The sun smiled upon my driveway today and the temperature was moderate so I was able to tick off a few more things on the FPIS project car. I didn't get as much done as I wanted... but I did get the PTU refilled which completed my first fluid changes. I still want to flush the cooling system and the brake system but there's a lot higher on my list for now.
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After watching several videos I decided to install a new vent hose for refilling the PTU. I figure I'm going to run it one or two oil changes and drain/fill again just to kinda "clean it up" so I might as well make it easier access for the refills. Like I mentioned in a previous post it didn't appear to have ever had a fluid change so I went back with the standard gear lube and added a couple oz of BG MGC (I've had a good experience with BG products). I voted no-joy on using a standard funnel with the gear oil and also quickly rejected the mix-mizer injector tool because of low volume and very messy. I settled on a tool that holds enough fluid to handle the fill in three shots (2 full and one about 1/3).
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I then moved on to the rear swaybar bushings. It didn't take long until I realized the swaybar had to come out to replace them since the Ford bracket completely surrounds the bushing. I messed with the bushing for a little while after removing the swaybar and then called my dealer to see if they sold the bushings. I was pretty disappointed to find that Ford only sells the bushings as part of the swaybar, not separate but he gave me a pretty cheap price on the new bar. I also found the links to be pretty soft so I got new swaybar links just to find that they were no more firm than the old ones! Anyway, it's a car for my kid so I went the high road and it will be rolling with a fresh sway bar assy and links when the SO parts arrive.
To pull through (not knowing when I'll be able to get under the car for the swaybar fix) I messed around with the old swaybar, new Ebay bushings and the old brackets and got everything back together and seemingly pretty stable... so back in with the old swaybar assy for now.
The rest of the afternoon was pretty straightforward with rotor/pad and rear shock replacement. The rotors weren't vibrating but since there was a crack in the right rear rotor I went ahead and put a slotted-drilled setup on the old bird. I get pretty good life out of them and ever since switching over have avoided yearly burned/warped rotors due to crazy Atlanta traffic patterns and their 80-0 stops on a dime.
![Image]()
Old shocks and a pile of stuff
![Image]()
Rotors destined for the recycler
![Image]()
So shiny and fresh
Accomplished
rich
After watching several videos I decided to install a new vent hose for refilling the PTU. I figure I'm going to run it one or two oil changes and drain/fill again just to kinda "clean it up" so I might as well make it easier access for the refills. Like I mentioned in a previous post it didn't appear to have ever had a fluid change so I went back with the standard gear lube and added a couple oz of BG MGC (I've had a good experience with BG products). I voted no-joy on using a standard funnel with the gear oil and also quickly rejected the mix-mizer injector tool because of low volume and very messy. I settled on a tool that holds enough fluid to handle the fill in three shots (2 full and one about 1/3).
I then moved on to the rear swaybar bushings. It didn't take long until I realized the swaybar had to come out to replace them since the Ford bracket completely surrounds the bushing. I messed with the bushing for a little while after removing the swaybar and then called my dealer to see if they sold the bushings. I was pretty disappointed to find that Ford only sells the bushings as part of the swaybar, not separate but he gave me a pretty cheap price on the new bar. I also found the links to be pretty soft so I got new swaybar links just to find that they were no more firm than the old ones! Anyway, it's a car for my kid so I went the high road and it will be rolling with a fresh sway bar assy and links when the SO parts arrive.
To pull through (not knowing when I'll be able to get under the car for the swaybar fix) I messed around with the old swaybar, new Ebay bushings and the old brackets and got everything back together and seemingly pretty stable... so back in with the old swaybar assy for now.
The rest of the afternoon was pretty straightforward with rotor/pad and rear shock replacement. The rotors weren't vibrating but since there was a crack in the right rear rotor I went ahead and put a slotted-drilled setup on the old bird. I get pretty good life out of them and ever since switching over have avoided yearly burned/warped rotors due to crazy Atlanta traffic patterns and their 80-0 stops on a dime.
Old shocks and a pile of stuff
Rotors destined for the recycler
So shiny and fresh
Accomplished
- Rear Sway Bushings
- Rear Shocks
- Front Rotors
- Rear Rotors & Pads
- PTU vent reroute and refill
rich