Back in Black

[DSMxTSi]

This is the drivers side.

Amazon product ASIN B000JZI2GK
This is the passenger side

Amazon product ASIN B000JZL1VI

I knew the part numbers so it's easier for me to find, but they work so much better in my experience VS the ebay/amazon handles.

Here's a couple pics of the door handle. Don't know of you can tell much but let me know. I did score a set of billet handles so I'll have them soon and will likely just hang on to these.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Here's a couple pics of the door handle. Don't know of you can tell much but let me know. I did score a set of billet handles so I'll have them soon and will likely just hang on to these.

View attachment 661486

View attachment 661487

Hard to tell in that picture. Tabs look about the same as all the others. Just oil/grease the hinges a crap ton to make life easier on the little tabs.

 

[DSMxTSi]

I got under the Talon today and found a heat shield between the cat and driveshaft that was touching. Figured it could be the whining issue so I removed it and took her for a quick spin. That solved the loud whine but now there was another lesser whine and slight howling from front of the car. Jacked the front up and found both wheel bearings bad, left front horribly bad. So it appears I had two whining sounds compounding the issue. I'm just happy that the trans and t-case appear ok at this point. Ordering two Timken wheel bearings now. I thought the front wheel bearings were replaced about 12 years ago at a shop, but I honestly don't recall for sure. Considering it sat garaged for 9 years then I guess not.

 

[T bags]

Sounds like a tie rod

 

[DSMxTSi]

Sounds like a tie rod

The tie rod isn't perfect either, but the wheel bearing is shot. Once I get moved to FL I'll be redoing the entire suspension.

 

[DSMxTSi]

Sounds like a tie rod

You were right T bags. Wheel bearings are fine. After I moved to FL I was able to spend more time under the Talon and found ball joints and tie rod ends in dire need of replacement. But then my work hours changed and haven't had much time to actually work on her. So she's been at a local trusted shop for a couple weeks getting the repairs done. Now I need make up my mind on new tires. Those on the car are 11 years old. I'm leaning Nitto NT555 G2. Tires are such a personal choice and everyone has their own preferences and how they actually drive the car so that makes reviews difficult. It seems that these Nittos along with Michelin Pilot Sport SS and Hancook Ventus are the preferred options for an AWD DSM weekend car with occasional drag strip runs. Eventually I want to find a set of gold Rays with meatier tires for the track but hopefully the NT555 G2 will suffice for now.

 

[DSMxTSi]

I got my car back yesterday from the shop. I went with the Nittos but he also put on my Fortune Auto coilovers, new ball joints in the front and Volk rear lowers, alignment, and also installed my three gauges on the A-pillar. All of that is great and the car hasn't driven this good for a very long time. A/C blows cold which is nice in FL, but there's a small leak so he put dye in the system and will check when it stops blowing cold.

I still have a loud whine when cruising at steady speed about 35+ mph. Drivability is great though. Accelerates, shifts and brakes great. No noise at idle, accelerating, decelerating. It may be the PS pump as there is the typical small whine when turning the wheel. Plus I had installed a used PS pump a couple years ago of unknown condition. Will look into that asap. I did hear the t/o bearing just slightly when I first started it this morning and went away with the clutch depressed. Stock clutch at 131k miles so that's to be expected. I believe the alternator isn't too old mileage wise but we all know the experiences with aftermarket alternators. I'm not getting any funky readings with it though so I suspect it's still ok. I barely remember changing it in a parking lot not too long before I parked it all those years ago. Maybe a/c pulley but there's no effect in noise turning the a/c off/on. I think the water pump was new also not long before I parked it. If the PS pump proves to be ok then those other accessories are the next things I'll check.

But man it feels good to be back in boost!!!

 

[DSMxTSi]

Been driving her to work most of the week. I still have the loud whining noise to sort out but otherwise is driving very well. Tomorrow I plan to dig into the noise issue. I never took pics of my cars in the past and regret it, so took these today at work.

 

[DSMxTSi]

Recently I had the driveshaft rebuilt but it didn't solve the whining noise, but that's ok as I want to go through most of the car anyway due to age and 130k miles. The brakes were noticeably worse on the short test drive after installing the driveshaft last weekend, so I went to work on them this weekend. Pic is of the left rear hub which I noticed was quite hot after my short test drive from before. I imagine this wheel bearing is bad as it appears to have gotten quite hot and is likely my noise culprit. It is the only original wheel bearing, the other three have all been replaced prior. So now I'll be replacing this bearing, spindle nut and washer, plus the shaft. Thankfully the caliper, bracket and rotor all came off easily. I haven't been driving the Talon, thankfully, but once this is done then I should be in the clear, fingers crossed.

 

[DSMxTSi]

Rear brakes done with R1 pads and rotors, new calipers and lines from Rock Auto. The new front calipers shipment has been delayed so I wasn't able to get to them, but can at least get her to my friend's shop to replace the wheel bearing and shaft this week. She finally feels close to driveable soon!

 

[DSMxTSi]

So my rear left cv shaft is seized in the hub. Thankfully I found a used hub from John at Performance Partout but the damn shaft had to be cut to be removed, and sourcing new LSD left rear axle is impossible. Will try the 1G (Mi8195) shaft and swap the hubs like I found in this post, https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/new-2g-rear-lsd-cv-axle-option.514461/#post-153667762