struts

[Tihol Tiholov]

> Changed my struts and my steering wheel is now off center. (no, I did not
mark the strut mount nuts before removing.) Car seems to ride just fine.
just the wheel is off center.  Any thoughts on how to fixie? Btw: using the
strut tool is great.

As Peter said, alignment might be needed and that might fix it.
What follows is for DIY, cash saving types, done at the Haphazard Cutting
and Welding shop (me and my friend Stephan, formerly on this list):
On a 5KQ we installed the new struts with max negative camber - not that
much negative's possible - tops were mounted all the way in.  Had same on my
former Typ 89 on all 4 wheels with no ill effects.  I believe toe is 0 on
most cars nowadays, including Typ 44, so you can attach 6-7-8-foot long
straight poles or equivalent and measure between them right in front of the
wheels and then at the farther point to make sure the distance is the same.

Re: steering wheel straightening - Assuming you've never changed the
steering wheel-to-column position:
1. Center the steering wheel.
2. Raise car, take front wheels off - can be done 1 at a time, BTDT many
times.
3. You'd have to shorten 1 steering (tie-rod) arm and lengthen the opposite
1 the same amount.  For instance, if your steering wheel was too far left
and had to be turned to the right to reach center, you'd have to shorten the
left (driver's in most of the world) side and lengthen the right (pass.)
side the same amount.  Just imagine what happens with the steering arms,
when turning the steering wheel.
I'd start with 1/2 a turn on each side and several attempts might be
required with test drives in between - took me 3 attempts about a month ago
to get it perfect.  Longest time is spent loosening the tie-rods' nuts,
holding the tie-rod ends in place, and heat is frequently required.  Some
hand skin might be sacrificed, too, so mechanic's gloves are a good idea.
Large wrenches - 21 mm or larger - might be needed, also a vise-grip to hold
the tie-rod, if the smallish 13 mm or so keeps coming off.  Beware of
rounding the nuts.
If the above is too much to follow, alignment in a shop is best to be done.
I'd ask for a computer print-out from the shop, when they say they're done
to make sure angles are within spec - not many Audi's in these parts (West
Canada).  A tech, who still works at the same shop here, told me that the
nearest Subaru dealer was 100 kms away and he had to order from there
tie-rods, because those on my car were frozen.  This was after he came from
under my Typ 89.  All alignment's done at home since.  Hopefully your
mileage will vary.