Some 10th gen (2011) questions

[madbikes]

I'll try my best to keep this short.

We are considering a 10th gen (2011) Corolla since the engine crapped out at 143K miles on our 1st gen (2004) 1ZZ-FE Matrix (cylinder #1 is shot. Damaged block, piston, connecting rod. Wrist pin came out and now being used as paperweight). A 9th gen Civic (2011) is also being considered. Without driving both cars, from the known specs and equipment at the moment a Corolla S will be the better choice. I'm already on a 2010 LE as a rental while I'm replacing an engine on the Matrix, which means I have a general feel of the car and I'm fine with it. A nicely-loaded Corolla S has the equivalent, if not better, equipment compared to the Matrix (Bluetooth+XM+iPod-enabled HU as option. Heated mirrors, TC+VSC comes standard).

After reading 10 pages worth of threads, I have an idea what I can mod (chassis braces, sway bar(s), intake, etc). So here are my questions:

-This time the car will be in 5-speed manual if that's the final choice. Has anyone tried to put a LSD in the 10th gen Corolla yet?
-What are some of the known weakness for the C59 5-speed manual? Synchros is not too bad if any one of it give up. I know someone had a failed bearing inside the C59 on a Matrix. Those are the only thing I'm aware of
-Does anyone have a picture of any CAI installed before putting everything back on? Just would like to know where the filter actually sit with the intake itself.
-I realize full cat-back exhaust pretty much needs to be custom-made on the 10th gen, but is there any header out there? It's not being integrated into the head (Honda is doing that to some of their engines at the moment), right?
-Is there is no CARB approved header out there, right?
-Is the Progress RSB on the 10th gen the same as the 9th gen/1st gen Matrix? Who has the thickest RSB between Progress and TRD?
-I know K-Sport and Megan has coilovers specific for the 10th gen, but are there any springs+strut combos out there (Has to be from the same manufacturer. Example: Koni struts+springs)?
-Does the 10th gen use the same pads as the 9th gen?

That's all I can think of at the moment. Thanks for your inputs.

[pengin978]

- no one on here has tried the lsd yet but i bet you someone sure did somewhere, I'm thinking about putting the phantom grip on my xrs
- the trans hasn't given anyone a head ache but theres a few that has noise problem
- heres a member that recently did it, lilaznviper, What did you do to your Corolla today?
-PPE is in development with both header & midpipe for the 1.8, Weapon R has one out.
-springs from the 9thgen can be fine, but struts i'm not sure, if you're going that route, might as well save a few more bills and buy coilovers.
- what kind've pads? brake pads?

[LeanBurn]

I am surprised the engine let go that early on the Matrix. Looking at your planned mods (for the Corolla) was the Matrix driven fairly aggressively?

[corolapete]

I am surprised the engine died on the matrix. what happen?

[madbikes]

Originally Posted by pengin978

- no one on here has tried the lsd yet but i bet you someone sure did somewhere, I'm thinking about putting the phantom grip on my xrs
- the trans hasn't given anyone a head ache but theres a few that has noise problem
- heres a member that recently did it, lilaznviper, What did you do to your Corolla today?
-PPE is in development with both header & midpipe for the 1.8, Weapon R has one out.
-springs from the 9thgen can be fine, but struts i'm not sure, if you're going that route, might as well save a few more bills and buy coilovers.
- what kind've pads? brake pads?

-Is phantom grip a cluth-type LSD?
-can you be a bit specific about the noise problem?
-Looks like the filter sits lower than a 1st gen Matrix (I assume it's the same for the 9th gen). I'm using a AEM CAI and it doesn't sit that far down. Has the Injen CAI ever come as a two-piece or it's just one-piece?
-Yes, I meant front brake pads. Can a 9th gen front brake pad fit in a 10th gen caliper?

[madbikes]

Originally Posted by LeanBurn

I am surprised the engine let go that early on the Matrix. Looking at your planned mods (for the Corolla) was the Matrix driven fairly aggressively?

Originally Posted by proudcorolla

I am surprised the engine died on the matrix. what happen?

I'm sure the engine had a hard life. The 9th gen Corolla is much lighter and better geared than the 1st Matrix (mine is an automatic. Comparing apples to apples). Adding intake and full cat-back exhaust makes the Matrix more drivable power-wise, but it takes much more than that to be on the same pace as a 9th gen Corolla with no mods. However, the 10th gen Corolla now has nearly the same weight as a 2nd gen Matrix. So both cars should be equal in overall performance and reliability.







I was on my way to somewhere. A block later after making a right turn, I heard a couple loud metal knocks. The next thing I know is I have an engine problem. The pictures above is some of the stuff I found out while looking for the the actual failure. I changed oil not long before this happened and returned the suspension back to stock 2 days prior the engine is blown. About half a year ago, I discovered the hard way that the engine somehow lost oil (low oil pressure light came on during a not so hard turn. I was riding on K-Sports back then) and there was literally no oil when I change it. So I put in five quarts, but there was no oil showing in dipstick by mid-January. I added 3 quarts and went back between the high and low dots, which eventually gets lost again. One thing for sure is I found oil seeping out from the oil pan and the firewall side of the engine.

Regarding the suspension part of my last post, I was using 2 different sets of K-Sport Kontrol Pro for 3 years (9th gen Corolla coilovers on 1st gen Matrix). The reason why I'm looking into springs+strut combo is:
-Reliability: I went through two sets, one without the rear lower mount and the other was updated with them. Both failed under the same fashion about a 15-18 months: one front shock blown seized and caused severe handling issues. I actually put more mileage on the first one and I was able to update to the newer set because I was told by someone from K-Sport that they don't make the older shocks anymore (the shock body size is also different), which wasn't true. Apparently, they're not up to the task of surviving SF Bay Area roads, the crappiest roads in the nation. I was in a Hyundai Accent, but a very unexpectedly narrow and deep pothole bent the rim. Hence they swapped it with a 10th gen Corolla.
-Ride quality: I'm fine and the coilovers is up to my driving style, but family members aren't impressed and think the car can fall apart any moment.

[got-rice]

-Reliability: I went through two sets, one without the rear lower mount and the other was updated with them. Both failed under the same fashion about a 15-18 months: one front shock blown seized and caused severe handling issues. I actually put more mileage on the first one and I was able to update to the newer set because I was told by someone from K-Sport that they don't make the older shocks anymore (the shock body size is also different), which wasn't true. Apparently, they're not up to the task of surviving SF Bay Area roads, the crappiest roads in the nation. I was in a Hyundai Accent, but a very unexpectedly narrow and deep pothole bent the rim. Hence they swapped it with a 10th gen Corolla

Note to self, avoid K-Sport parts.