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Car Mods To Do Right NOW + More

Car Mods To Do Right NOW + More

MartiniWorks Podcast Feb 27, 2026 59 min
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About this episode

The hosts dive into the challenges of fixing a BMW M3’s brake system, sharing a detailed story about troubleshooting a mysterious brake failure that led to deleting the ABS and brake booster for a manual setup. They discuss the pros and cons of manual brakes, the learning curve involved, and the impact on driving dynamics without stability control. The conversation also touches on upcoming car projects and events, including Riverside and preparations for track days, highlighting the hands-on nature of maintaining and modifying race cars.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

time attack

"It was Saturday the Saturday morning session during time attack I had like a great session that goes honestly great."

Time attack is a type of car race where drivers try to drive the fastest lap around a track, one at a time, instead of racing other cars side by side.

Term

bleeding the brakes

"It bled the brakes a couple times check pads check rotors. Everything was fine So I drove it back to the camping spot and it's still just like didn't feel right"

Bleeding the brakes means getting rid of air bubbles in the brake system so the brakes work well.

Part

master cylinder

"Find me what I thought the replacement part was which was the the master cylinder And this guy went an hour away took it off a junk car"

The master cylinder helps your car stop when you press the brake pedal by sending pressure to the brakes.

Company

Chase Bays

"Winter happened, of course, so we ordered a bunch of parts from chase bays And just then but decided to delete the whole kit"

Chase Bays is a company that makes special car parts to help improve or change how cars work, especially for racing or custom builds.

Car

Nissan S13

""Uh, I ran in the same thing at the s13 too. It was like...""

The Nissan S13 is a type of car that people like to use for drifting, which is a driving style where the car slides sideways. It's an older model from the late 80s and early 90s.

Part

brake fluid

""Dude, they're just so annoying. I hate brakes. I hate dealing with brakes brake fluid sucks. It's feels really weird it eats paint and of course it just gets everywhere. So you got to wipe it off all the time. James really hates brakes brakes suck. It's the brake fluid especially it's bad. Yeah, I am 100 on board especially have to deal with it for so long""

Brake fluid is a special liquid in your car that helps the brakes work when you press the pedal. It can get old and dirty, which makes the brakes less safe, so it needs to be changed sometimes.

Term

stability control

"I bet no stability control"

Stability control helps keep your car from sliding or spinning out when you lose control.

Term

traction control

"I don't I don't think I'll have traction control anymore. Really?"

Traction control stops your wheels from spinning too much when you try to speed up.

Car

BMW M3

"Um, I guess I don't know how that system works on the m3 The stability control is definitely gone and all the abs is gone."

The BMW M3 is a fast and sporty car made by BMW, popular for driving enthusiasts.

Car

Toyota Supra

"...or at least turn off the abs in his mark 5 Toyota Supra. Everyone had that reaction that was just that. Y..."

The Toyota Supra is a fast and sporty car that many people love because it looks cool and drives really well. The newer version works with parts from another car company, BMW, which helps it be even better. People talk about turning off some safety features to make it feel more fun to drive.

Term

ABS

"Delete the or at least turn off the abs in his mark 5 Toyota Supra. Everyone had that reaction that was just that. Yeah, exactly They're like brother. You are not going to outbreak modern abs performance"

ABS is a system in cars that stops the wheels from freezing when you brake hard, so you can still steer and avoid accidents.

Part

calipers

""Well, and the the kit that I got has two different calipers one for the front one for the rear""

Calipers are parts of the brakes that press the brake pads onto the spinning discs to make the car stop.

Term

brake bias knob

""And I have a bias knob with it now that'll be fun to play with. So like I feel the front's locking up, you know in a certain braking area like we'll dial it back or whatever.""

A brake bias knob lets you change how much the front or back brakes slow the car. This helps you stop better and keep control when braking.

Car

BMW M2

""Um, I had turned it off. That was like in the m2. I had that crap on all the time. Like I never turned it off.""

The BMW M2 is a fast and sporty car made by BMW that is fun to drive and has strong brakes and engine.

Term

bridge seats

"I know they're uh, they're finalizing some of the seat rail stuff with the bridge seats Someone got really upset that we called bridge bridge. That's how they pronounce it in japan."

Bridge seats are special car seats made for racing and sporty driving. They help keep you in place when you drive fast.

Concept

Formula Drift

"But we if you watch the formula drift in the commercial plays It's so funny. The chat just goes bowie bowie bowie"

Formula Drift is a car race where drivers slide their cars around corners on purpose, showing off their driving skills.

Term

engine swap

""Obviously like with engine swap stuff and if you're putting different things in it like belt sizing gets super weird""

An engine swap means taking out the car's original engine and putting in a different one. This can make the car faster or better, but sometimes parts like belts and pulleys need to be changed to fit the new engine.

Company

Fortune Auto

"We'll let you in on early fortune auto sponsor the martin works podcast You can get fortune out of five hundreds is what I would recommend for most people"

Fortune Auto makes special car parts that help your car handle better and ride smoother, especially if you like racing or driving fast.

Part

suspension

"Are you too? Are you suspension first or wheels first kind of guys? I've always been suspension first"

Suspension is the part of the car that helps it ride smoothly over bumps and keeps the wheels touching the road. It also helps the car turn and stop safely.

Part

exhaust

"Really? Honestly, I've been exhaust first. I always do exhaust first before anything for some reason"

The exhaust is the pipe that lets out the car's engine smoke and sound. People often change it to make the car sound better or go faster.

Part

lowering springs

"Before wheels, I've always done suspension. Whether that be like lowering springs or coil overs"

Lowering springs are special springs that make a car sit closer to the ground. This helps the car handle better and look cooler.

Part

coilovers

"Before wheels, I've always done suspension. Whether that be like lowering springs or coil overs"

Coilovers are special shocks with springs wrapped around them. They can be adjusted to change how high or low the car sits and how stiff the ride feels.

Term

spacers

"Lowered on the stock wheels like you might be sunken. Yeah, maybe you're on spacer for a time being"

Spacers are small parts that make your wheels stick out a little more from the car. This can make the car look wider or help fit bigger wheels.

Term

aftermarket wheels

"But if you just put aftermarket wheels on your stock ride height vehicle most the time some cars can pull up most cars cannot"

Aftermarket wheels are new wheels you buy to replace the ones that came with your car. They can make your car look better or drive differently.

Term

stock ride height

"But if you just put aftermarket wheels on your stock ride height vehicle most the time some cars can pull up most cars cannot"

Stock ride height means how high the car sits from the ground when it is just like it came from the factory, without any changes.

Car

BMW M5

"... exhaust are typically well, maybe if you have an m5 with a million Most vehicles large does everythi..."

The BMW M5 is a fancy and fast car that you can use every day but still feel like a race car. It has a loud and exciting engine noise that many people enjoy. If you buy one with a lot of miles, you might need to spend more on keeping it running well.

Car

Scion Frs

"...hink about when you're like So so when I got the frs and that car for me was like I'm gonna This is t..."

The Scion FR-S is a small sports car that is fun to drive because it handles really well. It was made by two companies working together and doesn't cost too much compared to other sports cars. Many people like to change parts on it to make it faster or look cooler.

Car

Ford Mustang

"...u know Some vehicles are just like you take a v8 Mustang and you straight pipe it And then you take a tur..."

The Ford Mustang is a well-known American car that is very powerful and sounds loud. Many people like to change the exhaust to make it sound even cooler. It's a popular car for people who want a fun and strong car.

Term

turbo

"And then you take a turbo four cylinder and you straight pipe it... But a turbo essentially acts as a muffler. It'll it can quiet down the exhaust"

A turbo is a gadget that helps an engine make more power by pushing more air inside. It also makes the car quieter by softening the exhaust sound.

Term

naturally aspirated

"So like a boosted platform can sound a lot different straight piping it versus a naturally aspirated build and you just straight pipe it"

A naturally aspirated engine breathes air in on its own, without any extra help from gadgets like turbos, so it sounds and works differently.

Car

Volkswagen Jetta

"...e what you're describing with your um, your your jetta, um, where you know, it's just playing with diffe..."

The Volkswagen Jetta is a small car that looks nice and is comfortable to drive. It comes with different engine choices so people can pick what fits them best. Some older versions might have problems with the electronics or gears, so it's good to check before buying.

Term

piston rings

"Because the piston rings are faulty from the factory and they are consuming oil like I consume chinese buffets"

Piston rings are small rings around a part inside the engine that help keep the engine working properly by stopping oil from getting where it shouldn't.

Car

Hudson Hornet

"...crossing the globe. Uh, I'm in all of the cb 1000 hornet pages and"

The Hudson Hornet is an old American car from the 1950s that was very good at racing back then. It had a special design that made it different from other cars. People who like old cars and racing often talk about it.

Car

Honda CBR 1000

"2017 cbr 1000. Okay. Um Yeah, that that is weird that does make it weird because the engine has been out for a little bit"

The Honda CBR 1000 is a fast motorcycle made by Honda. The 2017 version has an engine that has been used in other bikes before, so it's not brand new.

Car

Fiat 600

"...bikes you have the thousands the leader bikes the 600s whatever you're riding forever And you want a Ho..."

The Fiat 600 is a tiny car made a long time ago that was easy to park and didn't use much gas. It helped many people get around after the war in Europe. People who like old cars often talk about it because it is cute and special.

Car

Mazda MX-5 / Miata

"...You're absolutely right. Yeah, let's go back to a Miata GRD6 like those. No, you're a thousand dude I ha..."

The Mazda Miata is a small, fun car that is easy to drive and doesn't cost too much. People love it because it handles really well and is great for beginners who want a sporty car. It's a popular choice for those who enjoy driving just for fun.

Car

Nissan Gtr

"Doesn't need to be an fd or a mark for GTR just something weird Pulsar or something some of..."

The Nissan GT-R is a very fast and powerful car that uses special technology to help it drive well in all conditions. It is famous around the world and many people like to make it even faster. It is one of the coolest sports cars you can find.

Car

Nissan Pulsar

"GTR just something weird Pulsar or something some of the coolest stuff we saw at ..."

The Nissan Pulsar is a small and simple car that many people use because it is easy to drive and reliable. Some versions are sportier and more fun. It's not as famous as some other cars but still liked by people who want something different.

Car

Acura RSX

"And those you can get to for so cheap. Yeah, we saw a couple like I think here they're accurate rsx's, but they're like Honda's in japan. Those are starting to come in now the the Integra the dc5's essentially"

The Acura RSX is a small sporty car that is known to be very reliable and fun to drive. It is similar to some other cars from the same company and is good for people who want a fast car without spending too much. Many people like to change parts on it to make it even better.

Car

Acura Integra

"...japan. Those are starting to come in now the the Integra the dc5's essentially I want one. Yeah, like stu..."

The Acura Integra is a small sporty car that is easy to drive and fun. Many people like to change parts on it to make it faster or look better. It is also known for being reliable and lasting a long time.

Car

Volkswagen Gtis

"...ey have one series wagons. They're basically like gtis with b58s in them Yeah, it's gotta be so it's it..."

The Volkswagen Golf is a small car with a hatchback design, which means the back opens up for more space. It is well made and good for daily driving. Some versions are sporty and fun to drive, making it popular with many people.

Term

hybrid

"They're like the weird like do you remember like almost like the hybrid ones? Oh the crz crz."

A hybrid car uses both gas and electricity to help it go farther without using as much fuel, which is better for the environment.

Term

K series

"Yeah, you buy the car then you drop a k series in it... Yes, you can do it for cheap."

The K series is a type of engine made by Honda that many people like because it makes cars faster and is reliable. Some people put this engine into other cars to make them better.

Car

Honda CRX

"...ded one Lowered on some wheels. It is the modern crx. Like they look great. Kind of sick actually And..."

The Honda CRX is a small and sporty car from a long time ago that is easy to drive and doesn't use much gas. Many people like to make it look cooler by lowering it and changing the wheels. It's popular with people who like to fix up their cars.

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