What have you done to your P5 today?

[BRIAN_MP5T]

so i know there has been a thread on doing an ebay catback with pretty good results, but how do people feel about the rear catalytic converters from ebay such as http://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-MAZDA-Protege-2-0L-CATALYTIC-CONVERTER-519176-/260653946581?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cb02f96d5&vxp=mtr

my cat is rattling and i think i hear a leak coming from that area so i am looking into replacing it. probably about time with 129k on the car and it most likely has the original still. will get under the car and verify the leak/rattle before an order (i know the rattle is from it but not sure from which part of it)

or maybe ill throw on a catless mid pipe and keep the my stock catted one for when i have to do emissions testing

http://www.speedcircuit.net/index.php/cPath/21_27?osCsid=091533bbbb90e0a1fee82a48994958a1

 

[323]

i didnt have anything planned for the P5 today....
and yet somehow i painted my rear valence with plastidip about 30 min. before i had to go to work
(surprised how good it looks on midnight blue)
and on my way back from work, i found myself driving to Lowes to pick up 'Seel and Peal'
(a cheap version of Dynomat)
thinking i was going to put it on some other day.... i ended up doing half of the trunk, both from doors and the glovebox
AND found and cured a few rattles in the doors


SO... without any planning ahead, my car looks better AND is soooo quiet!

take some pics when you get a chance. i'd like to quite down my car too

 

[CheeseHelmet]

so i know there has been a thread on doing an ebay catback with pretty good results, but how do people feel about the rear catalytic converters from ebay such as http://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-MAZDA-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cb02f96d5&vxp=mtr

my cat is rattling and i think i hear a leak coming from that area so i am looking into replacing it. probably about time with 129k on the car and it most likely has the original still. will get under the car and verify the leak/rattle before an order (i know the rattle is from it but not sure from which part of it)

or maybe ill throw on a catless mid pipe and keep the my stock catted one for when i have to do emissions testing

If it's just rattling try poking the heat-shield with a broom handle. My heat-shield fell off a couple summers ago and I haven't heard any rattling since

 

[RoroP5]

Anybody have a good how-to for painting your rear valence? Thinking of doing it today... it looks so clean on every one I've seen here!

 

[JiggaBro]

Anybody have a good how-to for painting your rear valence? Thinking of doing it today... it looks so clean on every one I've seen here!

this is exactly what i did.... wiped down with a wet rag what i wanted to platidip, taped off the outer edge of the valance, light coat... wait 5 min... light coat... wait 10 min... heavier coat... wait 10.... heavy coat... peal off tape.
came out smooth as long as you remember when you start to spray your not too close or else you will have a heavy spot from that initial spray

<a href="http://s789.photobucket.com/albums/yy176/freddy-ydderf/?action=view&current=val1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy176/freddy-ydderf/val1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s789.photobucket.com/albums/yy176/freddy-ydderf/?action=view&current=val2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy176/freddy-ydderf/val2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[JDM_Pro5]

I wiped down with a wet rag and let dry

used newspaper, tape, and a plastic bag to cover the no-spray areas
Sprayed with moderate speed similar to a spray can. Avoid overspray, runs, etc.
I let each coat dry until it didn't look wet and then added another
I put about 3 coats on in all. The plasti-dip takes 4-6 hours to completely cure

 

[denim]

I think I'm going to find some of that seal and peel. My P5 could use some quiet.

NONONONO!!!!! Peel and Seal is not a vibration dampener. Please check out www.sounddeadenershowdown.com to learn the right way to do with with the proper materials. Asphalt is not a vibration dampening material, hence why peal and seal does not work.

 

[JiggaBro]

NONONONO!!!!! Peel and Seal is not a vibration dampener. Please check out www.sounddeadenershowdown.com to learn the right way to do with with the proper materials. Asphalt is not a vibration dampening material, hence why peal and seal does not work.

i've read through that when doing research for sound deadening a few weeks ago.... but at $16 for 6in x 25ft it was worth the hassle

i dont have a subwoofer (yet) but i do have motor mount inserts which gave me a lot of vibration and a lot of rattles.... and even though i did a half assed job and didnt even use all of the peel and seal, my doors do not sound weak when i close them anymore... they sound like wooden doors!
for the price and my application (never going to get a huge sound system) i think its well worth it. and i would recommend it for anyone that just wants a quieter ride like newer cars

 

[shane02pro5]

I just finished with the peel n seal (quick roof @ HD) on panels floor and trunk made a drastic difference in sound levels... 25psi dumped and screaming straightcut gears at wot. I'm sure not as much deadening ability as a more expensive option...but I am very happy too

 

[Jackie chan]

didnt do nuthin' to the p5 but i finished my project.

'86 Yamaha Big Wheel 80

 

[azuelke]

or maybe ill throw on a catless mid pipe and keep the my stock catted one for when i have to do emissions testing

This.

 

[jdmdude07]

Changed my front brake pads before I went to work today. Turns out, whoever did them before I bought her didn't properly lube the contact areas and the shims wore through. They weren't broken (yet) but they were horribly scratched. Now she doesn't scream and yell at me when I stop. The rear ones are getting done tomorrow morning.

These calipers are way different than the ones on my old '95 Protege LX. It took me an hour to do the driver side pads with no reference... then 20 minutes for the passenger side.

 

[hat1018]

I have been hearing some grinding during braking. So I pulled the wheels to see what I could see. The front pads are unevenly worn (inner pad is half as thick as the outer) and the rotors look like crap. The rear pads are in good shape, even wear but the rotors look less crappy. I need to decide whether or not I am going to go with the Mazda6 brake set-up. Any input?

 

[Shi-Fu JaY]

I have been hearing some grinding during braking. So I pulled the wheels to see what I could see. The front pads are unevenly worn (inner pad is half as thick as the outer) and the rotors look like crap. The rear pads are in good shape, even wear but the rotors look less crappy. I need to decide whether or not I am going to go with the Mazda6 brake set-up. Any input?

Seems like you have to replace everything already, might as well buy brake parts for the mazda6 and order the calipers from a mz6

 

[hat1018]

That is what I am thinking as well. I really want to get rid of those tiny ass P5 rotors! I want to use 17" wheels on my P5,that way I can swap the wheels from my P5 to my MZ3 and back. That way I can change-up the look of both cars whenever I want to.

 

[reut1]

This.

know of any other ones besides this one? http://www.protegegarage.com/1363-sls-midpipes-01-to-03-protege-and-mazdaspeed-protege.html

for about $30 less i can get a magnaflow catted pipe off rock auto

 

[THE Phen]

I have been hearing some grinding during braking. So I pulled the wheels to see what I could see. The front pads are unevenly worn (inner pad is half as thick as the outer) and the rotors look like crap. The rear pads are in good shape, even wear but the rotors look less crappy. I need to decide whether or not I am going to go with the Mazda6 brake set-up. Any input?

You don't need to. Just lube up the sliders really well. The fronts have a tendency to dry up.

But I know how you feel about the tiny rotors, so there's going to be little to change your mind.

 

[bikingpro5]

know of any other ones besides this one? http://www.protegegarage.com/1363-sls-midpipes-01-to-03-protege-and-mazdaspeed-protege.html

for about $30 less i can get a magnaflow catted pipe off rock auto

there is a corksport one right now on Toprotege for less then 100...

 

[hat1018]

You don't need to. Just lube up the sliders really well. The fronts have a tendency to dry up.

But I know how you feel about the tiny rotors, so there's going to be little to change your mind.

You might get the chance to sat I told you so. If I go ahead and do it.

 

[CR3 Motorsports]

know of any other ones besides this one? http://www.protegegarage.com/1363-sls-midpipes-01-to-03-protege-and-mazdaspeed-protege.html

for about $30 less i can get a magnaflow catted pipe off rock auto

Have you tried SLS themselves? I believe its alot cheaper.