[s-cars] Shocks and inserts - it's time to change 'em.

[Vincent Frégeac]

Fred,

I don't know how much you value your fingers but if they were mine, I
wouldn't have them work above a compressed spring to save the 30 min. of
removing and reinstalling a strut. I know spring compressors are supposedly
perfectly safe but I love my fingers. Beside, you will probably spend this
30 min. fighting with the limited space above the springs.

I suggest you invest in a 9 feetx1" square steel profile (probably 5$) and a
tie-rod end remover (15$) and remove the strut. Remove it is a big 10 min.
once the car is jacked and reinstall is 15-20min. fighting with the ball
joint if you're alone, 10 min. with helping hands. Even if you don't have
helping hands, you can manage to reinsert the ball joint pin by having it
more or less aligned then working it in with a big hammer on the strut to
align the strut so the ball joint pin become vertical and goes in. Overall,
it will probably take less time... and you'll still be able to count to ten.

One last piece of advice, when pulling the control arm down, have another
braking bar to pull out the strut so the ball joint dust cover doesn't snap
back on the lower part of the strut. It's the best way to tear it. Having
5000TQ ball joint dust cover on hand is not a bad idea either (urS dust
covers are not available separately but 5000TQ's fit well. They're just
slightly smaller on the pin side). They're cheap and it's a 5 min. safe
while-you're-at-it. Last thing you want is to pull the control arm just for
this.



Vincent.

-----Message d'origine-----
De : Fred Munro [mailto:munrof at sympatico.ca] 
Envoyé : 15 juillet 2007 22:45
À : Eric Phillips; Vincent Frégeac
Cc : s-car-list at audifans.com
Objet : RE: [s-cars] Shocks and inserts - it's time to change 'em.

Eric;

The Bilsteins will go in through the top.

I just installed a set of Sachs Advantage shocks on the rear of my UrS6. I
like them so much I've ordered a pair of front inserts. They give a nice
smooth ride with excellent control - typical good German sports sedan
handling. They are nowhere near as stiff as the Koni's I had in my UrS4 -
but then the S4 handled like a go-kart with the Konis. The S6 is much more
refined with the Sachs :).

I plan on replacing the strut bearings as well, but I was going to do it
with the struts in the car. I figure if I compress the spring and remove the
insert, I should be able to disassemble and reassemble the strut in situ.
I've never done this, so it should be an interesting weekend when I tackle
it. I plan on a full alignment after the job is complete.

Fred Munro
'97 S6

-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com]On Behalf Of Eric Phillips
Sent: July 15, 2007 2:05 PM
To: Vincent Frégeac
Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Shocks and inserts - it's time to change 'em.


Thanks for the advice, Vincent.

I also have heard that the Bilstein inserts cannot be installed
through the top hole like the OEM ones - if I choose not to replace
the strut bearing, and just the insert, what is the brand/type of the
OEM replacement?

Thanks again,

Eric

On 7/14/07, Vincent Frégeac <s.sikss at gmail.com> wrote:
> Three words of advice:
> - Torch: I don't know with the special Audi tool, but I've never managed
to
> move the inserts retaining cup with a pipe wrench without plenty of
> penetrating oil _and_ plenty of heat. Last time, a propane torch was
enough,
> but the car was 8 years old, not 13. Small oxy-acetylene can now be found
in
> almost any part store and you'll certainly find other use for it on a '94
> car.
> - ABS Sensor: Bentley says to remove it but I've never manage to remove it
> intact. Unplug it from inside the engine bay then pull the ABS cable and
> leave the sensor attached when you pull out the suspension.
> - Breaker bar: 3 feet minimum, six feet better, to pull the arm control
> down. On reinstall, four hands make the job of inserting the ball joint
pin
> back into the hub much easier.
>
> Otherwise, tools are standard. A marker can help to mark the position of
the
> bolts at the top of the suspension. This way, you can have the alignment
> almost on - mine was dead on - so the car won't have awkward reaction by
the
> time you have the alignment done.
>
> One last thing, you can't have an alignment done with tie-rod end, ball
> joint or bushing shot. So the week-end before the suspension, it may be a
> good idea to check all the suspension and direction links for play or
> cracked rubber. Sway bar bushings are easy while-you're-at-it, tire-rod
ends
> and control arms are another story. They can be easy, or they can take the
> entire week-end by themselves.
>
>
>
>
> Vincent.
>
>
> -----Message d'origine-----
> De: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] De la part de Eric Phillips
> Envoyé: 14 juillet 2007 19:05
> À: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Objet: [s-cars] Shocks and inserts - it's time to change 'em.
>
> No, not on the S-car.  But it *is* a '94 100*S* Avant.  :)
>
> C4 is C4, so I figured I'd ask the guys who know.
>
> I want to replace the inserts, strut bearings, boots and shocks.  I'm
> thinking Bilstein HD, but am willing to listen to reasons why I should
> use a different brand.  I'm going to use this as an excuse to buy the
> special Audi tool, instead of using a pipe wrench.
>
> What I need to know are all the "gotchas" from some folks who have
> BTDT.  This is the wife's car, and I don't want it down for more than
> a weekend, if I can help it.  So I want all the tools, parts, lube,
> etc. that I needfor this job BEFORE I begin.
>
> Who wants to take first crack at this one?  :)
>
> TIA,
>
> Eric
> _______________________________________________
> S-CAR-List mailing list
> S-CAR-List at audifans.com
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>
>


--
Eric

1995 UrS6 "Silber Geist"
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