Go shopping for me! Budget = $900 to get trackday ready.
 

Okay so I have been spending hours and hours looking at how best to use $900 that I am told is going to appear in my bank account in a week or so.

Heres the thing though...I'm completely lost...As I do research I uncover more and more potential modifications, products, prices, conflicting information and part numbers that never seem to be the same twice.

The car is a 2006 2.5 WRX. I do not want any power or cosmetic mods at all. I'm aiming to hit AHG or Wanneroo once a month at most and the rest of the cars driving is just daily stuff with the odd corner taken 'at speed'.
I dont mind getting my hands dirty so I can fit parts myself...

So here is what I have so far:

DBA Slotted discs front (not DBA4000, more expense and perhaps overkill for my application)
Ferodo DS2500 or equivalent on all 4 corners
Brake fluid
Ultrex brace kit
Whiteline front & rear anti-roll bars (non-adjustable)

Is this $900 worth?

Am I heading in the right direction with my sweaty mitt full of cash?

Definately right direction, suspension, brakes and tyres is where you need to be concentrating. Wouldn't bother with rear brakes unless they are due for replacement

EDIT: Non normally a big fan of Ferodo's but just searched the DS range and they sound pretty good.

the cash is rolling out in a week, that soon all ready? :)

According to the ATO webshite it is!

ds2500's will set you back abouy 250-300 alone. Rotors another 2-300 so maybe a sway bar or 2 and that';ll be the 900-1k spent.

get better brakes. 4000's.

where is my $900? whats the deal with when you get given it?

I would do better pads only for the mean time. Braided lines. Sway bars and heavy duty links. Braces in my oppinion arent that big of a deal in sedans. Especially the small aluminium ones.

If you earnt under 100k (gross) in the 07/08 financial year you can get up to $900 tax free from kruddy, someone correct me if im wrong? Not sure on exact amounts for 80k, 90k and 100k.

[QUOTE=SKYHIONPSI]If you earnt under 100k (gross) in the 07/08 financial year you can get up to $900 tax free from kruddy, someone correct me if im wrong? Not sure on exact amounts for 80k, 90k and 100k.[/QUOTE]

is it true you needed to have done your tax return for that yr to get it?

Id assume so, otherwise how can they tell if you have grossed any sort of money? If you havnt done your tax return from last year, im pretty sure there are penelties (unless you have only just entered the work force).

[QUOTE=chee]get better brakes. 4000's.[/QUOTE]

Can you explain futher?

My reasoning for not stumping up the extra cash for 4000's is that the car does not have the speed to NEED the extra braking performance and with minimal handling mods and road tyres it doesnt have the grip to make use of massive stopping power.

[QUOTE=RUSSGT]I would do better pads only for the mean time. Braided lines. Sway bars and heavy duty links. Braces in my oppinion arent that big of a deal in sedans. Especially the small aluminium ones.[/QUOTE]

Hmm I could just leave the discs and replace those if and when they need doing in the future.

Anti Lift Kit ~ $500 fitted
Slotted front rotors ~ $350/$400 fitted
Water Spray kit for TMIC $100 DIY

+ Front SwAy bar if you can afford it.

yes i believe you need to have done your tax return for 07/08 in order to receive this lump sum. i think you have until june 30th to do it though, if you can spare about half an hour try doing it yourself, otherwise ring up a small tax accountant and it might cost you about 100-150 dollars to get done.

as for the mods, id leave out the rotors if they dont NEED to be done and just got some new pads and dot5 fluid. then go with the rest of the stuff you mentioned eg braces.

I wouldn't go spending that money just yet. There is a challenge to the governments handout being heard in the High Court this week so its no done deal yet.

DAMN THEM.. DAMN THEM TO HELL !!

I NEEEEEEEED THAT MONEY!




Well my car does..

Busted my radiator on our cruise last weekend..

[url]http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/mission-to-stop-manna-from-kevin-20090329-9fjo.html[/url]

[QUOTE=American Dave]I wouldn't go spending that money just yet. There is a challenge to the governments handout being heard in the High Court this week so its no done deal yet.[/QUOTE]

LALALALA *fingers in ears* LALALALA

Few guys have been using the standard rotors on track days as they are cheap to replace.

DBA 4000's (have punished these) $220 (Tuspeed)
Elig RS709 track pad $180 F $150 R (Tuspeed)
Rear sway bar and a proper alignment (Wheels World)

Most important thing is to bed in disc's and pads properly[URL=http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedinstock.shtml]Stoptech Bed In Procedure[/URL]

Mods i would suggest:

Decent front brake pads, and replace the fluid. ~$300 if DIY
Rear swaybar (you can do HD links too if more funds come up) ~$200 if DIY.
Water sprayer for AHG... ~$100 DIY.

i would look out for a secondhand pair of R-comp tyres, you only really need the front 2. it makes a HUGE difference around the AHG skidpan.
i bought 4 rims with bald R comps for $250....you just drive to AHG on your normal tyres, and just swap to you R comps once you get there..
Best mod so far :)

Steve.

Handling and Braking mods first.

Front and Rear (adjustable) Sway Bars at the very least and a PROPER WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
The wheel alignment is the most neglected aspect of modding by a lot of people.
Anti Lift KIT
Whiteline F + R swaybar links if that comes under budget.

Ditch the brace kit as the GD chassis is stiff enough compared to the earlier GC WRX/STi's.

Ferodo DS2500 pads at the front until you have flogged the crap out of you standard rotors THEN change to slotted ones.
At the very least Castrol Response Super Dot 4 brake fluid (Grey Bottle) for the track and a brake bleed.

[url]http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp_internet/castrol/castrol_italy/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/TDS_RESSDOT4.PDF[/url]

You only get $900 if you earned less than $80k last financial year (and above the minimum to pay tax.. $11k?) $80-90k is less and $90-100k is less again.

I would definately get the DBA4000's as a minimum if you plan on doing any kind of track work or spirited driving in the future. The other rotors are just ricer bling in comparison.

Get some good fluid (DOT 4 or 5.1).

Get some good pads (2500's or equiv).

Get a rear sway bar.

Get a front sway bar.

Have fun.

All that you say is OK, but the one thing you will use up on the track and the thing that's going to give you more performance than all of the other stuff is tyres. I know of some near new street R Specs for around $740.
Do the brake fluid definitely.
If you are not going DBA 4000, just leave the standard rotors.
ALK is a better first option than swaybars.
Forget the brake booster stopper and strut brace.
Wheel alignment with some neg camber etc.
DS 2500 are good, but Bendix Ultimate for your car are a cheaper and acceptable alternative.

Thanks for all the great advice so far guys!

Another quick question...I am looking at the rear only, 22mm adjustable anti-roll bar from whiteline, are the heavy duty mounts [i][b]essential[/i][/b] to the operation of the bar or is it fine to just use the standard mounts and the bushes supplied with the bar?

I have been looking at tuspeed and put together a shopping list that is just about on budget

DBA4000 front only
Elig RS600 fast road / track pads front
Race brakes comp 2 rear
22mm, adjustable rear anti-roll bar and heavy duty mounts

I will also flush the brake fluid and do an oil change on top of that.

tuspeed have some steep pricing for some things... shop around, you'll be surprised!

sway bars can be installed on stock mounts & links, but its recommended you get HD ones etc, as the stock ones are not designed to hold stiffer/thicker bars

[QUOTE=deviant]Another quick question...I am looking at the rear only, 22mm adjustable anti-roll bar from whiteline, are the heavy duty mounts [i][b]essential[/i][/b] to the operation of the bar or is it fine to just use the standard mounts and the bushes supplied with the bar?[/QUOTE]

Not essential straight away, but in time the standard mounts WILL break....(we are talking about the chassis mounts here, not the U brackets on the swaybar)

Sounds good to me..

But also worth remembering! >$100 water spray kit for Intercooler!!! Can't stress how cheap yet effective this mod is.

+ Anti Lift KIT.


Regardless just listen to nauli he speaks words of wisdom.

[url]http://www.ato.gov.au/corporate/content.asp?doc=/content/00178930.htm&page=2&H2[/url]

Upgrade the brake fluid and pads. Change rotors only when they're worn and get 4000's at least. Get a Whiteline handling kit fitted when you can save some more cash (sway bars, camber bolts, ALK). I'd recommend Wheels World, particularly for fitting and alignment.

If you're planning on running on a track even every couple of months you'll be replacing tyres often. Try and get a 2nd set of rims and some R-specs.

Unfortunately 900 bucks won’t go very far.

I'd also recommend joining the owners club if you want to do track days/training days. Also plenty of members to talk to for advice.

Sell car
buy fwd
buy trailer
buy crazy r32 from Japan.
???
profit.

Disclaimer: If you can do all that with $900....thats is a bargin!

[QUOTE=deviant]Thanks for all the great advice so far guys![/QUOTE]DBA4000 front only
-Standard Discs until you flog the crap out of them...

Elig RS600 fast road / track pads front
Bendix Ultimates will do (and the're cheap) or Ferodo DS2500 (both are a good comprimise for Road / Track

Race brakes comp 2 rear
-Leave Standard pads in the rear as most braking is done by the front anyway.

22mm, adjustable rear anti-roll bar and heavy duty mounts
Heavy duty mounts not needed to start off with (wait till you break the standard ones) - get the whiteline links for the rear swaybar if you can.

Front Camber Bolts - will definately help with turn in.
Anti - Lift Kit with the money saved
A front 22mm Sway Bar if funds allow.

[B]A Proper Wheel Alignmen[/B]t - Bob at Wheels World gives P-WRX members a discount.

In fact ask Bob OR John at Wheels World or any other Whiteline dealer what the "[B]Whiteline Handling Pack[/B]" goes for. I think thats around $1000.
Very good bang for the buck and you save a bit instead of buying parts individually.
The Tenagah workshop also does a similar package.

Concentrate on getting your car handling reasonably well, its far more fun tying together some fast corner speeds and reducing understeer than just making the thing go fast and stop well!!!

J

[QUOTE=deviant]Thanks for all the great advice so far guys![/QUOTE]

Hahaha...we seem to be following each others footsteps man, you picked up a WRX? I'm going to be in the market for one in about 6 months :D

Just to throw my 2c in.

For AHG use an improved street pad like Bendix Ultimate or Ferrodo DS1200 is ideal, DS2500 is more suited to track use where the street pad would overheat. The street pad will work better at AHG, the >1min track time won't overheat them, but they've got good friction from cold. Last thing you want is a wooden pad for half your run. If you're changing up to a serious track pad for Barbagallo use, you'll need to match the friction of the front pads to the rear (when hot). If the rear pads stay cool, you might be OK with a street pad on the rear, but otherwise you'll end up with front pads doing all the work, leading to an imbalance in braking force and increased stopping distances.

-RM.

Lol...Yep I picked up an 06 WRX. Its not mid-engined but it will do :D