DONE! Finally! '875KCSTQ Rear Susp.

[Alex Kowalski]

Well, after all this time I finally got the rear suspension back together on
the '87 5KCSTQ.  Long story about why it took so long, but the main reason
is that I'm starting a new business and have had almost no time to work on
the car.

In any case, I replaced:

Rear trapezoidal arm bushings
Parking brake cables
Rear brake (flexible) lines
Calipers, rotors and pads
Assorted fasteners

Frankly, the toughest part of the job logistically was getting the parking
brake cables hooked up properly to the balancer at the end of the
handle.   Working underneath the car in the cramped confines above the
driveshaft takes a little creative wrangling to get those suckers on.  The
good part is that I managed to find the point at which the balancer was
almost in exactly the right place, so I only had to adjust the parking
brakes about two turns on the threaded rod.

I also renewed the two long, 105MM bolts that go through the hub carrier
from the front, and I bought a new set of four serrated 17mm hex flange nuts
for the forward mounts.  I used ATE Super Blue brake fluid and a pressure
bleeder on the rear calipers -- boy:  I'll NEVER do that job again the old
way.

I just got back from the test drive and it made a very positive, noticeable
difference in the ride and handling of the car.  I regained the ~1/2 inch of
ride height that I had lost on the right rear, and the car sits at the
proper height at all four corners now.  And the best part is the improvement
in the handling and the lack of any kind of noise or clunking over bumps --
before you could feel the car squirm in transitions and you could hear and
feel the trap. arms moving around over chuckholes.  Now it feels like new.
The fact that it took me so long to finish this isn't really an indication
of the job's difficulty.  Most people on the Quattro list can handle this
job in a couple of days, tops, given the parts and a place to work.

A few "after" pics. are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kowalskirsflickr/sets/72057594120334653/

Alex Kowalski
'87 5KCSTQ -- Back and Running -- WOOHOO!
'86 5KCSTQ - New Engine on A Stand downstairs