re. Bilstein install ? - Type 44, rear

[ben swann]

Dave,

Are you quite sure the rattle was not there before.

I did rear shocks and all new mounting hardware on my '87 5ktq some
time back before its untimely demise.  Part of the work was prompted by
an annoying clunk/rattle.

I had alread replaced the transverst link, which helped. After
installing the struts, I was even more annoyed that despite the great
handling improvement of the Koni Yellows, the noise was still there.

I swear I tore the car apart trying to locate it.  Finally I isolated
it to the rear subframe mounting nuts that had worked loose over time.
Not that the nuts had backed off, but tightening them a few turns made
the car sound like new again.

Check by getting under the car and have someone bounce it and see if
you don't feel movement at the fasteners where the subframe mounts.  I
am sure I experienced the same clunkiness in several 5ktq's but never
put my finger on it (literally) until then.

Ben

To: quattro at audifans.com
From: "Dave C." <conner at cfm.Ohio-State.edu>
Subject: Bilstein install ? - Type 44, rear
Cc: conner at cfm.ohio-state.edu

Patient is an 87 5ktq w/ recent complete suspension rebuild incl
Bilstein
struts/shocks and Eibach springs.  Test drive reveals a rattle in rear
end
when going over even slight bumps.  I've checked torque on all
fasteners,
emptied the trunk of everything that might rattle, etc.  The remaining
suspect is a loose top nut on the rear Bilsteins.  It isn't clear to me
how
tight this nut is supposed to be.
Bentley says 15 ft/lbs for the '87.
The Bentley for 89 and newer says 22 ft/lbs.

The instruction sheet provided with the Bilstein shock says  "nut
torque 37
+7.5 ft lb"
What does this mean?  If it means 42.5 ft lbs, why doesn't it just say
that?
42.5 ft lbs sounds unreasonably high, and I'm afraid to go there.
On the other hand, 7.5 sounds unreasonably low.

The initial install was torqued to 15 ft lbs in accordance with Bentley
Does anyone know what this torque should be?

Has anyone actually installed these things with torque of 42.5 ft lbs?

BTW ... these nuts are tightened similar to the front struts, except the
fastener sizes are different.  They require a 17 mm deep socket with the
side cut out and holding the shaft with a 5 mm hex key.

Dave C.