[Vwdiesel] minor tragedies--A4 suspension work

[Shalyn Shourds]

Yesterday, I started in on the TDI front end job.  First step was to 
remove the aluminum skid plate.  The front of the plate mounts up to 
these tubes bolted to the frame.  I was laying under one of those 
removing the bolt in the bottom of the tube when I noticed a few drops 
of water.  Then the bolt came out and I realized that the whole tube was 
full of nasty, brown/grey water.  It all went straight through my nose 
into my sinuses.

I'll just leave it at saying that this is something you want to avoid.

Sadly, this was not the most flustrated I've been on this project.  I'm 
trying to replace the ball joints, struts, complete rack, and control 
arm bushings.  I recently did this on my A2, but it didn't take me long 
working on my A4 Jetta to realize that I wasn't in Kansas anymore.  I 
did break down and order the special "spreader" socket for the clamp 
that goes around the strut.  I'll see more about that when it arrives.  
Just prying at it and beating the steering knuckle with a hammer wasn't 
getting me there.  And, since I'm basically nocturnal, I didn't figure 
my neighbors were thrilled about the banging and screamed unintelligible 
curses late into the night.

On my A2, I just pulled the axle shaft from the hub and removed the 
whole works.  Am I correct in thinking that this one doesn't just pull 
off?  I keep seeing references to a special puller......  I couldn't get 
the nut loose anyways.  I had all 135lbs bouncing on my breaker bar and 
I didn't even get it to creak.

I'd actually called a local shop about doing this job for me, I was 
dreading it so much.  Oddly, they never called me back.  I guess I know 
why--they didn't want to do it either.



-Shalyn