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1997+ Facelift j-spec Q's


Barnstormer

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Have a search through the BBS but could not find the exact answer to a couple of Q's. Any help appreciated......

I have a 1997 facelifted j-spec auto TT

 

1. Are the brakes bigger than earlier j-specs? Mine subjectively look bigger and the calipers are black with the work "SUPRA" detailed in white on them. Are they 325mm?

 

2. Are the UK spec oil filters exactly the same as for the j-spec? Need an oil change soon.

 

Also has onyone got a Mongoose exhaust system fitted from the turbo back? Just wondered about the quality, sound and performance improvement as well as the problems with the MOT emission test.

 

ATB

 

Barnstomer

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Originally posted by Barnstormer

Have a search through the BBS but could not find the exact answer to a couple of Q's. Any help appreciated......

I have a 1997 facelifted j-spec auto TT

 

1. Are the brakes bigger than earlier j-specs? Mine subjectively look bigger and the calipers are black with the work "SUPRA" detailed in white on them. Are they 325mm?

 

2. Are the UK spec oil filters exactly the same as for the j-spec? Need an oil change soon.

 

Also has onyone got a Mongoose exhaust system fitted from the turbo back? Just wondered about the quality, sound and performance improvement as well as the problems with the MOT emission test.

 

ATB

 

Barnstomer

 

Barnstormer,

 

Yes you have big brakes.

 

Oil filters are the same.

 

Michel has a Mongoose on his UK spec car, they are quite for an aftermarket system, it included a full de-cat so probably wont pass an MOT test (put the cats back on for this). The quality is good (I had one on my old car), performance will be better as your removing the cats and the pipework will be less restrictive. AFAIK its a 3" bore pipework, 4" exit.

 

HTH A bit...

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Originally posted by Doug

Just an extra comment about the brakes, what size wheels are on you car? cos I have small brakes on my facelift supra but the calipers do have supra writtten on them in white.

 

Oh god, it gets more confusing :conf:

 

You may have big brakes on your car then, why don't you measure em? ;)

 

Gaz.

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gazwalker - thanks for the info.

 

Re: the brakes. I have a totally stock car and the wheels are 16" originals. Thinking about getting some 18 or 19's and /or a new exhaust plus decat.

 

I suppose the simple way is to pull off a wheel and measure the the disks - will get around to it sometime. I thought the answer might be simple to my Q.

 

The brakes don't seem to have the bite that most modern cars have, however, I put that down down less servo assistance which means you have to push the pedal harder. Of course less assistance should increase feel. I think that once you have got used to pushing the pedal harder the brakes are actually quite good - just need to practise a couple of emergency stops on a quiet rd and you soon get used to the lack of servo assistance.

 

Just different from the modern style of brakes that are extremely light and designed for easy driving. Just my thoughs though.......

 

ATB

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Originally posted by Doug

Just an extra comment about the brakes, what size wheels are on you car? cos I have small brakes on my facelift supra but the calipers do have supra writtten on them in white.

same here on my 96 facelift

you will know if you have big brakes if you see them side by side with another j spec.

i got told if it had supra on calipers they were big brakes but they aint

 

ps thought the big brakes only come with 17" wheels

if you have 16`s as standard dont look too good for big brakes

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Originally posted by Barnstormer

Re: the brakes. I have a totally stock car and the wheels are 16" originals. Thinking about getting some 18 or 19's and /or a new exhaust plus decat.

 

If you've got 16's on you've got small brakes.

 

I thought all facelift TT's had 17's and big brakes on??? :conf:

 

Gaz.

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what size are big brakes? 325mm?

 

Will have to take a wheel off now and measure them. Could be that the car had 17's on then were swopped for 16's for some unlikely reason. Can't imagine Toyota having two different brake setups for the production line - very costly. Never heard of any other cars having an option of bigger brakes just coz the wheels are bigger.

 

Anyway, will have to measure them tomorrow to know for sure.

 

It's never easy is it..........

 

ATB

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Originally posted by gazwalker

If you've got 16's on you've got small brakes.

 

I thought all facelift TT's had 17's and big brakes on??? :conf:

 

Gaz.

 

Did we not discuss this the other day :twak:

 

Not all facelift cars have the big brakes, and if they are on 16" wheels then they certainly dont have them. The logo thing is a red herring, quite a lot of the import brakes have it on, those that have seen some serious heat and usage tend to lose the logo.

 

JB

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Guest Martin F
Originally posted by gazwalker

If you've got 16's on you've got small brakes.

 

I thought all facelift TT's had 17's and big brakes on??? :conf:

 

Gaz.

 

I don't think it's as clear cut as that.

 

If you have 16" wheels then its about 99.9% likely that you have small brakes.

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Originally posted by Barnstormer

what size are big brakes? 325mm?

 

Will have to take a wheel off now and measure them. Could be that the car had 17's on then were swopped for 16's for some unlikely reason. Can't imagine Toyota having two different brake setups for the production line - very costly. Never heard of any other cars having an option of bigger brakes just coz the wheels are bigger.

 

Anyway, will have to measure them tomorrow to know for sure.

 

It's never easy is it..........

 

ATB

have you got your rear sidelights working too?

on mine i did not know they were lights till i seen another facelift with them on.mine did not have any bulbs in for some reason,mind u its the netto economy tt i have

they look well when they working

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Originally posted by Martin F

I don't think it's as clear cut as that.

 

If you have 16" wheels then its about 99.9% likely that you have small brakes.

 

Im getting all twakky now :twak:

 

16" wheels will just not fit over big brakes. My 17" black wheels off my import wouldnt physically fit OVER the brakes, it wasnt just the spokes hitting the caliper, the inner surface of the rim rubbed against the top of the caliper. I would have had to shave off some caliper to make it fit.

 

anybody else for a :twak:

 

:)

 

JB

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Guest Martin F
Originally posted by Branners

My statement is that you CANNOT get 16" wheels to fit over big brakes, it just cant do it...:sex:

 

 

Hmmm now there's a challenge if ever i heard one!!!

 

What size is the spare wheel ?

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Also has onyone got a Mongoose exhaust system fitted from the turbo back? Just wondered about the quality, sound and performance improvement as well as the problems with the MOT emission test.

I have...... (I think Terry at TRL has too ? ? )

 

the decat pipe is 1-piece to replace the 2 cat's....easier to replace,

BUT, if I want to put ONE cat back I'll need to buy a different

'1/2' length-type...if you see what I mean ?

 

The quality of the system is REALLY good - nice quality St/Steel etc

 

The Silencers are GOOD = the sound is very much like stock but

just a little louder/rougher all the way through. That's GOOD if you're

creeping to work early in the morning/ coming home late...but,

NOT a very satisfying tone when you're in 'tunnel' mode (!)

 

Emissions will be exactly the same on all systems.....

it's cats-or-not that determine that !

(rumours are either ONE cat will pass pretty easily / no cat's

will fail , or, pass depending who you talk to ? ? ?

 

Ground clearance HAS been much better than the other systems,

no grounding on ANY speed bumps so far ! (tucks up well !)

[ = down-side is it hasn't got a nice BIG chrome silencer OR huge

exit pipe for looks ]

 

The cost is substantially lower than any of the other 'bigger-noise'

systems ? ! ? can't see why really - probably the name etc. ? ?

 

IN ALL: I think the system is very good....... BUT .......

 

I STILL FANCY A LOUDER ONE REALLY:p

 

FatS.

 

[ps. from the FEEL/acceleration after the decat, I don't think it's

much more restrictive than the louder pipes ! ! I'm already worried

about 'overboosting' - it feels THAT MUCH more powerfull ! !]

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Brainstormer, I have UK Spec brakes on my face lift model, I was told they were put on when it was imported. Branners is right about not able to get 16" wheels over over UK spec brakes, I have to use a spacer on my 18" to get them to fit over the calipers, feeking horrible though when braking, I get quite a lot of vibration, but will replace with 19" one day. Also to one of the other posts, my rear side lights were not working niether when I got the car, plugged them back in, I think they look great IMO, but many people seem to disconnect them.:confused:

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Everybody..

 

Thanks for all the info. Definatley gonna take the front wheel off tomorrow and have a look to see what I got. Also the spare although I'm pretty sure its 16 too. Never checked the rear side lights! Will have a look.

 

The Mongoose sounds really good - literally. I often go to work early in the morning and could without waking half the street at 4am. Also the one piece downpipe to replace the cats seems a good idea.

 

As I often go to Japan I looked at their equivalent of Halfords. Its call Auto Bacs and they sell every type of alloy wheel and tuning part known to the Japanese. Over there a full Blitz NurSpec R is about 70,000 Yen = £380 but a bummer to get in the suitcase. Also alloys are about half the price in the UK for the same ones. Again same problem of getting them in a suitcase. Was thinking about bringing one at a time over.......

 

Will report on what I find on the hub.

 

ATB

 

Also Supra bits are easily obtainable and cheap. Bulbs, wiper blades, filters etc. Also the rain guards that fit along the upper door sill to stop rain pissing on you as you open it.

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Originally posted by Barnstormer

 

Also Supra bits are easily obtainable and cheap. Bulbs, wiper blades, filters etc. Also the rain guards that fit along the upper door sill to stop rain pissing on you as you open it.

are they them smoked clear wind things,i broke one of mine like a div

never got round to getting one,

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yep you can get 'em. Depends on whether you want original Toyota ones of aftermarket ones. I just happen to see a catalogue with loads of different types for every type of vehicle. They are especially popular on 4x4's apparently...my Japanese anin't so good these days but that what I think thats what he said.

 

When I go again I will try and get some more info but you could check out their website at http://www.autobacs.com

You will need a translation engine to get the jist of it - try babelfish. My missus is Japanese so she can do it for me!

 

Toyota ones are harder to get hold of but I can get the missus to email some dealers near my in-laws and see if they can get 'em. Shouldn't be too expensive to ship them over.

 

ATB

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