Off comes the K&N Cone & the Axle-Back

[AGR]

Back to basics for me. Oh; don't get me wrong. The love (k) for my MAZDASPEED hasn't wavered. I'm just ready for a change. I have gotten to the point that I'm only enjoying the 'louder' sound about 50% of my driving time. The boost controller is staying.

 

[ping]

AGR - as one of the only other HSM exhaust owners, I agree. The axle-back straight pipe is great, and still sounds Saxay when I pull into the ol' 3-level parking garage at work, but it does get a little onorous at times. I've been to the Dealer twice in the last month so I'm pretty good at installing/removing it, have it down to 13 minutes from "walking out to garage" to "clean hands eating a toll-house cookie". UN-fortunately, I don't think I can do it while awake, since the last 2 times I've installed the stocker it was BEFORE going to the dealer (like before 6AM...)

Does the CAI really make any difference other than sound?

Have fun in the garage...

 

[AGR]

Does the CAI really make any difference other than sound?

Have fun in the garage...

I have never had a CAI. One day, perhaps. When I go in in a week or two to have my tires rotated and balanced at my friendly family-owned alignment shop, I will have them swap the exhaust back. I will redo the airbox when I get the Callaway elbow from a fellow member.

 

[1sty]

With the first cat inplace and the mild to no difference in a hot intake, they were only noise makers, remove and enjoy.

 

[t3ase]

I'd be more than happy to take that axle back off yer hands. PM me if you wanna get rid of it.

 

[girth]

I have never had a CAI. One day, perhaps. When I go in in a week or two to have my tires rotated and balanced at my friendly family-owned alignment shop, I will have them swap the exhaust back. I will redo the airbox when I get the Callaway elbow from a fellow member.

Hey AGR, just want to warn you that I'd think twice before getting my tires rebalanced unless you specifically feel a need for it. I say this because I've had TERRIBLE waste-of-time-and-money experiences with getting a "lip-less" rim balanced around here (maybe your area is better though). If you want more detail on why, let me know and I'll post more detail of my experiences. All I'll say for now is that it took me FOUR (4) attempts by 4 different shops before they were finally balanced as well as they were from the factory! Ugh!

Just figured I'd warn you so you don't have to go through the same crap I did. On the upside, your rusty tape weights would be replaced!

 

[Dexter]

so should i just rotate my tires then?

 

[girth]

so should i just rotate my tires then?

Personally that's what I'd do unless you feel the steering wheel shaking from being out of balance. With my 2000 ES I just did a rotate at 20k miles and NO balance and they were mint.

So my personal opinion is I wouldn't re-balance them unless you feel as though they are out of balance currently and if you have some degree of confidence in the tire shops in your area.

 

[DevilsSi1481]

yeah no need to waste money doing that unless u really have to when u can just rotate your tires yourself for free.

 

[ping]

a-yup, only rotation for me, front-to-back. With the mileage I do it's actually easy to rotate them when I put the snows on in December, just mark the fronts to put on as rears next Spring. I use a paint pen and write right on the tread - that way it comes off when the tires are reinstalled (nope - I don't have a painted garage floor).

I'm considering changing from a 10k to a 5k or 7.5k rotation for the MSP tho, just because the tires are a bit softer and may wear better.

No way rebalancing unless I feel vibration - and in the MSP you'll feel even the slightest imbalance thru that stiff suspension. I really won't even have it re-aligned unless I've taken a nasty-big pothole or the tires are wearing funny - again, with this suspension you'll feel it quick if it's out.

 

[girth]

No way rebalancing unless I feel vibration - and in the MSP you'll feel even the slightest imbalance thru that stiff suspension. I really won't even have it re-aligned unless I've taken a nasty-big pothole or the tires are wearing funny - again, with this suspension you'll feel it quick if it's out.

I couldn't agree more -- with the problems I had I'm pretty knowledgable now about tire balancing (against my will).

To help out anybody that's had problems with balancing before and is in the Wisconsin area, I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!! He rebalanced my MSP wheels perfectly -- hell just look at the write up he has on the internet - you can see how detailed he is. For my tires he spent about 1 hour per tire to get them right. It cost me twice as much as a "normal" tire shop AND I had to give him just the wheels (he wouldn't take them off himself) but it was well worth it. He does Cobra ACRs regularily for 200MPH racing so he knows high performance. And if anybody is into "mudding" he specializes in big-ass off-road stuff mostly.

car tire balancing with my own personal testimony!
Truck tire balancing - interesting read

 

[YuYuRena]

i rotate my tire @ 5k fyi, and it drives just like the day i got w/10 miles