Category: Advice

Changing your Digital Speed Display Units in an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To12 Comments
Digital Speed Display in KM/H

My DB9 was repainted recently, and was in the shop for 7 weeks.  While it was there I don’t think they had it on a battery tender and the battery was low or went flat.  When that happens, your car looses many of the memory settings in the door modules, seat modules, etc.  When I got my car back though and was finally driving it home I looked down at my digital speed display and it said I was doing 120! [I would never do such a thing :>)]  Yet I was rolling along at the same speed of normal California freeway traffic.  Being a Canadian [hiding in California], I knew what was up – my speed was displaying in Km/hr rather than MPH.  I guess when the battery was low, the car forgot which units to display the speed in.  But, how to get it back to normal? Continue reading “Changing your Digital Speed Display Units in an Aston Martin DB9” →

Brake Rotor Options for your Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, Commentary7 Comments
Worn out DB9 brakes needing new rotors

Brake Rotors are an essential part of the awesome brake systems fitted to the Aston Martin DB9 and Vantage.  They are also a routine wear item, and will eventually need replaced.  You can safely expect to get 20K miles or more from a set of Rotors (unless you track your car all the time).  When it is time to replace them I wanted to share you have more options than just going to the dealer and retting a set of the original OEM brake rotors.   As I’ve discussed in my other article on “Everything you might want to know about your Aston Martin Brake System” (check it out here) our brake system is made by Brembo, and was fitted to other high performance cars of the same era like the Corvette ZR1.  This is good news for us since it has led to a few more brake rotor options to choose from. Continue reading “Brake Rotor Options for your Aston Martin DB9” →

Choosing the Right Brake Fluid for your Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, Commentary6 Comments

Brake fluid is a key ingredient in any cars brake system, even more so in an Aston Martin DB9 or Vantage.  It’s so important that flushing the brake fluid is mandated in every annual service for the DB9 (check out the 1 year service schedule here).   But which brake fluid should you buy?   I set about researching this and discovered there is one disastrous wrong answer, so we need to choose wisely.  Read on so you don’t make that mistake.

Continue reading “Choosing the Right Brake Fluid for your Aston Martin DB9” →

Brake Pad Options for an Aston Martin DB9 or Vantage

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, Commentary30 Comments
Time for new Brake Pads on my DB9

One of the few parts on an Aston Martin that we actually have some aftermarket parts available for are the Brake Pads.   The Brakes on a DB9 are actually made by Brembo, and they were fitted to more cars than the DB9 and Vantage.  They are on the Corvette ZR1, Dodge Viper, Ford GT, Camero SS, Subaru STI and more.  Basically these were the cream of the crop performance cars of the era, and fast company.

Because the Brembo design was used in larger volumes than we are used to with our limited production Aston Martins, many third party companies make brake pads.   I wanted to outline your options below so when it comes time to service your brakes you can choose a set of pads that best suits your needs. Continue reading “Brake Pad Options for an Aston Martin DB9 or Vantage” →

Bedding in EBC Brake Pads on an Aston Martin DB9 or Vantage

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To18 Comments
Glowing brake rotor on a DB9

One of the most common maintenance items on any car, the DB9 and Vantage included, is servicing your brakes.   When your service includes either changing the brake pads, the brake rotors, or both, it is necessary to properly ‘mate’ the two components together for optimal performance and, in the case of an Aston Martin, to reduce or eliminate brake squeal. Continue reading “Bedding in EBC Brake Pads on an Aston Martin DB9 or Vantage” →

Bedding in Porterfield Brake Pads on an Aston Martin DB9 or Vantage

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To4 Comments
Glowing brake rotor on a DB9

One of the most common maintenance items on any car, the DB9 and Vantage included, is servicing your brakes.   When your service includes either changing the brake pads, the brake rotors, or both, it is necessary to properly ‘mate’ the two components together for optimal performance and, in the case of an Aston Martin, to reduce or eliminate brake squeal. Continue reading “Bedding in Porterfield Brake Pads on an Aston Martin DB9 or Vantage” →

How to Remove the Grill from an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To12 Comments
My 7-bar grill looking a little tatty

The iconic grill of a DB9 is one of distinctive and signature looks of any Aston Martin.  The shape is immediately recognizable to any car enthusiast.  The early DB9’s were fitted with the distinctive 7-bar grill that has 7 horizontal bars.  Later models received an updated 5-bar grill.  Same grill shape, just fewer bars.  The 5-bar grill can even be retrofit to the earlier models.  The grill in the Vantage is similar, but absolutely not the same (8-bars and a different construction).

From what I’ve learned grills came in different finishes.  The grill in my DB9 is an anthracite grey color.   I’ve seen that a ‘polished’ finish was also available as an ~ $1,000 upgrade. Continue reading “How to Remove the Grill from an Aston Martin DB9” →

How to Remove the Engine Slam Panel from an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To1 Comment

What the heck is a ‘Slam Panel’?   When you have the engine compartment open in your DB9 and you gaze with amazement at the V12 engine, the slam panel is the large panel right in front of you that covers the area between the front bumper and the front of the engine itself.   It has the cool little plaque listing the name of the final inspector at the factory that signed off on your car (thanks Paul!). Continue reading “How to Remove the Engine Slam Panel from an Aston Martin DB9” →

Where to Apply Clear Bra Paint Protection Film on an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice9 Comments

The paint on my 14 year old Aston Martin DB9 is brittle and fragile.  If you look closely at the gorgeous Merlot Red color on the most of the front of the car, you’ll see it marred with a field of tiny chips.  I’ve had my share of cars over the years, and NEVER have I seen such a field of chips.  You’d think I drove all 42 thousand miles on gravel roads behind a truck with no mud flaps. Continue reading “Where to Apply Clear Bra Paint Protection Film on an Aston Martin DB9” →

Protecting the Headlights of an Aston Martin DB9 using Clear Bra Paint Protection Film

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To4 Comments

The Headlight assemblies in an Aston Martin DB9 are a major part of the it’s great looking front end.  We spend all sorts of time polishing and protecting the paint, but we usually ignore the headlights.  They are under constant attack from the Sun’s harmful UV rays that are trying to discolor them, and from road debris popping up to try and scratch and chip them.   My DB9 is my daily driver here in California and I am out in the sunshine and on the roads every day.  I wanted to protect them now before the damage occurs.

The solution to protecting them is quite simple actually.  We can apply a Clear Bra of Paint Protection Film (PPF) to them.  PPF is a tough, clear, UV resistant film that can be stretched and applied over the curved headlight pod.  It filters out the Sun’s harmful UV rays, and is tough and resilient enough to prevent scratches from most road debris.   The really good news is that a kit is inexpensive, and simple enough for anyone to install themselves in about an hour.  Read on to learn how. Continue reading “Protecting the Headlights of an Aston Martin DB9 using Clear Bra Paint Protection Film” →