thomas_w's log
Some more progress: since the paint on my DIY airdam was already chipping I plastidipped it. We'll see if it lasts any longer. So far it seems to be holding up. The speckles on the image are just reflections from the flash:
Tonight I replaced the wheel bearings/hubs since the old ones seemed hard to rotate around. They were probably still the original so I figured it would not be a bad idea to just replace them on both sides:
While the drums were off I figured I might as well give them a quick coat of paint. I am waiting for them to dry so that I can put everything back together:
The next items on the list are going to be suspension and tires. I am still not sure whether I want to go with coil overs or just quick struts. I am not really looking for lowering the car or more stiffness. I will have to do some more research but I think I still have some time before it really needs to be done.
Tonight I replaced the wheel bearings/hubs since the old ones seemed hard to rotate around. They were probably still the original so I figured it would not be a bad idea to just replace them on both sides:
While the drums were off I figured I might as well give them a quick coat of paint. I am waiting for them to dry so that I can put everything back together:
The next items on the list are going to be suspension and tires. I am still not sure whether I want to go with coil overs or just quick struts. I am not really looking for lowering the car or more stiffness. I will have to do some more research but I think I still have some time before it really needs to be done.
Thanks for the tip. They are getting pretty good reviews online. If I go for those I would probably have to get them installed as I do not have the equipment nor experience to swap my springs onto those.ianguilly wrote:Buy the new koni str.t struts. they can be had for about $400.
That was my motivation as well. My gas mileage seems a little lower than what it used to be so I figured this may fix that.ragek23 wrote:Yeah I keep all my wheel bearings fairly fresh. just had the fronts done recently and I saw a gas mileage increase.
Shops will be pricey, but you could pick these up.
http://www.harborfreight.com/macpherson ... 61654.html
I've used them before, works.
http://www.harborfreight.com/macpherson ... 61654.html
I've used them before, works.
-Neon #3 1999 Neon R/T coupe,DOHC MTX
-Neon #4 1998 Neon Alpine green coupe SOHC MTX -daily shit box
Official "I'm gonna drive my Neon until it dies" Club Member #110
-Neon #4 1998 Neon Alpine green coupe SOHC MTX -daily shit box
Official "I'm gonna drive my Neon until it dies" Club Member #110
Thanks for the tip Ian. A friend at work did his shocks before. I probably will ask him to help me out. I just do not want a spring to blow in my face.ianguilly wrote:Shops will be pricey, but you could pick these up.
http://www.harborfreight.com/macpherson ... 61654.html
I've used them before, works.
Crap, this is what greeted me when I got into the neon this morning:
A small piece of my dash (next to the upper left corner of the passenger airbag cover) broke off while sitting in the garage. Darn cold weather!!!
I tried to glue it back on but the "super glue" stuck to my fingers, but not really to the plastic. I guess it is too cold right now as well so I will have to wait a little before I can really fix this.
A small piece of my dash (next to the upper left corner of the passenger airbag cover) broke off while sitting in the garage. Darn cold weather!!!
I tried to glue it back on but the "super glue" stuck to my fingers, but not really to the plastic. I guess it is too cold right now as well so I will have to wait a little before I can really fix this.
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Damn, that's brutal. Now I'm afraid to look inside Casper. No garage here.
You can "Borrow" spring compressors from AutoZone, but you need $55 for a deposit. They are a bit more user friendly.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... 555557_0_0_
I have Koni STR.T struts on the '99, and I love them. They are firm, but not annoyingly firm.
I got them from here: http://classicgarage.com/dodge12.html they shipped pretty quickly, and the shipping was reasonable.
You may want to set some extra $ aside for upper mounts too. If the front mounts are not rusted, and the bearing is hard to turn, you can carefully take the bearing apart, and put some fresh wheel bearing grease in the plastic housing.
I had to do this on the GF's '96, since she didn't opt for new mounts. No one seems to stock them, so unless the car can be down for a day or two, there isn't many options.
So if you suspect that you may need them, it is wise to call ahead for stock/availability.
You can "Borrow" spring compressors from AutoZone, but you need $55 for a deposit. They are a bit more user friendly.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... 555557_0_0_
I have Koni STR.T struts on the '99, and I love them. They are firm, but not annoyingly firm.
I got them from here: http://classicgarage.com/dodge12.html they shipped pretty quickly, and the shipping was reasonable.
You may want to set some extra $ aside for upper mounts too. If the front mounts are not rusted, and the bearing is hard to turn, you can carefully take the bearing apart, and put some fresh wheel bearing grease in the plastic housing.
I had to do this on the GF's '96, since she didn't opt for new mounts. No one seems to stock them, so unless the car can be down for a day or two, there isn't many options.
So if you suspect that you may need them, it is wise to call ahead for stock/availability.
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
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The Konis do look nice and get pretty good reviews apparently. My current shocks seem to be okay on the simple push down test for now. So it looks like they are okay to at least last until the summer when it is warmer, even though they are 10 years old with 75K miles on them.
The upper mounts were replaced a few years ago since the old ones were rusting out. So they should still be okay I would think. But thanks for the heads-up.
I know a friend of mine over here had some local shop swap his springs onto new shocks for very little money. I will check with him to see as that may be another option.
The upper mounts were replaced a few years ago since the old ones were rusting out. So they should still be okay I would think. But thanks for the heads-up.
I know a friend of mine over here had some local shop swap his springs onto new shocks for very little money. I will check with him to see as that may be another option.
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I checked the local junk yard and they do not have a single neon, not even a 2gn. Maybe I need to check the ones in Cincinnati that people went to for the neons.org meet last year. Supposedly, a pick&pull in Columbus has a couple of neons according to their web site. In the meantime I took another stab at gluing the piece back in there and patching it up as best as I could. I still see the crack since I know where exactly it is. But it is not too bad:
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Yeah, I had to go back and look to see where it had broken.
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
My new shocks arrived today. I went with the Konis:
It is probably going to be a while until I get to install them. I got them now because they are on sale everywhere right now. I probably should replace the bushings at least at the front. I do hear a clunk sometimes when making a turn. I was thinking of the Moog problem solvers, possible the whole LCA assembly, and the bushings for the stabilizer bar.
I also have some shaking in the steering wheel sometimes. Maybe I should replace the outer tie rods while I have all this apart. That way I only have to get an alignment once after it is all done. Since I am not a mechanic by any means any advice would be welcome.
It is probably going to be a while until I get to install them. I got them now because they are on sale everywhere right now. I probably should replace the bushings at least at the front. I do hear a clunk sometimes when making a turn. I was thinking of the Moog problem solvers, possible the whole LCA assembly, and the bushings for the stabilizer bar.
I also have some shaking in the steering wheel sometimes. Maybe I should replace the outer tie rods while I have all this apart. That way I only have to get an alignment once after it is all done. Since I am not a mechanic by any means any advice would be welcome.
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You should like the Koni's. Firmer than stock, but not overbearing.
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
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Yes, I am looking forward to trying them out. Should definitely be a lot better than the worn ones I have on nowoccasional demons wrote:
You should like the Koni's. Firmer than stock, but not overbearing.
Yes, they should pop a little more than the current black ones, even though most of it will probably be covered by the wheels. I hope they go on easily.Midnight_Rider wrote:Not OEM but Gramps likes the orange color.
Thanks! And yes, that was my thought exactly. Most of the bushings are probably still the original ones. So I am sure they are at the end of their life after 191k miles.Neon4Life wrote:nice shocks, and on the other items, you should try to change them out all at once if you can. would save you money in the long run for not having to take it in for an alignment 2 times.
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just read this log car looks great for being 15 yrs old make me wanna go out and get another neon just to restore. great job keep the post coming
2003 Red R/T -***SOLD***
2007 Red Mazda RX-8:TurboXS 3" exhst, Gold Rota MXR-R 18x9.5-DD
1998 Black Plymouth Neon Espresso- project car viewtopic.php?t=67988