[s-cars] Lower control arm 'snapping' at ACNA track day & other track failures

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

Nathan:
Just FYI, the control arm on an 80q is a stamped two piece unit.  The 5ktq>urs uses a oriented cast method that's kryptonite in comparison to the 80/90 chassis.

SJ
In a message dated 5/6/2003 1:14:14 PM Eastern Standard Time, belikeh20 at attbi.com writes:

> socket the same size as the bushing and hammered out the old bushing and
> re-installed the new one.  Apparently, this causes a lot of stress on the
> metal and there is a seam on the metal that wraps around the bushing and it
> just ripped open.  (I have since learned you can drill out the middle and
> then use a hacksaw to saw the sleeve out method.)
>
> I was going down a long straight into turn 1 and started braking & noticed
> something strange & pulled over.  I had to have the car towed 100 miles for
> about $200.  I can't remember the price but it was cheap and my mechanic
> just ordered a new a-arm with OEM bushings, with out having to go through
> the problems I did of installing bushings.  My '88 90Q isn't running & I've
> had suspensions problems from the previous owner's install, where the shock
> towers are dented on the top with the shocks almost pushing/busting through.
> We had to weld reinforcements to solve the problem.
>
> The a-arm failure was definitely due to my ghetto/mickey mouse/jimmy rig
> method of r&r a-arm/control arm bushings.
>
> Here is a list my Audi failures at ACNA/QCUSA track events since joining in
> 1994.
>
> '88 90Q
> 1) 1-month old tire chunked so bad the belt was showing. (Due to suspension
> set-up & not rotating the tires during the day)  Bremerton
> Raceway
> 2) Control Arm snaps. Bremerton Raceway