[s-cars] Creeeeak, creeeeeak, creeeeeeak -Tired of those

[R. Mair]

Perhaps I spoke too quickly and didn't even bother to pull a wheel and see
for myself what the material was that we were talking about. If it's steel,
then this issue is much less benign. I've replaced dozens of aluminum upper
front links on A4's lately and I suppose that's what I had in mind. Of
course, these links on A4's can not only be noisy, they are downright weak.
Sorry for the confusion, I didn't realize we were talking about steel links.

rolf

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Munro" <munrof at sympatico.ca>
To: "R. Mair" <waves at comcast.net>; <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 10:15 PM
Subject: RE: [s-cars] Creeeeak, creeeeeak, creeeeeeak -Tired of those


> Ummm, I can't say you are wrong about aluminium components, Rolf, but my
car
> has steel suspension components - as do all of the UrS cars.
>
> With any of these modifications it is wise to be cautious and err on the
> side of safety. I would not recommend anyone modify suspension components
> unless they are comfortable with what they are doing and are willing to
> accept the consequences. Heck, a good lawyer could probably shred someone
> who got into an accident with big red brakes for using non-Audi-OEM
> components on a critical safety system, let alone someone who is drilling
> holes in suspension bits.
>
> Having said that, I do know of a large Audi dealership in a major city
where
> the techs drill and install grease fittings in all of these (steel) rear
> link outer ends they replace - I was told that it keeps the joints from
> wearing out. Personally, I would not drill a hole large enough for a
grease
> fitting in this component.
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: R. Mair [mailto:waves at comcast.net]
> Sent: April 4, 2004 11:24 PM
> To: Fred Munro; s-car-list at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Creeeeak, creeeeeak, creeeeeeak -Tired of those
>
>
> I didn't say you are anyone else did it, i'm merely replying to this
thread
> and my thoughts about the subject. I never took names either, I just noted
> the subject and what modifications are being done. I did catch someone
> claiming to have or going to drilled an 11mm hole for a grease fitting.
I'm
> assuming someones math is off, as 11mm is about the diameter of a head
bolt.
> Anyway, drilling any hole in an aluminum suspension component, wether 11mm
> or 1/16th of an inch can create an issue in many ways. It's not the actual
> hole, it's the cracks that can develop, or the fact that the fitting or
tap
> stresses out the hole due to improper installation or wrong size drill bit
> for application. I could be wrong, but I can't think of any modern day
auto,
> truck or racecar that uses a grease fitting on an aluminum suspension or
> steering component. And for good reason. Aluminum is light weight and
strong
> as long as it's not comprimised, and that means drilling. Steel? Not
nearly
> as much of an issue.
> Furthermore, I have seen this modification done on some VW's that come
into
> my shop for the annual safety inspection, and I flat out fail them.
>
> Rolf
>
>
> From: "Fred Munro" <munrof at sympatico.ca>
> To: "R. Mair" <waves at comcast.net>; <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2004 10:54 PM
> Subject: RE: [s-cars] Creeeeak, creeeeeak, creeeeeeak -Tired of those
>
>
> > That's why I didn't drill it for a grease fitting, Rolf. The hole I
> drilled
> > is about 1/16" in diameter, which isn't going to significantly weaken
the
> > joint.
> > You gotta do what make you comfortable, though.
> >
> > Fred
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> > [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com]On Behalf Of R. Mair
> > Sent: April 4, 2004 9:53 PM
> > To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> > Subject: [s-cars] Creeeeak, creeeeeak, creeeeeeak -Tired of those
> >
> >
> > I'll tell ya, you need to be very careful with this procedure. You are
> > drilling out metal that wasn't designed, nor can tolerate modifications.
> If
> > you live in the mid west where this are no potholes, then you may be OK.
I
> > would never do this on my car for the fact that you have now weakend a
> > critical suspension component. I beleive there is a way to pry open the
> boot
> > to apply the grease on the original ones, but on aftermarket I don't
know.
> > I'd rather have a little noise than have a wheel ready to fall off. Just
> my
> > 02.
>
>