re: 90q pre-inspection troubles

[Tom Nas <tnas@euronet.nl>]

quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne) wrote:

>I've never seen these things outside of Germany - so the Dutch have
>them too?

I really took it for granted that these things were everywhere. Every
decent dealership here has one. A second test in a suspension/tyre place
showed that the first test was spot-on, BTW.
>
>During my time in Germany, it was a regular feature of almost _any_
>auto-related event - race days, rallys, sales fairs, club meetings,
>etc.  Either the ADAC or the AvD would sponsor this "shock absorber
>tester".  It's a raised platform (a little like a 4WD alignment rig)
>that you drive the car onto.  Sensors are attached to the tops of
>the struts and bloody great hydraulic pistons pummel the wheels up and
>down.  The result is a printout of strut performance.

No sensors on the strut tops here, but otherwise it's the same.
>
>Usually all it costs you is 30 minutes in the queue and $5 or so for
>some charity or other.

The tyre/strut places usually perform the test for free. Most of them give
me the idea that their rig is set to under-read so that they can sell you
new struts, though. Like asking the car salesman if you need the
luxury-spec model.

I have the procedure for fitting new struts in the Bentley. Any BTDTs on
doing this at home? How hard is it for someone who does head gaskets and
brake jobs?
I appreciate that my car needs an alignment afterwards, but would the
fitting be hard to do without access to a lift, or even a workshop? I have
axle stands and decent tools (or can borrow most stuff) but have to do all
my work outside and preferably within a day. Don't know who to trust to do
this job here- my mechanic buddy is running around with his arm in plaster.
Car is a type 89 90 quattro.

TIA for your answers,

Tom

 _______________________________________________________________________
 Tom Nas                                          Zeist, The Netherlands
 tnas@euronet.nl
 1987 Audi 90q 2.3E, Tizianrot metallic, 167,000km

         Stupidity got us into this mess -- why can't it get us out?
                                               -- Will Rogers