80 quattro (4kq) rear end overhaul and rear roll bar.

[ggthack@swansea.ac.uk (Graham Thackrah)]

Hello List,

Having read about a fair few 80 quattro conversions (both geocities sites)
I have been thinking about a few things. I plan to overhaul the rear end of my 
quattro this winter, including dropping the subframe. I plan to check 
everything I can, calipers, wheel bearings, cv joints, dampers, springs (it is 
slightly lower than I think it should be at the back) and diff seals (there is
a leak from somewhere there).

I saw an article about a rear end overhaul on a NA coupe q in VW/Audi magazine
where they retrofitted a roll bar by hacking the existing subframe and 
wishbones (non turbo coupe q's have no rear roll bar). I don't like the idea of 
this as I'd rather not carry out the cutting involved if there is another way...
I have seen a rear subframe in the UK newsletter for a URq for 50 quid, I'd 
need wishbones, bushes and the roll bar as well but I could find these I am 
sure for reasonable money. What I'd be interested to know are peoples thoughts 
about doing this to an 80 quattro. I'd also like to know if the urq wishbones 
need urq struts and hubs or if I could use the existing ones? Would the 
fitting of a roll bar on a car with a different weight distribution (I assume 
so at least) than the coupe, be detrimental to handling? Or is this a case of 
try it and see? I am semi-serious about trying a gradual upgrade of suspension 
components and drivetrain overhaul prior to fitting a turbo engine to my 80 
quattro (as and when money+time permits) and see this as a relatively easy 
first step.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Graham.

84 80 quattro.