rear Bilstein's longer shaft problem. HELP!

[Konstantin Bogach]

Hi guys.

Time came for me to face this problem. Let me ask a question each of you. I hope
your answers will help me to make decision what to do.
Ryan, did you drill bigger hole and insert spacer in it or you used the spacer
to make tight contact (remove gap between body and top of the shaft) between the
body and the shaft?
Eyvind, does the rubber bushing you made still work (not worn, torn)?

Listers, if you can help me with some other advice, please, please do it.

Thank you.

Konstantin Bogach (waiting for help)
200tq '89
200tqw '89 (on jacks, with new struts assembledl and resting next to it)

Ryan Hoitink wrote:

> EXACTLY..... The hole in the body has nothing to do with the shocks at all.
> I recently put a set on my '92 100cs.  I cut a piece of steel pipe with the
> correct ID to the right size and used it as a spacer... it works like a
> charm, I think it's about 1.5" long.  I don't understand why this was
> necessary, because I thought that Bilstein had a little bit better
> reputation.  Anyway, that's the fix.  I know what you guys mea... it sounded
> like complete crap after I installed the first time... and it took me a long
> time to figure out what the problem was.  What a hassle.
>
> -Ryan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: quattro-admin at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-admin at audifans.com]On
> Behalf Of Eyvind Spangen
> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 3:33 AM
> To: Levent Cur
> Cc: quattro at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: Ok, Bilstein Sports Installed... BUT MASSIVE PROBLEM...
> PLEASE HELP!!!
>
> On Sat, 12 May 2001 03:36:35 -0400, you wrote:
>
> >Hi All,
> >
> >    OK I got the bilstein sports installed on my 93 100CSQ. Nad they are
> >in just fine, kinda. the front are fine but the rear had a problem with
> >the shaft being to wide for the hole in the body where I guess the top
> >of the shaft fits into.. is the hole in the body of the car supposed to
> >bea perfect fit so there is no play or does that matter? Cause it drives
> >just fine just when I hit a bump in the rear I hear a clunking noise?
> >Any clues as to what that could be?? But my main question is, the hole
> >in the body, right in the crevas up top where the rear shock/strut
> >mounts, does the hole have to be exactly the same size as the shaft to
> >keep the strut from moving side to side. I was told that the strut moves
> >from left to right and up and down up in that area, causing the car to
> >make that clunking noise? Cause the mechanic modified the hole and made
> >it wider for the new strut shaft to fit through. And now I'm supposedly
> >screwed cause the hole is too big and no strut will ever work properly
> >again! I'm so lost I need a lot of help on this one!
>
> Exactly what happened to me yesterday when fitting my Bilsteins on my
> 200q.
>
> The hole in the body is AFAIK not supposed to do anything at all, but
> with the Bilsteins being wider and longer, they'll interfere with the
> body up there. I ended up making a rubber pad (about 10 mm thick) that
> slid over the top of the shock, to make a tighter fit and to avoid the
> clunking noise.. Works like a charm here..
>
> BTW: When replacing the RR shock, I found the bushing where the camber
> adjustment rod connects to the wheel bearing housing to have about 12
> mm (!!!) play.. No wonder the car felt strange.. The dealer wants $200
> for the thing.. :-(
>
> --
> Regards,
> ES