what effect does strut-tower brace have on '88 80 Quattro? (a nd > > other stuff)

[Darringer, Chris]

Tess,

As you already know, I am having a very similar tire chunking problem with
my '90 80q.  I don't think I have a solution to the problem, but I wanted to
record some of my observations on some of the variables that may be
involved.

I used to have 195 60 14s on my car (Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloce), with a 320
treadwear rating.  I never had a chunking problem with these tires after
almost 70k miles.  I then bought 205 50 15s (Dunlop Sport 8000s) and by the
third track event both front tires were down to cords.  I now have 205 55
15s (Goodyear Eagle F1 steel) with a 320 treadwear rating, and I have some
very minor chunking but otherwise no major problems.

I still think there is some fundamental cause in the suspension of this car,
but the only thing I can conclude from my experience is that lower tire
profile and softer tire compounds may be contributing factors.

What about the tires themselves?  I don't think the make of tire has
anything to do with this.  Many people on this list and in the Q club are
using the tires we destoryed without similar problems.

What about the suspension?  Well, you have a lower suspension than I do, and
a larger sway bar, and the problem persists.  I had my suspension looked
over several times, and even though the car has 166k on the odometer, there
were no obvious problems with worn bushings, etc.  I described the problem
to a local Audi tuner who has a very good reputation for tuning 80s and 90s,
and his recommendation was to install Koni coilovers.  He didn't seem too
enthusastic about the larger sway bar idea, claiming that the stock bar was
big enough.

What am I going to do?  Stick with 55 profile tires with relatively high
treadware ratings.  Maybe some day I will get frustrated by the performamce
limitations of doing this, but by then I will have saved up enough money to
buy a new Audi.

Chris
'90 80q


> From: "Tessie McMillan" <tessmc at drizzle.com>
> To: "Quattro at Audifans. Com" <quattro at audifans.com>
> Subject: what effect does strut-tower brace have on '88 80 Quattro? (and >
> other stuff)
> Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 11:18:59 -0700
>
> Hi listers!
> 
> All these problems I've had with street (and now competition) tires on my
> Quattro 	at SIR -- where I chunk JUST one tire: the right front --
have
> started me thinking about any more things I can do to stiffen the front of
> my car to even out tire wear. I have to admit I learned to drive on a
> ...
> Does anyone have any comments on this? I DO have Blaufergnugen's 22mm
>