Rochester's new G
i just had mine done a few weeks ago and it turned out spotless. A small hole was drilled into the rear fender to create an access hole to get to the dent. The technique used to 'pull' a dent really depends on a few different factors.
PDR is an art, here is a good video that will show you some of the different techniques/approaches:
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY
Dropped the car off at the PDR shop last night, and will be picking it up later this evening.
Sure will be nice to no longer see those little depressions in the fenders. Don't know why I put up with this for so many years. Kept telling myself it wasn't important, when obviously it was, LOL.
[edit]
Picked it up just now. My two fender dings are gone. It's like magic.
Sure will be nice to no longer see those little depressions in the fenders. Don't know why I put up with this for so many years. Kept telling myself it wasn't important, when obviously it was, LOL.
[edit]
Picked it up just now. My two fender dings are gone. It's like magic.
Last edited by Rochester; Jul 7, 2020 at 07:24 PM.
It definitely is like magic. Ironically, the dent guy we have at work stopped by yesterday and popped out the small dent on the bottom of my driver's door. Poof! Gone just like that.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY
These Akebono sport pads come pre-baked, with the only manufacturer's recommendation being 500 miles of normal braking behavior. No bed-in, just a break-in period. So I've been pretty gentle(ish) with the the new Z1 rotors and new pads. I haven't really done any heavy braking to see where the limits are. I'm not familiar with where the new extents are when leaning hard on the brakes. Yes, it's been three months since the upgrade, but that only 300 miles of working-at-home, pandemic BS. (In other words, I don't drive the car much.)
However, this morning I plowed down an off ramp and did get somewhat heavy on the brakes.
And you know what? That was really nice. Like eyes wide open and sht-eating grin kind of nice, because it was solid, smooth and confident from 50 to zero. I leaned into the stop as hard as you can without engaging the ABS or panicking, all the while thinking I'm in control, even though the car is doing most of the work. So I did it a few more times on some traffic-less streets, enough to realize this is a very noticeable, improved experience over the OEM pads & rotors.
I think the lightweight rotors are what's contributing to the new confidence in steering when making a high speed stop, and the new pads are what's providing that smooth, unrelenting bite. Together, it's a good mod. Very happy.
But ( ! ), and I've said this before, it's really only something you appreciate when driving the car in ways that aren't typical daily driver moments. In other words, it makes me drive like an ashole. Seems that driving the car so rarely has created a new and unpleasant dynamic, where I drive recklessly because the car is so capable. And if I'm honest about this, I'm not liking that. I need to start applying some serious behavioral modification when getting behind the wheel, because I'm setting a really poor example for my kids.
(sigh)
However, this morning I plowed down an off ramp and did get somewhat heavy on the brakes.
And you know what? That was really nice. Like eyes wide open and sht-eating grin kind of nice, because it was solid, smooth and confident from 50 to zero. I leaned into the stop as hard as you can without engaging the ABS or panicking, all the while thinking I'm in control, even though the car is doing most of the work. So I did it a few more times on some traffic-less streets, enough to realize this is a very noticeable, improved experience over the OEM pads & rotors.I think the lightweight rotors are what's contributing to the new confidence in steering when making a high speed stop, and the new pads are what's providing that smooth, unrelenting bite. Together, it's a good mod. Very happy.
But ( ! ), and I've said this before, it's really only something you appreciate when driving the car in ways that aren't typical daily driver moments. In other words, it makes me drive like an ashole. Seems that driving the car so rarely has created a new and unpleasant dynamic, where I drive recklessly because the car is so capable. And if I'm honest about this, I'm not liking that. I need to start applying some serious behavioral modification when getting behind the wheel, because I'm setting a really poor example for my kids.
(sigh)
Last edited by Rochester; Aug 2, 2020 at 09:28 AM.
Moderate with music? If you can drive like an a-hole to very calm or even boring music, or a podcast on something boring, you might be irredeemable LOL
Something like Song2 or the Goldfinger version of 99 luftballons... you can be forgiven
Actually - you need to find an autocross, drift or HPDE event and actually drive the car hard. Makes you more aware of capabilities, and also calms you down on the street. Autocross the cheapest and most car-safe option, and honestly it wouldn't be hard to have one of those and socially distance.
CSB re: driving aggressively... I actually pulled a dad-move the other day and jerked a knot in the behind of a teenager friend of my neighbor's elder son. Friend drives like a gangster so he can't see over the hood and through the neighborhood at about 40. We have little kids (including mine, and the neighbor has a young son too) all over this place. After reaming him for 10 minutes and getting him to automatically reply with Yes Sir or No Sir while standing at a semblance of attention, I could say "look, I don't care what you do on the highways or out in the sticks. But in a development you drive slow, or some kid's father is going to kill you slow." I think he got the point - he's been driving more sanely since.
I'm still tiptoeing around since I haven't gotten a decent alignment yet.
Something like Song2 or the Goldfinger version of 99 luftballons... you can be forgiven

Actually - you need to find an autocross, drift or HPDE event and actually drive the car hard. Makes you more aware of capabilities, and also calms you down on the street. Autocross the cheapest and most car-safe option, and honestly it wouldn't be hard to have one of those and socially distance.
CSB re: driving aggressively... I actually pulled a dad-move the other day and jerked a knot in the behind of a teenager friend of my neighbor's elder son. Friend drives like a gangster so he can't see over the hood and through the neighborhood at about 40. We have little kids (including mine, and the neighbor has a young son too) all over this place. After reaming him for 10 minutes and getting him to automatically reply with Yes Sir or No Sir while standing at a semblance of attention, I could say "look, I don't care what you do on the highways or out in the sticks. But in a development you drive slow, or some kid's father is going to kill you slow." I think he got the point - he's been driving more sanely since.
I'm still tiptoeing around since I haven't gotten a decent alignment yet.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY
Music.
Not bad. I'm going to actively pursue that idea next time I get in the car.
Been stuck on Queen for a while. Maybe Bohemian Rhapsody is messing with my head.
The way my little sedan is set up, it would perform fantastic at an auto-x event, I'm sure of it, driver fail notwithstanding. And although I mentioned that earlier this summer, I've done nothing about it, because pandemic. So, next year at best.
Not bad. I'm going to actively pursue that idea next time I get in the car.Been stuck on Queen for a while. Maybe Bohemian Rhapsody is messing with my head.
The way my little sedan is set up, it would perform fantastic at an auto-x event, I'm sure of it, driver fail notwithstanding. And although I mentioned that earlier this summer, I've done nothing about it, because pandemic. So, next year at best.
The gearing and stiffer suspension would certainly reward you, albeit you have to get over any fondness for your rear tires. 
I've been listening to Halsey, Skylar Grey and this young cover artist Violet Orlandi. But that's left over from my winter blues. Right now I'm seeing more of a cover artist J.Fla which I'm on and off about, and Leo Morechioli - Norwegian metal covers of all sorts of songs, favorites being adele. Not great driving music though, as you realize you're doing 80 in a... less than that.
I usually listened to podcasts (Hidden Brain, Freakonomics, Lore, Myths and Legends) when commuting but both my commute shortened from 1.5 hours to 20 minutes March 1, and then covid so it shortened to 30 sec going from bedroom to home office... When I'm in the car now I listen to music because I'm desperate for it.

I've been listening to Halsey, Skylar Grey and this young cover artist Violet Orlandi. But that's left over from my winter blues. Right now I'm seeing more of a cover artist J.Fla which I'm on and off about, and Leo Morechioli - Norwegian metal covers of all sorts of songs, favorites being adele. Not great driving music though, as you realize you're doing 80 in a... less than that.
I usually listened to podcasts (Hidden Brain, Freakonomics, Lore, Myths and Legends) when commuting but both my commute shortened from 1.5 hours to 20 minutes March 1, and then covid so it shortened to 30 sec going from bedroom to home office... When I'm in the car now I listen to music because I'm desperate for it.
Youtube search for any of the musical artists. Podcasts you can google. None of them are so outside mainstream that you'll get weird results - except for J.Fla, for some reason if I listed to *1* of her song covers the next 40 songs in my youtube mix are her. Look at that one on someone else's login. She's really good though - she really belts it out on "What I've Done" by linkin park.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,830
Likes: 5,137
From: Rochester, NY
Rim Brim
Everyone needs one of these in their life. 
I had a 17" similar device for my old Maxima, and loved it. Last year I bought an 18" to fit my wife's Subaru and my duckfeet. And this week I bought a 19" to fit around my Vossens. It's really nice to use, just one even sweep with tire dressing, in like 3 seconds. No mess, no fuss. Just awkward figuring out where to store the damn thing.

You know, that there is really a lousy picture. What a sloppy application, and a waste of tire dressing. Just saying.
Oh, I'm using Maguiar's Hot Shine Tire Foam these days. I apply it, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then run a towel over it very lightly before it entirely dries. Once or twice a year, I'll apply some tire gel.

I had a 17" similar device for my old Maxima, and loved it. Last year I bought an 18" to fit my wife's Subaru and my duckfeet. And this week I bought a 19" to fit around my Vossens. It's really nice to use, just one even sweep with tire dressing, in like 3 seconds. No mess, no fuss. Just awkward figuring out where to store the damn thing.

You know, that there is really a lousy picture. What a sloppy application, and a waste of tire dressing. Just saying.
Oh, I'm using Maguiar's Hot Shine Tire Foam these days. I apply it, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then run a towel over it very lightly before it entirely dries. Once or twice a year, I'll apply some tire gel.
Last edited by Rochester; Aug 12, 2020 at 09:37 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Rochester, NY
Chip Guard Delete
IDK if all G's came with this, but there's a thick, clear vinyl chip guard on the door sills, just in front of the rear wheels. And even though it's been garage-kept for 9 years, the damn things are yellowed. On top of that, the edges get a dark line of dirt that just doesn't clean. So today I finally took them off. A hair dryer, some goo-be-gone, light polish, wax and elbow grease, and both sections look great now!
Someday I might have the local tint shop apply something new, but right now I'm digging how it looks without those extra (albeit subtle) sight lines down low on the car. It just looks a whole lot better. Believe it or not, I've been thinking about this for a few years now, and today I just finally did it.
Probably more of a noticeable thing with a white car.
Someday I might have the local tint shop apply something new, but right now I'm digging how it looks without those extra (albeit subtle) sight lines down low on the car. It just looks a whole lot better. Believe it or not, I've been thinking about this for a few years now, and today I just finally did it.
Probably more of a noticeable thing with a white car.
That stuff is like helicopter rotor tape. I've got some of the real deal that I put on cone-and-berm prone areas of the racecar, but it does yellow eventually and the edges adhere to dirt.
When my RX8 got lightly t-boned and they had to rework the passenger doors and sill, when they repainted they removed the stone guards. Looked MUCH cleaner - again, as you said, way more difference on a white pearl car than on darker colors. I'm not actually sure whether they are on my G or not.
When my RX8 got lightly t-boned and they had to rework the passenger doors and sill, when they repainted they removed the stone guards. Looked MUCH cleaner - again, as you said, way more difference on a white pearl car than on darker colors. I'm not actually sure whether they are on my G or not.









