Finally we have some long awaited progress !!

This morning the car went back to Race Torque for Take 2 (see earlier post (and this))...

As you might remember the plan was to replace the left wheel bearing and optionally the wheel hub and seeing whether that solves the noise problem.

Well, after almost 2 hours the mechanic came back to me with a "I'm so glad you got a new wheel hub because here is the problem ...". It turned out that the bearing was ever so slightly rubbing against the old wheel hub assembly resulting in some systematic wear. When the car was driven forward and in reverse the bearing would slide against the hub resulting in clunky, metalic noises. That's it ! Simple huh yet very difficult to diagnose !

Anyway after they replaced all the parts the car is now back to normal ! Not a single odd sound ! What a relief ! This also means I can book my next track day at Barbagallo !!! FINALLY !!!

Oh and I have a tiny leak from the [edit] rocker cover head gasket. Nothing significant but something I should look into in the upcoming months. I remember when I lived in Japan I had an issue with a leak in one of the spark plug cylinders which was replaced by Honda mechanics at the time together with a new gasket seal so I wonder what could have caused the latest leak...

So off to get my track membership for 2011 and stay tuned !

- Rod

What a let down !

Went to Race Torque last Thursday for my pre-booked appointment only to be told they had been snowed under with work on overseas' rally cars and didn't have any time to work on my car !

It would have been nice to get a courtesy call notifying me of their situation but nope! Nothing !

Anyway take 2 on March 3rd ...

Happy Australia Day !

Look what the flying kangaroo brought for me !

A wheel hub (surprisingly it appears to have been made in the US for Honda Japan)

A wheel bearing, a spindle nut, a snap ring and 2 caliper screws (all made in Japan)

Now the whole thing was a mere 12,000 yen. A quarter of what this would have cost me in Australia.

After the holiday I'll make an appointment with my mechanic and get him to swap these parts over.

Do you think this will solve the noise issue ?

Brilliant DC5 vs S2000 chase at Fuji Speedway

Here is an awesome video uploaded by a japanese guy who is a regular to Fuji Speedway in Japan. His car has gone through so many transformations, engine blow outs etc but he managed to get back in there and remain competitive !

Watch how he is chasing a DC5 on the circuit this winter ! I miss Fuji !!



- Rod

Quick update !

I've been very quiet I know !


Since the end of last year I've been working on a small but important "project" of mine which is yet to take me well until the end of January but as my replacement Japanese parts are on their way as soon as they arrive the car will hopefully stop making that annoying noise AND starting Feb (when the temperatures here drop a little) I will hit the track once again

Stay tuned !



-Rod