'88 90q Rear Struts/CV Joints/Torque Settings (Long)

[Huw Powell]

> Currently replacing rear strut inserts.  Chose not to
> take off axle bolt because reassembly requires 258
> lb-ft of torque.

I guess you don't have the two piece strut assemblies?

> Question #1 - How do you get to 258?  What about the
> 360+ for the crank bolt?  Does the increased lever arm
> of a big honking wrench (48") make that much
> difference?

torque = feet * pounds.

so you can get 258 quite nicely by pushing down with 65 pounds of
pressure on a four foot pipe.

Can't figure out 65 pounds of push?  push stright down with pipe
parallel to ground, standing on a bathroom scale.  Whne your weight has
dropped by 65 pounds, you're there.

the pipe also works nicely for "torque then turn more" specs.

> BTW, I was able to compress the spring in-place enough
> to rotate the entire strut assembly out of the wheel
> well to disassemble the strut/insert.  PITA.  Would
> like a more elegant solution (big wrench for bolt or
> miracle CV joint unsticking tool) for the other side.

I'd think one impact socket, and a decent breaker bar ought to be
enough, with the old 4' pipe as a backup.  Not expensive, and certainly
more fun than messing around with spring compressors in a wheel arch.

--
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/