Leaking Rear Differential

Pic 1: Leaking rear differential

Noticed that the ER34 has a leak on one side of the differential. Nothing major, just a leaky differential seal. So I got the car jacked up and the differential removed. Whilst only one side is leaking, well one might as well replace both sides of the differential seals since it's already removed from the car.

The ER34 uses the "Rear Differential Seal-Side, bearing the part number 38342-N3100". Ordered two of them and it was replaced after all the existing oil was drained out. I took the opportunity to change my differential oil while at it. Motul Motyl Gear SAE 80 W140 was ordered and in it goes into the differential.

Now it's as good as before. There's still some work to be done to the ER34. Will update as and when I get around to do it. Looks  like 2013 will see a bit of more work done to the ER34. :)

Pic 2: Rear differential removed from the ER34

Pic 3: This is the leaking side

Pic 4: The faulty oil seal

Pic 5: Motul Motyl Gear SAE 80 W140

119,000km Service

 

Pic 1: Bunch of Torco and Redline oils

The ER34 has just undergone it's 119,000km service. Fresh fluids in the form of Torco SR1 10W-40 went in together with an original Nissan oil filter (Part No. 15208-53J00). I also replaced the aging transmission oil with the same Redline Lightweight Shockproof Gear Oil. These have proven to work great for me hence am still sticking to it.

It's been a while since I've changed the differential oil, hence took the opportunity to replace it with Motul Gear SAE80 W140 oil.

Most of the fluids are now fresh. Should feel good.

Pic 2: Motul Gear SAE80 W140

Pic 3: Engine Oil Change

Pic 4:Transmission Oil Change

Oil change and new brake fluids

Pic 1: Undergoing oil change

I finally got time to service the ER34 after my trip back. It's supposed to be done right before I leave but guess timing was not right on my side. Well I guess to be serviced and be left undriven also serves not much purpose. :P

This time round, I decided to give the Motul 8100 Ester E-Tech 0W-40 a try since I don't have any stocks of my regular Torco SR-1 5W-40 lying around at home. Together with an oil filter change from Nissan (Part No. 15208-53J00), I'm set to go.

Pic 2: The Motul 8100 oW-40 E-Tech

Of late, I also notice my brake pedal isn’t that 'firm' anymore. I guess it's time for a brake fluid change. Rummaging through my store, I found a bottle of Truth Endless Dot 4 Brake Fluid at home, so I might as well get my brake fluids changed too. :)

Having all these changed feels great. Finally with new blood in the system, I would 'dare' to push the ER34 a 'lil harder. Miss driving her for 3 weeks! :(

Pic 3: The Truth Endless Dot 4 Brake Fluid

Pic 4: Bleeding the brake hoses. Exhaust is bigger than a human head. :P

Cooling System Upgrade (SAMCO / NISMO / MOTUL)

Well ideally I should upgrade to a 2 row aluminium radiator (Koyo perhaps?) to cope with the hotter Malaysian weather (compared to Japan) and also for future upgrades on the ER34 (more horses perhaps? :P)

But with cost as a withholding factor, I'll have to skip that first. :(

Lets do something that costs less like below:-

Pic 1: Samco Sport Coolant Hose Kit

Pic 2: This is whats inside the box

Pic 3: The 2 hoses

Pic 4: This is the stock factory ones

Installed the Samco Sport Coolant Hose Kit (Part No. 40TCS149-C) for the ER34's radiator hoses. Initially was contemplating between this and the Blitz Cooling Performer (Part No. 75404), but decided to go with SAMCO as it covers both the top and bottom radiator hoses where else the Blitz unit only has the top hose replacement.

But unlike the Blitz unit, the Samco hoses does not come with an additional tap for the installation of a temperature gauge (not that I plan to anyway) and does not provide any clamps.

Pic 5: The clamps used

The Samco Sport Coolant Hose are rated at a maximum temperature of + 180ºC with a size tolerance of ± 0.5mm. Although the hoses are also available in Black, Red, Green, British Racing Green, Purple, Yellow and Orange, all I ever see are the standard blue colour. Oh darn!

Pic 6: Motul Inugel Expert Ultra coolant

Well since the hoses are out, I had the coolant changed as well. Poured in a bottle of Motul Inugel Expert Ultra coolant and added in distilled water into the radiator.

Pic 7: Nismo Racing Radiator Cap Packaging

Pic 8: Nismo Racing Radiator Cap (front)

Pic 9: Nismo Racing Radiator Cap (rear)

Pic 10: The factory radiator cap

To top it all off, I ditched the stock radiator cap and replaced it with the Nismo Racing Radiator Cap (Part No. 21430-RS012). These are rated at 1.3kg/cm2 (0.13Mpa) as opposed to the stock 0.9kg/cm2 units.

Pic 11: Samco Sport Coolant Hose installed

Pic 12: Nismo Racing Radiator Cap installed

Pic 13: Samco Sport Coolant Hose with the NISMO Radiator Cap

Tein Super Street Damper Groans!!

My Teins are producing a groaning sound when it goes over "sleeping policemen" (speed humps/breakers). Darn it! It has only been 2 months old and it's making noises?? What the .....!!

This is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!

Did some asking around via Skyline owners in Australia and they suggested spraying WD-40 to rid of the sound. I tried that and it seems to work BUT only for a day or two. The sound re-appeared back soon after.

Initially, I noticed the sound comes from both the front and rear but after the WD-40 treatment, seem the sound has now been isolated to the rears only. Ok, I had enough and decided to lodge a complaint with the sole distributor of Teins in Malaysia. Hey afterall it comes with 1 year warranty.....

Pic 1: ER34 in a garage filled with mean cars. Two EK9 (one race and one street), an Evo 7 and a Toyota Aristo Twin Turbo. Gulp!

Anyway, took the car in for inspection and to my surprise, they took off both rear shocks and pry it open to bits, literally! Everything was dismantled to pieces!

Pic 2: The dampers were separated from the springs and pillow ball mounts.

Firstly, the springs and pillow ball mounts were separated from the dampers. The dampers were then taken apart piece by piece. Every bolt, nut, washer, etc.... was cleaned via "Motul Parts Cleaner". This means in the process, the gas in the tubes will be released and the 'damping liquid' will have to be poured out.

All parts were cleaned and re-used except for the pistons where new units were replaced. The whole procedure of 'servicing' the dampers were no less impressive. It's done in a clean room, torque wrenches were used, and the 'damping liquid/oil' were measured and topped up before putting it back in. Oh yes, so were the gas of course.

Pic 3: The dampers were take apart to bits!

After all the parts were put back together, it's installed back into the ER34 and my setting of 20 clicks at the rear were dialed in. A drive over a couple of speed breakers around the block confirms that all are A-Ok.

Woohoo. The Teins no longer groans!! (Fingers crossed my fronts stay quiet else will have to go through the whole process again!)

Side note: While servicing me dampers, there were a Toyota Vios in the same garage with an impressive array of interior gadgets. It has 6 HKS meters, an Apexi RSM, Apexi Turbo Timer, an air-fuel controller and Tein EDFC controller. Wow, that's a lot of meters for a Vios.

I asked the owner aren't he afraid that someone will flick his meters??
The reply was kinda funny......

He mentioned he doesn't drive the car to work and only used it occasionally. He would ride a motorcycle to work everyday and if he were to use the car, he's even prepared to pay RM50.00 (USD 14.00) for an extremely safe parking lot. Slavery to the car? Hehehehehe