B3 - B4 rear subframe easy to spot difference ?

[printhead]

 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).

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:47:48
-0400
From: Marco Weibel <wemaca at gmail.com>
To: Chris Semple
<chris at force5auto.com>
Cc: "<quattro at audifans.com>"
<quattro at audifans.com>
Subject: Re: B3 - B4 rear subframe easy to spot
difference ?
Message-ID:
<65343034-A909-49DF-8190-2E689B79653A at gmail.com>
Content-Type:
text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Thank you Chris,

Yes my B3 90q has the
rear sway-bar.
...and the subframe I just went to check out is without a
doubt for a B3 and in good shape. Payed $220.-
(I am surprised that B4
subs are so dis-similar as they bolt to the same body)
I will have it
sandblasted and powdercoated before installing it. 

Another thing while
I am under there:
Has anybody used the 034 rear tie rods on their car
?
They look great and cost less than a original set at the dealer or my
local parts store.
Are the ball-jointed, plastic-bushed ends holding up
to salty cold winters is my biggest concern.

Regards
 Marco