B3 - B4 rear subframe easy to spot difference ?

[John Larson]

On 10/31/2013 12:34 PM, printhead wrote:
>   The B3 - B4 are fundamentally quite different cars, especially in the
> rear. As Chris has already said, the rear susp subframes are not
> compatible. The difference is due to how Audi went about creating a more
> usable trunk area for the B3. The B3 quattros are famous for barely
> usable trunks, and it stems from the fact that the rear suspension on a
> B3 quattro...is the front suspension from a B3 fwd mirrored to the back.
> Brilliant, but leaves little room for a trunk, especially when you mix a
> fuel tank in there.
>
> Audi fixed it by scrapping the rear suspension
> whole-hog, and totally redesigning it to get the struts and pivot points
> WAY out the the outer edge of the car, and widening the car as well. It
> is a much more modern design, and it shows. B4 are positively planted in
> corners. As a result, it doesn't share a single piece of hardware, or
> measurement, with the B3 rear sub-frame.
>
> I have always suspected that
> the design was moved directly to the A4, but the strut inserts in the B4
> do not have the same PN as those in the B5, so as a result buying new
> strut inserts for the rear on a B4 is nearly impossible, and expensive.
> (Anybody have any wisdom to share on that front? I have bought Konis
> $$$. Love them, but $$$.)
>
> Tom LH
> Loving my 1995 90 quattro, but
> starting to lose the battle on parts availability (Thank you Chris for
> your help over the years).
>
>
"Trunk"?  It's not a second glove box?

ohn