[s-cars] Re: a very rough Audi weekend

[Marc Swanson]

> Glad you're O.K.  You're right, it could have been
> worse.  Imagine hitting the wall at 50-70 mph.


almost did.  I came about 6 inches from spanking the wall.


>  Please
> use shouldered bolts.  And HARD ones.  Also the groove
> on the ball joint can get worn.


I've got 4 OE bolts on order.  I'm still confident in my selection of
stainless for other stuff.. but I thought I was pretty careful about
when and where I used non-stock bolts.  Clearly this is not an
acceptable location for one.


>  I check them and
> rotate 180* or to a nice clean spot.

yeah, I'll evaluate the other ones when I go to replace the bolts.  Too
bad I'm doing the inspection under these circumstances...


>  Also I use
> Loctite blue on my taper/press fits.  Ball joint and
> tie-rod ends.

I went one step further and used a nylock style lock nut.  They seem to
work very well.


>   The nice shiny steel doesn't rust, they
> won't pop out and they come apart easily with a hand
> wheel puller.  I don't use my pickle forks much
> anymore.  They're too hard on the boots.  And metal.
> Again, glad you're alright and the damage isn't too
> bad.

yeah, I'll count this as a learning experience and be glad that it is
all fixable.  Plus all my skin is still where it belongs...


> nice car BTW

Thanks Jim.  I'll use this incident as an excuse to fix all those dents
I've been meaning to pop out while it is at the body shop anyway....


--
-Marc
87' 4ktq
88' 90q
www.mswanson.com/audi