Click here for install pics of front adjustable sway bar end links. My first mod!

Changed oil and changed oxygen sensor.

Dec 1, 2001: (131,190 miles)

Repaired wiper switch: About a year and a half ago, I purchased a wiper switch off of Ebay since my wipers no longer worked on the intermittent setting, and didn't return to their rest position. Once replaced, this 'new' switch only did not work on the intermittent setting. So I lived with this for quite a while. However, I decided tonight to do this simple fix that I had heard about at a few places.

Dec 11-13, 2001: (131,315 miles)

Replaced water pump. My water pump had been leaking for quite a while. Decided to change it this week.

Dec 30-Jan 1, 2002: (131,620 miles)

Finally, did the cone filter mod.

Jan 8, 2002: (131,710 miles)

Gave her a bath today. Was 70 degrees out, so took off work an hour early to beat the sun.

Adjusted the Throttle Position Sensor and cleaned out the throttle body.

TRD Bushings came in today. Have put together a bunch of pics of the various parts.

Cleaned out the front wheel wells.

Tokico Illuminas adjustable shock absorbers arrived.

Cleaned up the Battery hold-down bracket.

Adjusted ignition timing today after work. I noticed that the car hesitated just a little bit when going into 2nd and 3rd gears, not too much to worry about, but I was bored. When I checked it, the car was running at about 20 degrees advanced (when it should be 16). I adjusted it back to spec, and it runs better now. It also is able to idle even less, about 1k rpm after it's warmed up.

Attempted to glue the side mirror triangles back on. The tab had broken off of them long ago. It didn't work too well, as the hot glue didn't hold.

Replaced stock shift boot with a new custom one.

Ordered everything I need to replace my oil cooler lines: new braided Aeroquip hose & washers from Toyota.

Installed new interior trim piece.

Picked up various washers and o-rings from the dealer for my oil cooler lines replacement. Also purchased a new interior light lens & installed it. Summit Racing order also arrived.

Received and installed clear turn signal lenses.

Replaced fuel filter, since I've never done it.

Long day today working on car. Replaced oil cooler lines, oil filter o-rings, and dropped the oil pan to reseal it to the block.

Ordered a set of Toyo Proxes T1-S from Discount Tire. Also, ordered a set of ST springs from JC Whitney, to complete the purchase of all the major suspension upgrades.

Discount Tire got my Toyos in, so I had them installed. Check out the pics.

A couple days ago I called up Jay Marks Toyota and ordered new interior door triangle pieces, the same ones I tried to hot glue in place on 2/11. New ones came in today, check out the pics.

Day 1: Well, I was bored this weekend and since I now have the new car to drive around, I decided to start tearing apart the suspension on the '2. I started with the front. Check out the strut assembly, steering knuckle, and various suspension arms (for the TRD bushings) removal. Got entire drivers front corner done, except for removal of the strut bar. Also have the strut assembly removed from the front passenger corner.

Day 2: Worked for a couple hours on the suspension after work. Got the strut bar on front drivers side out and removed caliper, rotor from passenger front corner. Had a time with the tie rod end and the 3 jaw puller. So loosened the rest of the nuts in the suspension arms, and cleaned up and painted the strut housings.

Day 3: Borrowed a friend's 2 & 3 jaw pullers to see if I could get that tie rod end loose. Man, those Harbor Frieght pullers I have are trash! These Craftsmen got the job done the first time! Only popped once or twice as I was tightening it down. I was able to remove the tie rod end from the passenger steering knuckle and both ball joints from the control arms. Removed rest of passenger side; knuckle, control arm, strut bar. Also removed both tie rod ends. Began cleaning up a few of the pieces, and started attacking the dust shields on the knuckles. Will continue cleaning up the pieces and giving them a coat of spray paint tomorrow. The cleaning may take a couple of days.

Also ordered new front outer tie rod ends and front ball joints from local import auto parts store. $25 for each part.

Day 4: Goodridge SS brake line kit arrived today. Going to wait until suspension is back in before I work on the brake system.

Cleaned up everything with my wire brush tonight. Went to Home Depot & Walmart to get some odds and ends, brass wheel to clean parts better with a rotozip type tool, spray paint to paint em, and washers for the bushing install. I forgot the silicone grease though for the bushing install, need to go back... I've got a bunch of pics of all the parts I removed. Here, here, & here

Day 5: Hit all the parts with a brass cleaning wheel on a die grinder. Sanded some stuff down as well. Painted all parts with Krylon Ultra Flat, except for a few pieces that were polished and clear coated. Here & here for pics of all the parts painted. Removed the dust shields as well with a rotozip.

Day 6: Took it easy today. Only removed both front calipers and brake lines. Removed the parts from the old calipers and hit them with the die grinder to clean them up. Need to find someone with an air compressor so I can remove the piston from the caliper. Will probably finish rebuilding them tomorrow and clean up the front wheel wells.

Day 7: Only popped out the caliper piston today. Cleaned it and the cylinder up a bit with denatured alcohol.

Rotors and bag of Toyota parts arrived today via UPS.

Day 8: Started cleaning the front driver's side wheel well.

Finished cleaning front wheel wells. Masked and painted them with Ultra Flat Black. Cleaned and Armor-All'd the plastic pieces. Here's a few pics: 1, 2, 3

 

Day 9: Reinstalled plastic pieces to the wheel wells. Pressed in front bushings. Installed all the new suspension pieces, had to drill new hole for the TRD strut tops.

Day 10: Long delay between the last time I was able to work on my '2. Parents were visiting for a week. Anyway, tore apart rear driver's side suspenion. The rear is a lot more dusty and dirty than the front was. Found out my parking brake was only being set on the driver's side. Calipers were in serious need of a rebuild.

Metal Masters brake pads arrived today.

Day 11: Removed passenger rear suspension & brake bits. Started process of removing parts from one rear caliper. Having a problem with the snap ring deep down inside.

Day 12: Rear calipers totally apart and cleaned. Ready for the paint and the rebuild kit. Still cleaning all the parts: driver's side parts except for axle carrier are prepped for paint. Passenger's side bolts/nuts are clean, rest of passenger parts to be cleaned this week.

Day 13: Received new rear inner & outer tie rods from dealer. Ordered 3 liters of ATE Super Blue Racing brake fluid. One wheel bearing will need to be replaced, as I was able to wiggle the hub a bit in the axle carrier. Calipers and mounting brackets were painted with high-temp paint. All other parts were painted with Krylon Ultra Flat Black. Wheel wells were masked off and painted as well. Started rebuilding one of the calipers, having a problem getting the snap ring back in place.

Day 14: Pressed in new rear bushings. Installed those arms into the car. Reassembled the strut assemblies.

Day 15: Finished painting the driver's side axle carrier, and the passenger wheel well. Installed all the rear suspension components into the car. Put the new braided brake lines in.

Day 16: Fellow MR2 owner came by to help me out with a few things. We finished rebuilding the rear calipers and installed them onto the car.

Day 17: Installed the front calipers onto the car. Also inserted all the various clips that hold the brake pads into the mounting brackets. Friend came over and helped fill/bleed the brake system with the ATE Super Blue.

Took car out for the first time in 2 months!!! Went around the block a few times to bed in the new brake pads and rotors. Need to get an alignment still of course.

Got an done alignment this morning. Was recommended the place by fellow MR2 owners. Unfortunately, I wasn't too thrilled with the work. Took them 2 hours to do it, and didn't get the settings as I was hoping (especially the camber settings). Here's what I ended up with:

Front: Toe 0, Camber -.9/-1.4, Caster 4.8/4.9

Rear: Toe .1, Camber -.1/-.2

4AGE 20V Blacktop engine swap. Go to that page for more details

Changed oil. Mobil One 10W30 & Filter. Analysis

Changed oil Mobil One 10W30 & Filter. No analysis.

Changed oil. Mobil One 10W30 & Filter. Analysis

Changed oil. Mobil One 10W30 & Filter. Analysis

Changed oil. Mobil One 10W30 & Filter. Analysis