5K Q Owners ! some rear suspension info....(medium length)

[RCARSELLE@aol.com]

Some of you listers may have already known this but I wanted to share some
information which I have learned in the rear suspension of my 88 5KCSTQ.

I had a right rear suspension noise at low speed, which sounded link loose
metal or clunking when going over bumps at low speed. It was easier to
re-create with load/weight in the rear seat of the car.

I replaced the rear camber links/ Tranverse links / tie rods (all those are
different names for the same part) on both rear wheels.....actually my car at
103k miles probably did not need these replaced but the rear end of the car
feels better at highway speeds during lane changes, etc....I ordered the
parts from Blaufergnugen the links are different for each side so be careful
when ordering but the part # on my invoice is 443 505 351P @ 119.00 each
link. I did my own labor on the swap out by using 2 - 24 mm sockets, 1 - 22
mm socket, and I used a ball joint seperator to ease the upper part of the
link from the subframe. (some folks have used hammers or other Newtonian
tools) please remember this part actually sets the rear wheel camber...so
when swapping these out I was careful match the new links length with the old
links...I think I preserved my camber adjustment pretty well, but please be
careful if you try that at home.

The clunking was still there, but the car felt better at speed.

I kept checking bushings etc... and found the bushing at the front of the
rear suspension trapezoidal arm is called a support (443511329B) this dealer
only part has a price tag of $ 282.65 at a friendly Audi dealer. I also was
quoted $ 310.00 at another dealer. Please note my car is an 88 and the
Bentley and Audi Fiche both reference a part change in 1986....so you 86'ers
and before the part is slightly different...I replaced the "support" and wow
the car felt good and the clunk is gone. The old bushing showed his wear and
failure after a close inspection...and the reason for my noise was simply the
washers which surround the bushing were hitting the trap arm and lower body
of the car during suspension travel....the labor for this part easy as
well...using 23MM and 17 MM sockets. Please reference a Bentley or Audi fiche
for the proper tightening torques for your car...mine was 125 ft-lbs...I have
a feeling that over tightening will tend to cause premature "support"
failure.

I would like to thank Eric Fletcher personally for providing some phone
support during the diagnosis of this problem, and I hope this e-mail is
useful to at least one fellow member of this fine list.

RC
90 90
88 5KCSTQ
rob carselle - columbus, oh