[s-cars] Front CV Joint reassembly

Thu Jun 30 10:19:21 PDT 2011

Thanks Dave......I was able to accomplish the task with the help of a buddy and Peter's ratchet strap method, however I still have some further suspension work to do later this summer/fall, so will take note of your tips.

Couldn't do this stuff without the list!  Thanks!

Jim Fleischer
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: djdawson2 at aol.com 
  To: p.schulz at verizon.net ; jim at almgt.com 
  Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com 
  Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 10:36 AM
  Subject: Re: [s-cars] Front CV Joint reassembly

  Guys,
  You do NOT have to go through such gymnastics to do this.  The last part that you should assemble is the swaybar into the control arms.  Do all of the control arm and ball joint assembly before reinserting the swaybars ends into the "eyes" of the control arms.

  The key here is that the distance between the two tips of the swaybar is greater than the distance between the two "eyes" on the control arms.  This makes it necessary to pull the tips of the swaybar towards each other to get the second swaybar end into the eye on the control arm.

  Typically everyone is doing this with the car jacked up, and the suspension dangling with the springs completely unloaded.  This is the worst case scenario for this work, because due to the arc that the controls arms are swinging through, the eyes on the control arms are now as close together as they could possibly be, which is exactly what you DON'T want... because now you have to compress the swaybar even further to get in into the control arm eyes.

  However, if you set the wheel hubs onto stands or ramps such that the weight of the car is compressing the suspension much like if it were on the ground, you have now put the control arms in a position that is nearly parallel with the ground, thus maximizing the distance between the eyes, and allowing you to fairly easily insert the swaybar's ends into the control arm eyes.

  Done this way, this is a very simple one man job.  BTDT many times.

  Good luck,
  Dave

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Peter Schulz <p.schulz at verizon.net>
  To: Jim Fleischer <jim at almgt.com>
  Cc: s-car-list <s-car-list at audifans.com>
  Sent: Thu, Jun 30, 2011 5:07 am
  Subject: Re: [s-cars] Front CV Joint reassembly

Jim:

I had to use a ratcheting nylon cargo strap to pull the swaybar towards the 

subframe so I could engage the lower control arm ball joint into the strut 

assembly.

Not to mention my >200 lbs on the end of a bending 6ft pry bar to lower the 

control arm (yes definitely helps to have another person setting the ball joint 

before you release the lower control arm).

Without my friend Mike S helping, not sure how I would have done this (I had 

replaced the front struts with powder coated ones from Brian Weldon, S6+ springs 

and Bilstein Sports, new wheel bearings etc.)

-Peter

On Jun 30, 2011, at 12:30 AM, Jim Fleischer wrote:

> Hey guys,

> 

> Got my drivetrain together and works smooth as silk!  Was feeling pretty 

pleased with myself so I thought, what the hell, I'll take care of the split 

right front CV joint boot.  All came apart fairly easily, joint was in good 

shape, so cleaned it, regreased and put back together.  I'm having a difficult 

time setting it back on the spline shaft all the way, however.  How do I know it 

is where it needs to be?  Having a difficult time with getting the control arm 

back on the strut assembly, so I'm thinking I don't have it on all the 

way......been hammering the sh*t out of it, but it won't budge any further.  If 

it matters any, I did not remove the axle, I just separated the control arm from 

the strut assembly to get at the CV joint.  Any tips appreciated!

> 

> Feels like the whole driveshaft endeavor was easier than this BS!

> 

> Thanks!

> 

> Jim Fleischer

> '95 urs6 avant, smooth running driveshaft, bitch of a CV joint boot.

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-Peter Schulz

Chelmsford Ma, USA

http://www.naaclub.org/

1995.5 S6 Avant Emerald/Ecru

1995.5 S6 Avant Silver/Platinum

1991 90Q 20v Q Red

1991 90Q 20v Indigo

1991 CQ silver  (eS2 recipient) 

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