Rear control arm...

[Bernie Benz]

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The other rear suspension problem that I've had has been an elusive squeek
on one side of the '87 5KTQ at about 200K.  It turned out to be the outer
ball joint of the upper control arm, very loose.  A real bitch to isolate.
Found a good used one (these old cars don't deserve new parts) and relubed
both on both sides by injecting GL-5 gear oil into the joints with a hypo
needle.  Good for another 150K!

Bernie

From: Dean Bredenbeck <djb at multiverse.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 17:39:20 -0500
To: Bernie Benz <b.m.benz at prodigy.net>
Subject: Re: Rear control arm...


Thanks for the reply. Just to be clear, I hope we're both talking about the
rear trapizoidal arm. In any case, browsing the archives, it looks like you
haven't had many problems at all with the rear suspension bushings.
Cleveland roads must be much worse. My trapizoidal arm front bushings are
seriously deformed and are definitely the source of the "clunk"....Bought
the inner bushings before taking it apart so they're going in too...

BTW, thanks for contributing so much to the list. Been mostly lurking since
early 2000 and appreciate your comments....

> The control arm has two pivot bushings, front and inner, both different.
> In the past I have had to replace the inner ones only.

> Don't fix it if it ain't broke!

> Bernie


Bernie Benz wrote:
In the lifes of 3 type 44 chassis cars I have only had one inner rear
bushing fail.  Check them out, but DFI if IAB!

Bernie

From: Dean Bredenbeck <djb at multiverse.com> <mailto:djb at multiverse.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 14:36:19 -0500
To: 200q20v at audifans.com
Subject: Rear control arm...

Have '91 200-20V with 140K miles, Bilsteins and extra stiff lowering
springs(H&R 29771's). Car has not been tracked but might do a driver's
school in the future. For several months been hearing the standard
complaints from rear control arms and have the driver's side rear
control arm off now. Inner bushing looks ok (planning to replace
anyhow), front bushings (two 443-511-247D's inside of 3 bolt hole
bracket) are very deformed and washer on control arm side of bushing
shows evidence of metal-to-metal  contact/movement. I'm assuming the
front bushing wear is standard old age with flex in old inner bushing
probably contributing to fro
nt bushing wear.

So.....a few questions:

Already have OEM inner bushings and am planning to order OEM
replacements for front bushings. Are there higher performance (yet cost
effective) substitutes for the rear control arm rubber stuff that
anyone's had success with?  Or,  is this a non-issue in overall vehicle
performance/longevity?

Plenty of rubber components back there. Any others (including non-rubber
stuff) I should replace while I'm at it?(insert "fat wallet" comments
here:_________________)

Any comments on re-using bushing related fasteners (after cleaning of
course) and is "blue" loctite a sufficient threadlock for this application?


Sorry for the long post. Couldn't find a comprehensive discussion on
this in Chris Miller's or Scott Mockry's sites or in the list archives.
Thanks .......Dean


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