So I'm preparing the 8 for the trip down to DGRR. I have only had this car since Feb and it was a lease, so I assumed (and Carfax says it was) serviced upon turning it in at 14K miles and then it had another brief owner and then me.
It has 35K on it now (I bought it at 32K) so I wanted to do all the routine (and maybe a little more) stuff you should do to any used sports car before making a trip down to something like DGRR.
I started by jacking the car up and supporting on four stands so I can drain and replace the trans fluid, dif fluid and bleed the brakes and add higher performance fluid in.
Not cool part #1 - car was from massachusetts, those wheels were STUCK on. I was already not feeling good from allergies and then I had to beat on the wheels with my feet to kick them off.
Not cool part #2 - pull the passenger front wheel off, what do ya know - a fuck'n busted end link on the sway bar!! Now, I'm not going to say I didnt break it, I dont know - I do drive hard when I drive, and I did wear out my FCs end links back in the day. But these things are retarded plastic. What was mazda thinking? RBs are only $45 and will be at my door - only AFTER DGRR though No time to get them here and on before I leave!
Not cool part #3 - go to drain the trans fluid and its chocolate milk! Oh, thats bad huh? How about only like less than half a quart coming out!!!! I leveled the car out to make sure I got it all out - but yea, it was WAY low and you could see on the trans where some had drained from the drain plug and somebody obviously never paid attention! F'n mazda service guys!
Sorry, had to vent. Needless to say I finished the trans, rotated my tires (the rear were wearing out) but did not drain my dif yet or bleed the brakes. I couldnt take any more punishment tonight, lol...