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

[manuelsanchez at starpower.net]

Thanks Tom, I'll make sure I compare both the passenger and drivers side lower strut housings to see if there is any difference between them.

Regards,

Manny
95.5 urS6 Avant

---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 09:58:40 -0400
>From: Tom Green <trgreen at comcast.net>  
>Subject: Re: [s-cars] Front Suspension-Lower Pinch Bolt Question  
>To: s-car list <s-car-list at audifans.com>,Manny Sanchez <manuelsanchez at starpower.net>
>
>   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)