EK9 Is in for it's first major service...

[MidwestEK9]

Just bask in this glory of Honda, Mugen, and Spoon parts

Car is at my mechanics place for some big maintenance / big changes. He sent me this photo after staging the parts for the job!

Here's everything being done:

Replace Timing Belt, Tensioner Bearing, Tensioner Bolt, Alt Belt, P/S Belt, A/C Belt, Water Pump, Cam Seals, Crank Seal, Cylinder Head Plug, Upper and Lower VTEC Solenoid Seals, 4x Timing Cover Dust Seals, and the VTEC Dowel & O-Ring with Customer Supplied OEM Honda Parts. Perform Valve Lash Adjustment. Customer is supplying new valve cover gasket and spark plug hole gasket(s) for the valve cover reinstall. Refill Coolant with Customer Supplied Peak OET Asian Blue 50/50 coolant. Capacity 4.0L + 0.3L in Reservoir.

Remove and Replace all 26 Indicated Suspension Bushings with Customer Supplied Spoon Bushings. 2x Front Compliance, 4x Front UCA, 4x Front LCA, 2x RTA, 6x Rear LCA, 4x Rear Toe Arm, 4x Rear UCA. Replace front and rear sway bar bushings with Customer Supplied OEM Sway Bar bushings. Inspect front Upper Ball Joints for wear / play or damaged boots, coordinate any repair with Customer if necessary.

Remove and Replace all five Engine / Transmission mounts with Customer Supplied Mugen Motor and Transmission Mounts.

Inspect Driver Side (Right Side) Outer CV Boot for damage and internal grease loss. If no damage and/or minimal grease loss, clean the escaped grease off axle & any surrounding areas and replace outer CV boot band clamps. If grease loss is substantial or CV Joint is damaged, coordinate replacement / rebuild.

Drain Transmission Fluid (See Item 9 Before Filling), Fill with Shop Supplied Honda Genuine MTF. Use Customer Supplied Spoon Magnetic Transmission Drain Plug + Crush Washer. Capacity 2.0L Honda Genuine MTF.

Drain Oil, Replace Oil Filter with Customer Supplied OEM Honda Filter, Fill with Customer Supplied Motul Classic 10W-40 Oil. Use Customer Supplied Spoon Magnetic Oil Drain Plug + Crush Washer. Capacity w/ Filter Change 4.0L.

Remove and replace all four sway bar end links with Customer Supplied OEM Honda end links. Remove and replace both front lower ball joints with Customer Supplied OEM Honda ball joints.

While transmission fluid is drained, replace the transmission gear selector detent springs with Customer Supplied Speed Factory HD detent springs. Please keep original detent springs and return to Customer.

Sub-Contracted 4-Wheel Alignment after Suspension Work. Customer Targets: Camber: Non Adjustable Toe: Front IN 1mm +1/-0.5mm (0.5mm to 2mm toe-in), Rear IN 2mm +/-1 mm (1mm to 3mm toe-in) Caster: Non Adjustable, Spec is 1°40' +/- 1° Turning Angle: Non Adjustable, Spec is Inward Wheel 39°50' Outward Wheel (Reference) 33°10'.

Needless to say... excited to get her back!

 

[MidwestEK9]

Well that rear trailing arm bushing was certainly shot...

 

[iRELOADED]

Well that rear trailing arm bushing was certainly shot...

Looks good to me

 

[terry_em1]

I changed my engine mounts to Hardrace ones, not knowing the OEM ones were completely ruined. Torque mounts were the worst.

 

[MidwestEK9]

I just got the car back today! First off, the spoon suspension bushings are a great upgrade. The car actually rides better and less harsh than it did before. Partly because several of my old busing were kaput, but it's definitely a worthwhile upgrade. The Mugen motor mounts are fantastic. Zero additional NVH in the car or in the shifter. My tech did a great job of installing them with the engine supported from underneath. The speed factory HD transmission detent springs are also quite fantastic. It's only a hair harder to shift into gear, but it feels so much more precise and strong and steady. Eliminated a lot of slop I had in my gear lever, even while in-gear, and makes shifting an absolute joy. Hard to improve on these Honda shifters.... but for the price, this is one mod I absolutely endorse.

The rest of the stuff was a bit boring. Ball joints, end links, sway bar bushings, valve cover gaskets, timing cover dust seals, general maintenance (MTF, oil, coolant, etc). But the car came away driving and riding better than it ever has, and I certainly can't complain about that! She's ready for the next 80,000 miles

Imgur album of some of maintenance linked below. Photos too large and way too many to try and resize to host here, sorry. Thank my mechanic who is super detailed and takes pics of everything lol. If anyone is in Colorado and needs a good Honda mechanic, let me know! I know THE GUY!

https://imgur.com/a/OroTyrY

 

[iRELOADED]

Did he cut that engine mount, or was it that shot it fell apart?

 

[MidwestEK9]

Did he cut that engine mount, or was it that shot it fell apart?

It was that shot when he removed it. That was the rear mount, and apparently they are the first to go.

 

[terry_em1]

It was that shot when he removed it. That was the rear mount, and apparently they are the first to go.

They're also the biggest pain in the *** to take out. Be glad you paid someone to do it hahaha.