handling flakey after alignment --5ktq

[steinbru@VNET.IBM.COM]

Ref:  Dan Hamren's post of Mon, 11 Jan 1999 10:51:06 -0800

Dan said:
>Your struts need to be replaced in 2's (FT's / Back's).

Well, I actually did, and new Boge Pro-gas too, but I had to R&R
the wheel bearing later.  Don't confuse stut with damper.  The hub
is part of the stut, the damper is inside the stut.  This doesn't
feel like a damper problem.  It's not bump steer, it's torque.

and:
>Being a quattro (I'd) have replaced all four tires at the same time.
>Don't even think about using tires that aren't matched (JMO)!

Well, again, the spare was a Michelin MXZ4 just like the others
but worn a bit more.  I suspect that was why I felt what I mis-
took for a slight mis-alignment if I pushed it in the rain.  It
is so flaky now that I don't dare push it anywhere  (it is also
in a block of ice, but that's another story).

I'm still not understanding the problem I'm having now, all these
points address what came before the alignment.

How can I tell if excess heat has ruined any of my bushings or
ball joints?  From the fiche these would seen to be:  control
arms and tie rod ends front and rear. They smell like they were
heated to very high temps (that acrid burnt rubber smell) but do
not visually seem destroyed.  The rear control arms were spray
painted.  Prying on the parts with a tire iron doesn't do much.
What should I look for?  I'm getting a second shop to check it
when the hill thaws out a bit.
--Gary

('86's:5ks&tktq+'87CGT+'88 5ktq and all that other VAG)