2017 Start! GAX 03192017

Kicking off the first event of the year! Got some decent weather for the Gateway Autocross event, though the lot was cold & dirty, as would be expected for the first event. Pretty exhausted for the event, got in late the night prior from a 3+ day MBA orientation. Everything felt about the same with…

Rav4 UOA #1

Turned out pretty well here. Per the comments from Blackstone, the UOA was on par or better than the universal averages, which change oil @ 6,700mi, compared to my run on 10,000mi. I just wanted to do one UOA with the Rav4 to make sure it was a healthy motor, and that seems to be…

WedsSport TC105N – 17×9.5!

2017 plans slowly coming together – first major change, moving from OEM 17×8 BBSs to 17×9.5 WedsSport TC105Ns. Wheels look much better in person than they did in pictures. Despite being 1.5″ wider, they are roughly 16.3lbs, 1.5lbs lighter than the OEM wheel. Will move from 245/45-17s on OEM wheels to 255/40-17s, hopefully see a…

2016 Season Recap (Evo)

Added Tanabe FSB, new tires, and cranked up the shocks. Car is now much more neutral. Tanabe FSB added more push, particularly in tight corners. Car still feels unstable though in slaloms, but overall way better. At the end of the season I increased the front camber from -2.7 to -3.3, which helped mid-corner grip…

2007-2012 Rav4.3 How-To Bleed Brakes

This is a how-to for the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Toyota Rav4 (4.3). Items/Tools Required: 16 oz. of DOT3 or DOT4 Brake Fluid (I chose Red Line RL-600) Brake fluid catch bottle (I chose this – but can be made using hose and a water bottle). 8mm flare wrench 21mm socket Baster (optional)…

2007-2012 Rav4.3 Brake Pad & Rotor How-To

This is a how-to for the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Toyota Rav4 (4.3). Items/Tools Required: Front pads (I chose these) Rear pads (I chose these) Front rotors (I chose these) Rear rotors (I chose these) 14mm, 17, and 21mm sockets & wrenches Grease (White Lithium) Antiseize and/or Brake Grease For the pads, I…

2017 Plans

2017 Index Plans to get the cars ready for 2017 – may change from time to time. Mini: Change tires from 205/50-16 to 205/45-16 for better acceleration & handling New pads/rotors? Evo: New bumper cap, strut tower center bolt, spark plugs, oil crush washer BBS caps x2 – canceled, wheels sold Order new power steering…

CCSCC 11132016 – 2016 Finale!

Final event of the year today for CCSCC – brought the Evo out after fixing the brake softness to see if the brake smoking would also be fixed – it was not, and these pads are officially done. They overheated at the last track day and something about the pads on the passenger’s side just…

2016 Evo Brake Resolution

Wanted to encapsulate my timeline for the Evo brake situation this year now that it is resolved. Took the Evo to a track day with NASA HPDE 7/9-10 Brakes failed near the end of day 1 – turned out I wore one of my pads to its backing plate Got some brakes from a fellow…