Another P5 on a College Budget....Meet Ozzie
- Thread starter esnave09
- Start date
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- 2003 Mazda Protege5
In response to the winter tire thing, I have a set of 4 Michelin X-Ice Xi2's on my stock wheels that i use for winter. They are studless tires, and idk how much they run for but I think they do great in the snow.
I've heard good things about the Michelin's, but they are quite pricey. And if I wanted them used it's hard to find in the size I need (either 50 or 55s) and when I do find them I don't have money of course and they're gone by the time I do. So I think that I'll stick with Tire Rack stuff if I'm gonna spend that much money. I might have to wait until Halloween (busy delivery night/weekend hopefully!) to get the tires, since I just blew a bunch of money on bills and food. As long as I get them in the first week of November I think I'll be fine, because that's when the snow will start to fly hopefully. And by hopefully, I mean please-hold-off-as-long-as-possible-with-the-snow hopefully. haha
- :
- 2003 Mazda Protege5
Well I certainly recommend them if you get a bump in funding after or during this winter 
. Definately worth it, but really any snow tire works, as long as drive careful enough haha.
. Definately worth it, but really any snow tire works, as long as drive careful enough haha.Insomnia update (before I knock out with some ZzzQuil).
I picked up some snow tires yesterday from someone off Craigslist (a steal, and surprisingly in the right size) and I plan on installing those tomorrow after class. Found out that I also have a small brake fluid leak somewhere, and that my brake pads are dragging on my front passenger side a little bit. Really hoping that it's something really simple like a loose bleeder or something, because I don't feel like replacing an entire caliper, although they do have a lifetime warranty thankfully. I also plan on looking at the clunking in my suspension all around, making sure that all of my strut bolts and such are nice and tight (some 1500 miles later) and getting an oil change at the shop (some 2k miles overdue) since I don't have time. Another busy week for Ozzie with 31 hours of driving this coming weekend since Halloween is a big party weekend, and I wanna make sure nothing goes wrong.
I also am looking at getting the Cadillac 4-note horn setup, but I need to find out what I need to do as far as wiring. Anyone know if I'll need to get new wiring, relays, etc.? I want to get those this week cuz I'm finally getting sick of not having a horn (plus I had a few close calls over the weekend).
Alright, time for me to go get drugged up. haha
I picked up some snow tires yesterday from someone off Craigslist (a steal, and surprisingly in the right size) and I plan on installing those tomorrow after class. Found out that I also have a small brake fluid leak somewhere, and that my brake pads are dragging on my front passenger side a little bit. Really hoping that it's something really simple like a loose bleeder or something, because I don't feel like replacing an entire caliper, although they do have a lifetime warranty thankfully. I also plan on looking at the clunking in my suspension all around, making sure that all of my strut bolts and such are nice and tight (some 1500 miles later) and getting an oil change at the shop (some 2k miles overdue) since I don't have time. Another busy week for Ozzie with 31 hours of driving this coming weekend since Halloween is a big party weekend, and I wanna make sure nothing goes wrong.
I also am looking at getting the Cadillac 4-note horn setup, but I need to find out what I need to do as far as wiring. Anyone know if I'll need to get new wiring, relays, etc.? I want to get those this week cuz I'm finally getting sick of not having a horn (plus I had a few close calls over the weekend).
Alright, time for me to go get drugged up. haha
You may not actually have a leak,... your pads may have worn down enough to cause the brake fluid level to drop.
It's a good idea to check and grease the slider pins on all your calipers.
Sticking slider pins wear down and wear out your brakes really fast.
I grease mine every year.
Do you think the pads would've worn down from new in 800 miles? I don't think I was using my brakes that much cuz I had a 400 mile road trip (although I hit big city traffic one way), and I'm pretty sure it wasn't dragging in between stops on the trip. Wouldn't my brakes be squeaking/squealing by this point? All I can hear is the very slight sound (below 15 mph) like warping with a wub-wub-wub as I'm stopping. I'll be taking a look at it in a little bit though.
Your brakes certainly shouldn't wear out in eight hundred miles, however it is possible if there's a problem with the brakes. ( I knew a guy that wore out his brakes in one single day,... he was driving like a complete ass).
How much did your brake fluid level drop ?
If you've got the time, try to lift up each corner of your car and spin the wheels by hand. They should spend freely with just a little bit of a rubbing sound.
Another easy thing to do is coast to a stop on level ground with clutch in (or in neutral in an automatic) and pay attention to how it comes to a stop. It should come to a stop very smoothly without any notchiness. (think of a bicycle wheel with its axle too tight).
Don't forget to check your clutch for leaks too. It uses the same brake fluid reservoir.
How much did your brake fluid level drop ?
If you've got the time, try to lift up each corner of your car and spin the wheels by hand. They should spend freely with just a little bit of a rubbing sound.
Another easy thing to do is coast to a stop on level ground with clutch in (or in neutral in an automatic) and pay attention to how it comes to a stop. It should come to a stop very smoothly without any notchiness. (think of a bicycle wheel with its axle too tight).
Don't forget to check your clutch for leaks too. It uses the same brake fluid reservoir.
I believe it was over about a week and a half it went from a little below the max line to a little over the min line (when my brake light started coming on while I was stopping). Then I refilled it and the same thing happened over the course of a week with a lot more in town driving (more stop and go). I refilled it a second time on Friday while the car had been running for a good portion of the night (about 5 hours into my 10 hours of driving if I remember right) and I checked it today after a total of 10 delivery hours. The car was warm when I checked it again and it didn't look like the level had dropped at all. Like I said, I'm hoping that it's a loose bleeder or something, which would make sense since the problem didn't happen until I did my brake swap worst case scenario I have to take one of my brake calipers back and get it replaced under warranty. At least, that's what I'm thinking at this point.
I really hope it's not my clutch leaking! That would be a miserable discovery for me! I would much rather it be something with my brakes than my clutch.
I really hope it's not my clutch leaking! That would be a miserable discovery for me! I would much rather it be something with my brakes than my clutch.
Another quick update. I got into the shop today and managed to get the front tires replaced. For comparison purposes, the used-but-new-to-me snowshoes are on the left:
The driver's side tire was a b**** to mount, and the passenger side tire went flying when I tried to balance it (didn't have the right adapter, scared the lab assistant), and consequently I ran out of time to do the rears. I haven't had a chance to get the brakes looked at fully. I took a quick peek after finding the issue that I will talk about in a little bit. Anyways, it looks like I'm leaking a little bit at my rear passenger side caliper where the brake line meets the caliper. This was under a quick peek with a flashlight laying on the ground in the parking lot. In the middle of my online English class. Oops.
Also, I found something somewhat alarming when I got to the shop today. I found a bunch of black goo on my rims. No clue what it is, and as far as I know it wasn't there yesterday when I left to pick up the tires some hour and a half away. I didn't exactly look yesterday when I got back, but I don't think it was there. It's on 3 of my rims, although it's on the outsides of the spokes like someone splatter painted the rims, as well as coming from the deeper parts of the wheel. The only thing I could think of it being as far as fluids from my car would be oil, but I checked and my oil level is fine, as well as the color.
Here's the passenger side front, one of the wheels where it looks splattered:
I have no clue what it is, especially since I don't remember driving through any puddles, construction, etc. in the last couple days. It's really throwing me for a loop, and I don't know what to do besides check my fluid levels. Any suggestions? I can't smell anything right now cuz I have a cold, but I can have my roommate give it a shot when he gets back.
The driver's side tire was a b**** to mount, and the passenger side tire went flying when I tried to balance it (didn't have the right adapter, scared the lab assistant), and consequently I ran out of time to do the rears. I haven't had a chance to get the brakes looked at fully. I took a quick peek after finding the issue that I will talk about in a little bit. Anyways, it looks like I'm leaking a little bit at my rear passenger side caliper where the brake line meets the caliper. This was under a quick peek with a flashlight laying on the ground in the parking lot. In the middle of my online English class. Oops.
Also, I found something somewhat alarming when I got to the shop today. I found a bunch of black goo on my rims. No clue what it is, and as far as I know it wasn't there yesterday when I left to pick up the tires some hour and a half away. I didn't exactly look yesterday when I got back, but I don't think it was there. It's on 3 of my rims, although it's on the outsides of the spokes like someone splatter painted the rims, as well as coming from the deeper parts of the wheel. The only thing I could think of it being as far as fluids from my car would be oil, but I checked and my oil level is fine, as well as the color.
Here's the passenger side front, one of the wheels where it looks splattered:
I have no clue what it is, especially since I don't remember driving through any puddles, construction, etc. in the last couple days. It's really throwing me for a loop, and I don't know what to do besides check my fluid levels. Any suggestions? I can't smell anything right now cuz I have a cold, but I can have my roommate give it a shot when he gets back.
Okay I don't think I'll be able to look at it tomorrow (class all day=no lab, plus snow/rain is coming so no parking lot), but I'll shoot for Wednesday, if not after my class in a little bit (beyond distracted right now). Like I said, it looked like that screw might be loose that connects the brake line to the caliper, so I'll tighten that up, clean it all off as much as I can and see if anything changes over the next week or two. Hopefully it's nothing worse than that!
If that is the issue, do you think that this would be something that would require bleeding my brakes for? Should I plan on it just to be safe, or is it not necessary?
If that is the issue, do you think that this would be something that would require bleeding my brakes for? Should I plan on it just to be safe, or is it not necessary?
Alright I'll plan on getting to it Wednesday then. I tried to test-fit and see if the smallest wrench I had fit and I couldn't get to it without jacking up my car. Sadly, I don't know if I have time to do it now, plus if I remember right the one we used in the shop was smaller than the one I was gonna try. Thankfully I only have to drive to work between now and then, so I won't have too much to worry about.
Update time! I'm getting the rear tires swapped out as we speak. The sidewalls on my Potenza's are being a massive pain, so I decided to take it to Tires Plus and have them change out the tires. Plus, it doesn't help that my tires were cold. I just need it done quickly, because I have to work at 5, and I don't think I'll be able to make it to the lab tomorrow.
Also, I looked at my brake issue. It looks like it's leaking from where the line meets the caliper, but my bolt and bleeder valve are tight. This is not a good thing, because the only thing I can think of would be that I (or my roommate) missed the washer that goes between the line and the caliper connection. What sucks even more is that I don't have the parts from when I did my brake swap, because I didn't have a place for them so they got thrown out (as far as I know). I might have them in a separate box that I threw in out utility closet, but I'm pretty sure that I didn't. I don't want to write it off as a bad caliper yet, so I need to look into it ASAP, but I don't have time before I have to go to work. I might be able to get my roommate to take in my car and look into the brake issue, but we'll see. Any other suggestions?
Also, I looked at my brake issue. It looks like it's leaking from where the line meets the caliper, but my bolt and bleeder valve are tight. This is not a good thing, because the only thing I can think of would be that I (or my roommate) missed the washer that goes between the line and the caliper connection. What sucks even more is that I don't have the parts from when I did my brake swap, because I didn't have a place for them so they got thrown out (as far as I know). I might have them in a separate box that I threw in out utility closet, but I'm pretty sure that I didn't. I don't want to write it off as a bad caliper yet, so I need to look into it ASAP, but I don't have time before I have to go to work. I might be able to get my roommate to take in my car and look into the brake issue, but we'll see. Any other suggestions?
Alright, I looked into the whole washer thing, and I don't know if that was the issue. I pulled out the brake line, and I thought when I pulled it out there was only one washer on there, but I found a second one on the ground that was wet, so I think it might've been in originally, not for sure though. Put it back in and bled the brakes, but I have a new issue with my brakes. Big surprise there.....
When I'm backing up (at all, rolling starts included) and I engage my brakes, my front brakes literally sound like they're tearing themselves apart! Anytime above 2 mph, and below that I hear a solid clunk as it grabs. Driving forward those brakes are fine, nice and strong as they should be, but occasionally I can hear a clunk from the rears if my brakes are cold. Does this sound like there's still air in the lines, or is it another issue? All I did was take out the line to the driver's rear caliper and bleed all 4 brakes, so I don't know what else could've happened!!!!
Sadly, I won't have full access to tools until Monday, but at least I know that I can't use my brakes going backwards. I might just have to go to Tires Plus and have them look at it (free brake inspection coupon, heck yeah!) tomorrow or Sunday, but we'll see what responses I get here. Anyone?
When I'm backing up (at all, rolling starts included) and I engage my brakes, my front brakes literally sound like they're tearing themselves apart! Anytime above 2 mph, and below that I hear a solid clunk as it grabs. Driving forward those brakes are fine, nice and strong as they should be, but occasionally I can hear a clunk from the rears if my brakes are cold. Does this sound like there's still air in the lines, or is it another issue? All I did was take out the line to the driver's rear caliper and bleed all 4 brakes, so I don't know what else could've happened!!!!
Sadly, I won't have full access to tools until Monday, but at least I know that I can't use my brakes going backwards. I might just have to go to Tires Plus and have them look at it (free brake inspection coupon, heck yeah!) tomorrow or Sunday, but we'll see what responses I get here. Anyone?
