What's this rubber part? rear transverse link (outer ball join)

[Bernie Benz]

Is the boot on the outer ball joint of the transverse link actually
fractured or, as it appears in your picture, just deformed?  If the latter,
just relube both the inner and outer ball joints by injecting lube (I use
GL-5 gear oil) with a hypo needle thru the boot.  This deformation was most
likely caused by your dumb wrench who tightened the retaining bolt with the
suspension at full rebound, rather than at static ride height.

If the boot is fractured, the Audi fix is a new transverse link.  Very
expensive!  But there are lots of these parts in the AWs, any 44 chassis
car.  If you wish to replace just the outer ball joint, remember that the
two joints are keyed together within the camber adusting coupling nut, thus
must be removed together.

Bernie

> From: CL Wong <montesawong at yahoo.com>
> Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2004 19:11:48 -0700 (PDT)
> To: 200q <200q20v at audifans.com>, AudiFans <quattro at audifans.com>
> Subject: What's this rubber part? rear transverse link (outer ball join)
> 
> Changing my rear pads on the 200Q20v this weekend and
> found a torn rubber thing at the outer end of the
> transverse link.
> 
> The part number from the other side is: 030 080 046
> 012. 
> 
> Bentley makes it look like the outer balljoint
> bushing, ETKA makes it look like some mysterious extra
> part with an unknown part number.
> 
> More importantly, can I replace this by simply
> unbolting the outer ball joint from the wheel bearing
> housing and replace or is it something more dificult
> requiring a press and a wheel alignment?
> 
> picture posted here (but the audiworld hosted images
> require some fudging on the part of the viewer to get
> rid of the D9D or denied msg):
> 
> http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12803/transverselink.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> thanks
> 
> 
> 
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