Honda Element

[Secret Chimp]

I dont need to memorize math rules to understand how suspension works, apparently way better than you do. You cant memorize your way into tuning a car in the real world. Go show your mom the A+ happy face on your math test. Maybe she will give you another blank check so you can pay for some actual automotive education.

You're trying to talk down the guy who actually engineers parts for cars.

[Raza]

Ok, so I've been home sick today and had time to look into a lot of things.  Here's the plan for things to get done to the Element:

-New, stronger rear hatch struts (the OEM ones are way too weak so it sags, and mine are probably worn out a bit already)

-35% tint all around.  The windows are already tinted in the back from the factory, so it'll make the back darker than 35%.  I got sensitive eyes, way too much light coming in at night.

-A few decals

-Plan is to keep the stock ride height.  Going to try and put Bilstein shocks on it though.  Plan is to buy OE replacement shocks from Pep Boys or something, measure it and get the critical information from it and compare it to the prints I have for the CR-V shocks we make to see if I can use those or not.

-Good interior steam clean and clay bar, polish, and wax.

-Considering doing a HID retrofit, but I haven't seen someone do it on an '09 Element yet.

-Same thing I did with the BRZ: clean up all the lighting.  Smoked clear corners, some brighter interior bulbs, get the orange out of the taillights and headlights.

I think that's it.  All and all, a much shorter and cheaper list than the one I have for the BRZ right now.

It's too bright in there at night, so you're going to tint the windows, but then add brighter interior bulbs?   

[Eye of the Tiger]

You're trying to talk down the guy who actually engineers parts for cars.

And you work at a call center, so keep bullshitting.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Oh yeah, I made a fake crab meat salad sandwich for lunch. That fact has just as much to do with you guys being assholes as anything else you have tried to argue about me.

[MrH]

It's too bright in there at night, so you're going to tint the windows, but then add brighter interior bulbs?   

  Used to HID headlights, so the switch back to halogens is tough.  But my eyes are really sensitive to idiots that drive around with misaligned headlights or there highbeams all the time.  Some tint will cut down on that dramatically.

[MrH]

You're trying to talk down the guy who actually engineers parts for cars.

It's a lost cause.  Look at his last few posts.  He's completely gone off the deep end.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's a lost cause.  Look at his last few posts.  He's completely gone off the deep end.

Just keep going with your ad hominem and avoid backing up all the bullshit insults you've thrown at my work. Pure asshole.

[GoCougs]

It's masterful trolling. It has to be.

[MrH]

If it was masterful, it'd have to at least be a bit clever.  There's none of that here.  Just tireless rambling.

[Secret Chimp]

And you work at a call center, so keep bullshitting.

That was four years ago.

[Soup DeVille]

Oh yeah, I made a fake crab meat salad sandwich for lunch. That fact has just as much to do with you guys being assholes as anything else you have tried to argue about me.

You know what that shit actually is?

[giant_mtb]

Holy hell.

[68_427]

Let's give this thread less suck

[Eye of the Tiger]

You know what that shit actually is?

Unspecified white fish, egg whites, wheat flour, artificial coloures and flavoures.

[Rupert]

Let's give this thread less suck

Wait, then why is there a picture of an Element?

[Soup DeVille]

Unspecified white fish, egg whites, wheat flour, artificial coloures and flavoures.

Yes. Fish. All of it. Made into a paste.

[MrH]

Quick recap of the last few days.

I was having some shitty brake pedal feel.  I was braking fine around town and felt like they were probably strong enough to lock up the wheels, but they were super spongy.  The scary part was at a stop, if I pressed hard enough, I could push the pedal to the floor eventually.  Friend and I figured the master cylinder was going.  Took it to the Honda dealership a few blocks away, and sure enough, failed o-ring on the master cylinder.  Dealership I bought it from is covering half of it, I'm covering the other half.  Something like $225 out of pocket.

Not too happy about it, but given I got the car a few thousand cheaper than I expected, I'll live with it.  Everything else seems pretty solid and I get it back this afternoon.  Then the Box Car takes on the wilderness of south east Ohio this weekend!

[Eye of the Tiger]

Lol brakes. Braking ruins fuel economy.

[Byteme]

Quick recap of the last few days.

I was having some shitty brake pedal feel.  I was braking fine around town and felt like they were probably strong enough to lock up the wheels, but they were super spongy.  The scary part was at a stop, if I pressed hard enough, I could push the pedal to the floor eventually.  Friend and I figured the master cylinder was going.  Took it to the Honda dealership a few blocks away, and sure enough, failed o-ring on the master cylinder.  Dealership I bought it from is covering half of it, I'm covering the other half.  Something like $225 out of pocket.

Not too happy about it, but given I got the car a few thousand cheaper than I expected, I'll live with it.  Everything else seems pretty solid and I get it back this afternoon.  Then the Box Car takes on the wilderness of south east Ohio this weekend!

Who cares.



Seriously though.  Why not replace the master yourself.  It's easy enough and a new master can't cost $225 can it?

[MrH]

Who cares.



Seriously though.  Why not replace the master yourself.  It's easy enough and a new master can't cost $225 can it?

A new master cylinder was something like $110.  Plus the cost of new brake fluid.  And I didn't want to drive it 30 miles back to my place on a bad master cylinder.  Not to mention also the time it takes to do it and that I wanted it for this weekend.  An extra $100 to get it done by a Honda tech was well worth the money.

The brakes still don't feel great.  They're better, but still pretty shitty.  Maybe I'm just expecting too much coming from the BRZ.

But first weekend taking it out to the boonies...success.  I love this ugly thing.  I can beat the shit out of it, climb into it muddy, drive it down dirt roads without worrying about it.  I carried a metric fuckton of things with me and a friend (two huge home theater speakers, subwoofer, audio receiver, camera gear, bunch of personal luggage, bunch of booze and snacks) and still had room to spare.

Going to order all the parts and crack open the headlights soon to update them.  Should look very stock, but updated to modern times.

[280Z Turbo]

Maybe they didn't bench bleed the master.

[MrH]

Maybe they didn't bench bleed the master.

I thought maybe that was it too.  The brakes grab at the same point in pedal feel consistently, and there's plenty of braking power to lock up the wheels.  You can just slowly mush it to the ground when you're at a stop and the car is running.  It's strange.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It snot strange, it's air.

[MrH]

[Laconian]

How does the thing drive?

[Rupert]

Like a

[MrH]

How does the thing drive?

Like you'd expect

It's tall, high CG, but kind of stiff.  If it was any softer, I'd be afraid it'd roll over.  My brother just bought a new Rav4.  This thing is 10" taller and 10" shorter in length.  It's just a cube on stilts.

I took it back to the Honda dealership about the brakes.  No air in the system.  The firewall flexes quite a bit and they said the brakes were fine.  Not very comforting there's a good 1/4" + flex in the firewall.  I guess my expectations were too high when it comes to brake feel.

Gas mileage has been between 19-21 mpg, but I drive pretty quick and it's the winter.  If I slow it down, I can get 24-25 mpg on the highway.  This thing is an absolute beast in the snow.  There's probably been three days I wouldn't have been able to get to work in the BRZ, and I blasted right through it in the Element.  The plastic floor is awesome for all the salt and sludge I bring into the car in this weather.  It gets filthy, and I just clean it out.  No carpet is awesome!

I can keep the BRZ floor mats and carpet nice and clean now.

[AutobahnSHO]

   

Having a utility and fun/driving car= shweet!

[S204STi]

Like you'd expect

It's tall, high CG, but kind of stiff.  If it was any softer, I'd be afraid it'd roll over.  My brother just bought a new Rav4.  This thing is 10" taller and 10" shorter in length.  It's just a cube on stilts.

I took it back to the Honda dealership about the brakes.  No air in the system.  The firewall flexes quite a bit and they said the brakes were fine.  Not very comforting there's a good 1/4" + flex in the firewall.  I guess my expectations were too high when it comes to brake feel.

Gas mileage has been between 19-21 mpg, but I drive pretty quick and it's the winter.  If I slow it down, I can get 24-25 mpg on the highway.  This thing is an absolute beast in the snow.  There's probably been three days I wouldn't have been able to get to work in the BRZ, and I blasted right through it in the Element.  The plastic floor is awesome for all the salt and sludge I bring into the car in this weather.  It gets filthy, and I just clean it out.  No carpet is awesome!

I can keep the BRZ floor mats and carpet nice and clean now.

Better pads may correct that... StopTech street performance or Hawk HPS would be good upgrades.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Better pads may correct that... StopTech street performance or Hawk HPS would be good upgrades.

Sounds more.like it needs some bracing welded onto the firewall. It bet it has something to do with bullshit crash safety or something.