Crazy Cat Lady

Update: It's going well to plan, the new system has been tack welded up to the car, and presently removed for welding up proper before final fitment.

Yes to the above. Apparently the OEM cat is better than any alternative make replacement which maybe troublesome and not last long. The MOT tester confirmed the OEM cat is working in good order [milage 65k]

The 'Edition' models are 140s including mine, but i'm sure you know this already I actually prefer the 140 engine spec and bought one though choice, although i can understand why many prefer the more performance related TSport. Read somewhere on this forum that a rear silencer with the word FUTABA and 12207 means it is not the original but a genuine Toyota replacement to meet OEM spec, not sure if this is true because mine came with full service history which doesn't include any exhaust change parts. If the Futaba can on mine is the original like i suspect then it's done very well for 16 years.

Yes, it's the weekend right now but it's languishing in the tube bending parlour awaiting the exquisite pipe pandering next week <> As far as noise levels are concerned, they know i want a quiet system, as quiet or as noisy as the OEM ball park. It will probably sound different from the original due to the different tubing and construction but we will have to see ( ...and hear )

My Gen 7 is presently undergoing a complete new exhaust system fitment with an expert fabricator. All new 304 stainless steel from manifold to tailpipe but with the exception of reusing the original cat; confirmed by the MOT tester to be working very well. I've asked for the the new system sound as legal as the OEM system. Very excited about it, told them there is no urgency and take the time they need to do a good job, although i think good jobs is all they do. The picture below is a recent snap on their facebook page of a Yaris GR with some titanium bling; but look at what's waiting in the background More news and photo updates later Debs

Summer wheels/tyres on... so it can stop raining now okay?

Mission accomplished: Replace front and rear discs, pads, slider-pins, rubbers, clips. Fabulous transition, the steering wheel judder and shakes have gone, like driving a brand new car

Red rubber grease is silicone, and is probably high enough in heat resistance. But what do you use between the hub-flange and inner disc, and outer disc to wheel?

Photo from 5 years ago... Yes, the disc interfaces with the hub flange and with the wheel to hold it on. My mechanic uses copper-slip on the hub flange part, which is okay but imho seems a bit too gritty. When we replace the discs tomorrow i'm going to use Mintex 'Cera Tec' silicone disc brake grease though-out, so it will not only be used on the slider-pins, but also behind the pads, on flange, and between disc hub to wheel. Wheels are replaced on my Celica twice yearly with the winter & summer wheel/tyre sets, so don't think there is strictly a need for copper-slip. Copper slip vs Ceratec https://mintex.com/copper-slip-vs-ceratec/?lang=en-gbr

Finished making the brand new discs look pretty in anti-rust paint, and before the fitting job booked in on Wednesday

No prizes for guessing what i'm about to get replaced

Originally the Gen 7 had 255mm front discs, Toyota decided to up them to 275mm, so maybe there is something in better braking with a bigger brake. However, i have no experience driving a Gen 7 with a good working condition set up standard 275 discs, mine were knackered when i bought my Celica, so i took the opportunity to convert it all over to the Avensis 295mm size. It would be interesting to know what the actually difference is. The brake test machine the MOT tester uses would be a perfect guide to show. All i can say is my brakes work very satisfactory, passes MOT brake test easily every time. It would seem to be a very safe mod, there is no balance problem between front and rear, but it's obvious to say the rears need to be functioning correctly. One little advantage i notice is Avensis parts often seem to cost a lot less than Celica, a big saving on replacement brake pads perhaps, or perhaps not, i do low milage so only need change them every 50 years...

Bazz, have you considered converting the fronts to Avensis?

Favourite carpark space

Sent them an email

Unfortunately for the front end of facelift Gen 7... Zunsport only have the top grille available for £37.72 ...but nothing showing for the lower grill (?) https://www.zunsport.com/en/checkout/cart I wouldn't want to change one without the other. They offer a 10% discount and i think it includes postage, so i would of gone for it if they had both front grills

Diggin' that air intake mesh, i'm guessing it's not OEM?, but looks far better than the black plastic

Arrived today and to be fitted on next Thursday: Lower ball joint to replace the pot hole damaged NS one, Grrrr!

no prizes for guessing what i'm planning to get done!

How much is your MOT tester guy offering to pay you for it?

I only bought them almost a year ago, give us a chance! The ones shown in my photo: MT-442 are for main beam HB3 We are thankful for the fab reply of Akuma above ^

Rubber care spray arrived today. Will be a while before i get around to trying it out on the Celica's rubber bits, wot with the lockdown, and the weather raining buckets. Meanwhile the bathroom duck has confiscated it for the duration

I hope it was accidental and whomever did it feels a sense of guilt and shame, ...then it's not likely to happen again. Just been out there having a go polishing the quarter panel scratch out, the lacquer is deep enough to cut into there, managed to tidy it up a lot better. The car is parked in the shade early afternoon, i'd finished by the time the sun started to shine on the surface so it's difficult to tell at the moment, but i think the scratch won't generally notice most lighting conditions, if you know wot i mean. just a tell-tell faint line there if you know where to look... Also cleaned all the glass, put the sun shade cover over the front windscreen; keeps the windscreen and mirrors clean and the car cool inside from the blazing sun. Polished the chrome on the tail pipe, and quick spray polish t wheels plus applied tyre dressing. A little bit of pampering just to cheer my baby up With this period of stay-at-home and not drive the car unless essential, there must be a lot of very well detailed Celica's parked up on the drive!

The scuff on my bumper is on the drivers side front edge, it wasn't there a month ago. I don't understand it cos if i'd of done it i'm sure i would of noticed at the time. Also since the covid lockdown and essential driving usage only; my car has been parked up off-road on a private driveway which is shared with one other neighbour. I've driven very few miles since lockdown, just a few trips to Tesco but i don't think it happened there because the carpark has been so empty and i park it in a fairly safe place there for less than half an hour. I don't like to point the finger of blame at people without being 100% sure, but can't help thinking my neighbours & their kids are around outside a lot more than usual due to the stay-at-home policy, and my car is out there too