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

[Ken Keith]

So, when I do the rear suspension (put Bilstein sports and Eibach
1529.140's on), do I need to loosen the transverse link, and tighten
it at the new static height?  Sounds like a yes.

If the rear suspension is anything like the front that I did on
Saturday, then it's not going to come down much at all.  The front
still has huge wheelwell gap with the stock tires.  It almost seems
like it increased.  But I haven't driven it yet to impart any
settling.

Should I have done something like that with the front?  I know the
Type 85's require the control arm bushings to be tightened at static
height when lowering the car or they will die quickly.

BTW, I was looking at the Bently manual for the older 5kq's, and it
indicated a revision change to the transverse links.  One apparently
has a bent section and the other is straight.  That's all I remember.

Thanks,

Ken

Bernie Benz b.benz at charter.net wrote:

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