect that trend and come out with a Lotus Neo?

Right now, I find it difficult to justify that green car, especially when I see a Swift Sport running around.

http://cbt.com.my/blog/satria-neo-r3-lotus-racing-it-can-be-lot-better%E2%80%A6

For Sale: VW 9N3 Polo GTI Parts

Hi guys,

Following are the stuffs I put up for sale coming from my VW 9N3 Polo GTI 1.8T

VW Polo GTI Front Brakes
Description: Single pot 46mm calipers, caliper carriers, 5x100 pcd 288mm x 25mm vented rotors, stock Ferrodo pads with wear sensor
Mileage: 1/2 year, 20,000kms mileage
Condition: Good condition but rotors needed to be skimmed.
For:
Plug & Play – 1) VW 9N2/9N3 Polo; 2) VW Mk4 Golf; 3) VW Mk4 Jetta; 4) Seat Ibiza 6L; 5) Skoda Fabia
Good upgrades – 1) VW Mk2 or Mk3 Golf provided using 5x100 pcd rims

Reason Selling: Upgraded

Price: RM1200

VW Polo GTI Rear Rotors
Description: 5x100 pcd 232mm x 9mm solid rotors
Mileage: Less than 2 years, 45,000kms mileage
Condition: Good condition, skimmed rotors but yet to be used
For:
Plug & Play – 1) VW 9N2/9N3 Polo; 2) VW Mk4 Golf; 3) VW Mk4 Jetta; 4) Seat Ibiza 6L; 5) Skoda Fabia; 6) Audi Mk1 TT

Reason Selling: Upgraded
Price: RM200

VW Polo GTI Brake Lines
Description: Original brake lines made by PBR
Mileage: Less than 2 years, 45,000kms mileage
Condition: Good condition
For:
Plug & Play – 1) VW 9N2/9N3 Polo; 2) VW Mk4 Golf; 3) VW Mk4 Jetta; 4) Seat Ibiza 6L; 5) Skoda Fabia; 6) Audi Mk1 TT

Reason Selling: Upgraded
Price: RM200

VW Polo GTI Clutch Disc & Pressure Plate
Description: Made from Luk for 225mm flywheel only
Mileage: Less than 2 years, 45,000kms mileage
Condition: Fair
For: 1) VW 9N2/9N3 Polo; 2) VW Mk4 Golf; 3) VW Mk4 Jetta; 4) VW Beetle 1.8T; 4) Audi Mk1 TT

Reason Selling: Upgraded
Price: RM200

VW Polo GTI Dual Mass Flywheel
Description: Made from Luk, 225mm flywheel
Mileage: Less than 2 years, 45,000kms mileage
Condition: Good
For: 1) VW 9N2/9N3 Polo; 2) VW Mk4 Golf; 3) VW Mk4 Jetta; 4) VW Beetle 1.8T; 4) Audi Mk1 TT

Reason Selling: Upgraded
Price: RM1200

VW Polo GTI Coil Spring
Description: Original GTI spring that lowers the car by 15mm than normal Polo height
Mileage: 1/2 year, 15,000kms mileage
Condition: Good
For: 1) VW 9N2/9N3 Polo; 2) VW Mk4 Golf

Reason Selling: Upgraded
Price: RM400

Interested? Contact me @ +60123827575 or firdausasri@gmail.com

Thorough refreshment buffet for Pocong

The Polo GTI or VAG 1.8T’s stock clutch in general, won’t last long once the car has been reflashed. Based on what I’ve seen and heard, burnt clutch has already started to occur as early as 20k kms on some cars. And having just surpassed 45k kms, I wouldn’t want to wait till it slips and burnt and that’s why I can’t wait any longer to get it replaced.

Last Thursday morning, I managed to take some time off and have the car sent to Kawa Koshi Auto Air-Cond Service in Kepong at 11.00am, gave Peter (the owner) all the parts and fluids to get the job done; and then shoot back to office using taxi.

Kawa Koshi is highly recommended by Jed (Polo GTI owner) given their fair share in handling Polo GTI from simple oil change to upgrade works including clutch installations. While they’re not VW specialist from my point of view, their attention to detail and TLC surpass any mechanics I’ve seen and majority of car owners that I knew (and I’m one of them!). Hence you can imagine all the hype.

After getting some things done at my work place, I came back to the workshop around 5.00pm and found out that clutch installation just completed and they’re proceeding on the rest. Unfortunately, 10 minutes past, heavy thunderstorm rain just came down and that delays the progress. Oh well….

Somewhere around 7.00pm-ish, they restart the works. Everything went smoothly except lots of time taken on the steel braided lines. Plugging out the old and in the new ones is not exactly “plug & play” and this took them closed to 2 hours. And the one I though is tedious, injectors’ o-rings job took merely 5 minutes. As needle passed 10.00pm, all is done!

For the amount of works done on the car, you just wouldn’t believe the amount I had to pay. 6 hours job for the entire works with 4 foremen including Peter cost me less than RM400. Yes, it’s not exactly pocket change money but honestly I certainly feel it’s bang for buck given their positive approach during the entire process. And although I live somewhere 40kms up north, I wouldn’t mind sending the Pocong there again and again.

Upon getting back the keys and crank it up, I sensed that the gear chatter noise (because of lighter single mass flywheel) is more prominent inside the car than from the outside. Weird but that’s all that I can whine about as the rest of it feels rejuvenated, energetic and much more responsive from low-to-mid range and I haven’t fully nail the throttle yet! Even so, the ESP was awkwardly busy toning down the power on 2nd and 3rd!

While I realise these sort of refreshments doesn’t come cheap but in motorhead’s way of thinking, it’s well worth the pain! And I can wait to go out for shiok sendiri sunday drive tomorrow :)

Stock clutch disc seems ok though

Stock dual-mass flywheel. 15-18kg easily...

New slotted rotors for the rear

Old plained rotors (skimmed) vs Slotted/Drilled rotors

Stock PFR6Q plugs, Pocong better off with BKR7E even though it's copper base

ECS Steel Braided Lines is shorter than original, need to use the inside route to make it fit

Rear brakes after Peter's detailing job done.....

Leaks around fuel injectors

Upon checking my engine this evening, I spotted strange leaks of oil/fuel around fuel injectors which attached to intake manifold. From what I managed to dig out from the net, it's mostly because of the injector seals/o-rings getting harden over time due to heat and boosting (that's where it got leaks). In my case, the leaks are not as severe image below. Nonetheless, I'll call AVS Auto first thing Monday morning to get it and have it replaced together with the clutch next Saturday.

Don't want to wait for things to turn like this

If only I can stretch further for Genesis 380cc injectors and 4 bar VW FPR