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How to Upgrade Your Hand-me-down Auto to Make It Look Like A New Car According to Dubshop Automotive Shop

Get five tips on transforming your beat-up ride into a new car!

By: Viktor Austria | June 07, 2022
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Dubshop, automotive shop, car upgrade

Your car needs to keep up, whether it’s just a tune-up or a full-on systemic upgrade.

Images: Dubshop Philippines Facebook page

There’s no shame in owning an old automobile. The charm shines whether you’re cruising in your family’s old Corolla or driving a second-hand Volvo station wagon. Having an old car even pays off at times: in some cases, old cars are more fuel-efficient and more cost-efficient compared to their modern counterparts. You can give daddy’s old and decrepit automobile some much-needed muscle and make it perform just like a new car by giving it a car upgrade at Dubshop automotive shop.

If buying a new car isn’t on the table just yet, you have to do with what you have. In time, however, performance issues will be more palpable. Your struts aren’t as smooth, your bearings start to wear out, and your brakes bite slower. The risk of accidents might also get higher the longer you put off getting the needed car upgrade.


1. Update the paint.



Dubshop - Automotive Shop - Upgrading Car - Yoorekka Philippines, Dubshop

Matte is now a popular finish and is just as easy to maintain.


Sometimes, it’s not about what’s under the hood. Your old car may not have performance problems, but it might be the peeling paint job that bothers you. While good looks never last, you can bring your car’s youth back by taking it to Dubshop automotive shop.

First off, you don’t just want to re-paint your entire car for your card upgrade. Stripping, grinding, or sanding the paint off is the first step. Evaluate your car’s coat; if it has simple nicks and notches, you can quickly fix them with scratch removers and suction tools. If it’s battered with bumps or grazed repeatedly, consider taking it to the automotive shop and stripping its body bare. Fix dents, and replace panels that have begun to rot. While it’s plain, you’d want to underseal your car’s arches and undercarriage.

Once you’re done, apply your etch primer and then a high-build primer to your car’s shell. Sand it off gently before proceeding with painting the body. For your car upgrade, choose your desired color, and start spraying. Don’t forget to apply some polish and wax for a long-lasting luster on your car.


2. Get new lights.



Dubshop - Automotive Shop - Upgrading Car - Yoorekka Philippines, automotive shop

You can also install LED light bars on the roof of your car for better visibility.


Communication is vital when you’re on the road. Being able to signal when you’re stopping or turning can significantly reduce the risk of accidents. That’s why it’s vital for all your car’s lights to still be responsive despite their age. If one of your lights gets dimmer, take your car to Dubshop and replace both lights immediately. Postponing their replacement can lead to confusion on the road—other drivers may think your high beams are on—and cause road hazards.

You can also get HID or LED headlights for your car upgrade and better performance. These shine much brighter and offer better night-time vision than factory-issued halogen lights. They’re also more energy-efficient. However, this will require retrofitting your additional assemblies instead of a simple replacement job.

Lastly, old cars don’t usually leave the shop with fog lights. Consider fitting your car with a pair if you often drive through bad weather or high altitude areas where fog is frequent.


3. Revamp your car's interiors.



Dubshop - Automotive Shop - Upgrading Car - Yoorekka Philippines, car upgrade

You can also install an entertainment system, GPS navigation, subwoofers, and dash cams.


What if you can achieve that new-car look with your current car at Dubshop automotive shop? Replace your worn-out seats with crisp, new leather wraps for that luxurious look. Take out the old floor mats; replace them with custom-fitted vinyl or rubber liners to last longer and are easier to clean.

Take your car to Dubshop to upgrade the custom dials of your dash instrument with new chrome digital dials for more accessible readings. You can also enhance your dashboard with carbon fiber or wood grain trim kits. While you're at it, swap your old steering wheel with new carbon fiber or brush steel wheels. For a better grip, add a leather or rubber mesh steering wheel cover, too. In the end, it’s all up to you how comfortable and luxurious you’d want your interior to look.


4. Upgrade your braking system.



Dubshop - Automotive Shop - Upgrading Car - Yoorekka Philippines, Dubshop

You should also upgrade to silicon-based brake fluid to avoid sludge build-up and overheating.


When upgrading your brake system, you’re looking at four parts for your car upgrade: the brake rotors, the brake calipers, the brake pads, and the brake lines. Most original equipment brake rotors are blank, leading to overheating due to excess friction. You can upgrade to a slotted or drilled disc for friction efficiency and a more ventilated system. Meanwhile, the brake calipers are the pistons that apply pressure to the brake pads. Upgrading to larger or multi-piston calipers increases your stopping power and lessens the chance of overheating.

Responding both to the calipers and the rotors, your brake pads can be worn out by the constant friction and compression. You can either upgrade to full-metal pads for intensive or high-speed braking as in racing or to a ceramic one for durability. Lastly, you can upgrade your fluid lines from a factory-issued rubber material to a more robust steel-braided material.


5. Spring for tire upgrades.



Dubshop - Automotive Shop - Upgrading Car - Yoorekka Philippines, automotive shop

Large tires with a near-square perimeter base tend to skid during turns, so choose wisely.

Image: Dubshop Philippines

Your brake system is only as good as your tires. Bring your car to the automotive shop to upgrade your tires if they’re starting to bald or have been stuck in repeatedly by road debris. Car Upgrade almost often means having to choose a more lightweight wheel. A lighter wheel means less un-sprung weight or weight not suspended by your chassis. This will cause better steering precision, better acceleration and deceleration, and greater braking efficiency. You can opt for forged or flow-formed wheels, which are more potent and have better load capacity. However, they tend to cost more.

Car upgrade can also mean choosing a larger wheelset than stock or plus sizing. Note that while choosing a more extensive set means better road grip and a sportier look, it can also mean stricter control on the road.

Choosing the right tire and wheel with the accurate hub size, offset, and backspacing for your car upgrade can be a daunting task. Installing is another problem altogether, too. Make it easier by driving to Dubshop Pro Offroad's service shops and letting their expert care work for you. Specializing in aftermarket off-road wheels and tires, Dubshop can provide the best fitments for your car, whether it’s a rugged four-by-four or your family’s old SUV.

They have wheels in every hub size, offset, finish, and color across industry-favored brands such as Evo, GTurismo, Mayhem, Ad Wheels, Panther Wheels, etc. They also sell tire units from famous makers like Maxtrek, BF Goodrich, Raiden, Winrun, and Sumaxx, perfect for highway, mud, or all-terrain driving. With service shops in Makati and Quezon City and in other parts of the Philippines, it wouldn't be hard to get the parts you need.


Dubshop - Automotive Shop - Upgrading Car - Yoorekka Philippines, automotive shop

Dubshop’s branch in Batangas

Image: Dubshop Facebook page

You can find Dubshop service shops all over the country, specifically in Metro Manila, Batangas, Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. You can visit Dubshop Elite in the metro at 720 Banawe Street, Quezon City, or Dubshop Pro Offroad at 3682 Bautista Street, Makati City. You can also contact them at 0917 6730522 or 0917 1890934 or visit https://www.dubshop.ph/ to learn more about their services.

June 2022 Update: The Quezon City branch is open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, while the Makati branch is permanently closed.


With the help of Dubshop, upgrading your hand-me-down car doesn't have to be overwhelming. Drive to any of its locations, and give your old car the upgrade it deserves!


Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more car care tips!


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About Viktor Austria
Viktor would love to receive an extra hour a day as a Christmas gift. That way, he won’t have to struggle over splitting his 24 hours among making brand copies and campaigns, writing children’s stories, going to the gym, commuting around Taguig, and feeding his two overweight cats. He hates the hustle culture, that’s why he’s thankful for friends who have time to spare on weekends, preferably over spicy ramen and cold bottles of beer.
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Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.
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