Re: Replacing shocks and struts

[shields@tembel.org (Michael Shields)]

> >I guess I ought to use new nuts everywhere.  But technically only the
> >self-locking ones are required, right?
> 
> Pretty much every nut on the suspension is self locking.

Ok, nuts are cheap.

> >I've noticed a discrepancy in the Bentley, about the wheel bearing/ball
> >joint clamp nut (the one that goes on the horizonal bolt).  On page
> >40.11 it's shown as 50 Nm and nonlocking, but on 40.7 it's 65 Nm and
> >self-locking and also installed the wrong way, with the head on the
> >caliper (i.e., rear) side.
> 
> Haven't noticed this discrepancy. I assemble in the direction
> it was originally oriented.

The head of the bolt is supposed to be toward the front of the car.
I didn't notice if mine are currently oriented correctly, but if not it's
probably the fault of the mechanics who replaced the control arm bushings
(not Audi specialists).

> >But wait, I guess the driveshaft stays bolted to the transmission, while
> >the wheel bearing housing and strut assembly pivot away from the car.
> >In that case the driveshaft press would be used to push the wheel bearing
> >housing forward by exerting force along the length of the driveshaft
> >to the transmission.  Is that ok?
> 
> That's what I have done. Worked fine. The strut will pivot outward
> so there is minimal force going to the tranny

All right, I'll ignore that line in the Bentley.

> >I probably ought to replace the wheel bearings, though -- at 110k
> >I'm pressing my luck and I don't want to disassemble the thing again
> >in winter.
> 
> I did my 86 GT susp in may and passed on the wheel bearings with
> 86k miles. They seem to be fine. For the wheel bearings I usually
> take the strut to a shop and have them remove the old and press in
> the new bearing. I don't have a big hydraulic press or the bearing tool
> which has been discussed recently. Might cost an hours labor and
> it is done.

I think I'll do it while I'm there.  110k is a long time.  It will be
at 120k by the time the weather is warm enough to work on it again.

> >I've been tempted to rebuild everything in the wheel well while I'm in
> >there, but I am trying to keep the job manageable.  I just want to keep
> >the car well-maintained.
> 
> I did this with my ur-quattro a few years ago, everything was exchanged
> for new. Took a while and $$.

If I had an ur-quattro I'd probably spoil it too.

I was thinking this afternoon that I probably couldn't afford to have
an Audi without this list.  If I weren't doing my own work and using
list-discounted parts, I'd be upset at the maintainence it needs.
But instead, I'm actually understanding my car and keeping it in better
shape as well.

Thanks, everyone; I'll get all the hardware together and report back
for the archives.
-- 
Shields.