[s-cars] Front Suspension-Lower Pinch Bolt Question

[Tom Green]

Manny,

The ball joint has a groove that the pinch bolt fits in to retain the  
ball joint in
position.  If the joint is too high, the bolt will not fit in place.   
Look the strut
over carefully for wear or damage.

Let's just put the ABS sensor question here too.  The sensor should not
touch the axle ring or you will wear it out quickly.  Check the copper  
retainer
in the opening for the sensor.  It should be holding the sensor snugly  
so it can
be positioned just clearing the ring.

Tom '95 S6
          '95.5 S6 avant
Knoxville, TN

> -----Original Question-----
> Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 08:34:06 -0400
> From: Manuel Sanchez <manuelsanchez at starpower.net>
> Subject: [s-cars] Front Suspension - Lower Pinch Bolt Question
> To: s-car-list list <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <0C533043-FBEC-4339-B9E1-F97E22549B68 at starpower.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Fellow S-heads,
>
> I am in the process of re-installing the hub/strut uprights back into
> the S6 and I have a question regarding the lower control arm ball
> joint with regard as to where it should be located for proper
> tightening.
>
> One one side of the car the ball joints male end is crammed into the
> female portion (OK,OK, this is an easy softball for your knucklehead
> jokes) of the strut housing upright further than the other other
> side. The side that is penetrating deeper (ducks and covers) would
> seem to interfere with the axle, in that the tip of the ball joint
> shaft is touching a portion of the axle. The other side of the car
> does not have such deep penetration. I did not pry this joint apart
> during removal (which does not mean that someone else did not I
> suppose).
>
> So the big question is, how far should the lower control arms
> balljoint shaft stick out (if at all) above the strut housing
> uprights joint.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 08:45:04 -0400
> From: Manuel Sanchez <manuelsanchez at starpower.net>
> Subject: [s-cars] ABS Sensor - front axle
> To: s-car-list list <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <95441E4B-4C11-4028-B1A2-5EC4199DA620 at starpower.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Fellow S-heads,
>
> I am re-installing the front ABS Sensors and the instructions say to
> push it in as far as it will go. When I do this when the splined axle
> is not inserted into the hub, I can't get the axle to insert properly
> because it is interfering with the toothed ring that it using to read
> slippage (i.e its pushed in too far). If I install the axle first,
> then insert the ABS sensor as far as it will go (i.e. makes contact
> with the toothed ring) then there seems to be about 1/8 of an inch or
> so of a gap between the "end" of the abs sensor and the hole in the
> strut housing into which I am inserting it (in other words, it looks
> like I should be able to push it in more).
>
> I did not remove the ABS sensors when I shipped the uprights for
> service, as I had many posts of how they break easily, so I had just
> disconnected them inside the engine compartment and sent them in-
> place on the strut housing upright. When I got the strut uprights
> back the shop had removed the Sensors from the housing.
>
> Is there supposed to be some sort of spacer or washer between the
> "end" of the ABS sensor and the Strut Housing Upright?
>
> Do I just push it in as far as it will go (i.e. it makes contact with
> the toothed ring) and just let the toothed  ring wear a new groove
> into the tip of the ABS sensor?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Manny
>
> 95.5 ur S6 Avant (almost done with front suspension work)