ACK! need source for strut tower brace

[Tessie McMillan]

<panic mode>Blaufergnugen no longer has a source for the strut tower brace
for my 1988 80 Quattro. ! ! !</panic mode>

After reading and sifting through the TON of valuable responses I got on
my Yo' Mama tires thread and strut tower brace thread, I am confident that
where I want to start is by replacing the front strut mounts with the
urQ-type rigid ones, and to add a strut tower brace. Unfortunately, Blau
-- whom I've been ordering from successfully now for a few months -- no
longer has this brace for my car. What to do? Where else can I go?

To the folks who wrote me privately and advised that I check out my car's
suspension dynamics before throwing money at it, I wanted to reassure you
and say I'm not doing this willy-nilly. When I had my car lowered, I had
the dynamics checked out, but for street driving. My alignment was done by
our biggest local Porsche tuner, and I trust them. It is also true that
anyone driving at our local track (SIR) will encounter uneven tire wear
because of the track configuration and elevation change. In fact, the 911
I used to drive was like this. It is just that my tire wear is *more
pronounced*, and I think I can attribute that to the heaviness of the
front end and the compliance of my suspension set-up.

When I was looking at my tires for wear, I realized I was looking across
the tread but getting more excited by the fact that I had wear onto the
sidewall. I had my "street tire" thinking cap on, and not my "track tire"
thinking cap on. I was thinking totally in terms of pressure; it did not
dawn on me that camber or other alignment issues could create uneven tire
wear. Because, of course, my car had been sorted out. (uh, but for the
*street* and I think that's an important point for this car.)

As to whether I'm going to be able to dial in negative camber and still
drive my car on the street is debatable. I think it was Jeff who wrote me
to explain how I could use the 4000Q lower control arm and adjust the
camber myself when I switch from street wheels to track wheels. But I have
to admit, not having anyone to show me that process and not ever having
seen a camber adjustment performed, I don't think I'll be able to figure
that out on my own. So I'm going to start with the tops of the struts
first, and see how that affects my tire wear and overall car performance.
Then we'll see about dialling in more negative camber (different lower
control arm? Delrin bushings -- you guys want to discuss this? go right
ahead!)

Again: any sources on a strut tower brace for an '88 80 Quattro? This is
where I want to start.

Thanks again! You guys really rock -- the info I've gotten has been just
awesome. Jätte kul!

Tess
in Seattle, WA, U.S.A.