90q Back Together Again!

[Jim Dupree]

When I got my 85 4kq it wandered all over the road and had lots of steering
play. I assumed it was the inner tie rod rubber bushings like I had done on
my 84. I bought a new set of complete tie rods. When I went to replace the
tie rods I discovered that the bracket the inner tie rod end bolt to was
loose on the rack. I tightened the 2 bolts and then to 2 nuts on the bottom
side and no more play. The new tie rods are still sitting in their boxes.
Worth a look!
Especially before buying parts :)
Jim
1984 4kq
1985 4kq
1985 5kt

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Huw Powell" <audi at humanspeakers.com>
To: "David Thoresen" <david at epicfoto.com>
Cc: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 11:11 AM
Subject: Re: 90q Back Together Again!


>
> >>> However, it definitely seems there is something wrong with the
> >>> steering, the steering wheel it still stays slightly left after
> >>> making a left turn... and vice versa after making a right turn...
> >>>  Its VERY scary on the freeway when the steering wheel wont
> >>> "turn" the car in this play area.. (about 10* either way)
>
> > There are no noises when this happens... just a quiet "slide"
> > Braking/accelerating doesn't have any effect... It is quite scary at
> >  speed and turning around a bend when the steering wheel is a bit
> > left and making a right turn;  it wont start turning till the
> > steering wheel is at least at 10 degrees  to the right... in that
> > time it feels the car is "sliding" to the left... was hoping it was
> > only the subframe bushings... but removing and replacing that didn't
> > help...
>
> Hmm, you mean it was doing this *before* the SF bushing job?
>
> I guess that makes me asking if you remembered to bolt the subframe back
> to the car irrelevant...
>
> > Then that is not likely the problem.  On mine, one of the bearings
> > had completely disintegrated.
>
> I am also of the opinion that it is not the strut bushings - unless they
> are missing...
>
> > I surmise that there is something that is binding the strut and
> > spring at the top.  Perhaps the spring is not seated correctly.  I
> > could imagine and incorrect mount/bearing binding somehow.  You might
> > want to double check that all this is proper.
>
> While I can't even really think of what could be causing the problem
> (although, I did agree with the possibility that a ball joint was not
> secured properly in a control arm), it sounds like this car needs its
> entire front end carefully taken apart to look for broken/loose parts.
> Before it goes on the road again...
>
> > With weight on the ground, have someone move the steering back and
> > forth and see if something is shifting.
>
> Definitely.  Somehow, that has *got* to help pinpoint it.  Get in, do
> that +/- 10 degree thing that does not turn the wheels and see where the
> motion "vanishes."  Does the rack move?  Do the tie rods?  Do the strut
> housings?  Does something that *shouldn't* move, move?
>
> -- 
> Huw Powell
>
> http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi
>
> http://www.humanthoughts.org/
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