RS2 America

[saltinot]

Restoring the old uprights

My plans to have my car at the paint shop a couple of weeks ago were thwarted by breaking my foot. It's a long story. I decided to "make lemonade from lemons" and use this down time to restore my old suspension to its former glory.

I started out by getting my hands on a few items that I would need. New Bilsteins, new FAG 82mm bearings, paint, and a some hardware. I threw it all into my blast cabinet and knocked off all the old paint and rust with glass beads. It is time consuming, but it's worth it. I'm left with bare metal parts when finished. I wiped it all down with a tack cloth, hung it from wire, wiped it again with 3M degreaser, and then applied serveral coats of satin black paint. After letting the paint cure for a few days I began putting the parts together. It's nice to finally start taking some parts out of the boxes they have been in for years and putting them together.

My only before pic of the RS2 suspension. Sorry for the terrible pic quality.

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One of the strut tubes. It wasn't in terrible shape, but it was not up to snuff for this project.

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The strut tube after media blasting and paint.

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[saltinot]

I installed the Bilsteins and I got to work on installing the new bearing and RS2 hubs in the bearing carriers. I forgot to mention that I refinished the hubs with a grey color. My bearing/hub tool in action here.

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Hub installed in the carrier.

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[saltinot]

The carrier and strut tube together again. I went ahead and bolted on the RS2 caliper bracket too.

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[s2_bo]

Very nice!

Im liking the finish on your paint job, its looking really good

[Rusty]

Make sure you get those strut to hub bolts tight enough or they come undone at the Nurburgring and you cack yourself. They're stretch bolts, 110Nm + 90degrees, not sure what that is on your side of the pond but I think angular measurements translate well if nothing else

[saltinot]

Moving forward, I will be refinishing the RS2 spring to their original luster. I'm torn between epoxy coating or painting. The factory finish appears to be painted on. I want replicate the factory paint marks also, but I'm not sure this is possible with powder coating.

Anybody have any ideas?

[saltinot]

Very nice!

Im liking the finish on your paint job, its looking really good

Thanks bo! The paint is a great match for the original finish. I painted the subframe on my '85 90q seven years ago with the same stuff and it's still holding strong. Of course I've got Georgia weather also. Cars last forever here....well almost.

Make sure you get those strut to hub bolts tight enough or they come undone at the Nurburgring and you cack yourself. They're stretch bolts, 110Nm + 90degrees, not sure what that is on your side of the pond but I think angular measurements translate well if nothing else

Ok Andy! I wish I could bring my RS2 to the Nurburgring. Stop rubbing it in.

[S2central.net]

Looking mighty good there Salti - what is that paint out of interest ?

[saltinot]

Paul, I used Rustoleum Satin Black spray paint for metal outdoor furniture. It's a close match to the factory color and stays put.



Do you guys have Rust-o-leum in the UK?

[Flat on my back]

Yep...

Haven't spotted that in the range though...good find...

[AndersS2]

Wow!

Great job there!
Im doing the same job on my hubs at the moment using eastwoods range of colours which looks quite the same in the finish.

Top job Saltinot

[20vQC]

wow bro...can't imagine how much are you paying in parts! the car is new EVERYWHERE!!!! Congratulations tho!

[rs2coupe]

I almost forgot. Boy, it was hot that week in Germany.



Glad you made the trip with me Eric. Ah the memories!

Funny pic amigo

Tom you are setting a standard with your build

[saltinot]

Funny pic amigo

That's my Detroit lean, BTW. That was a funny day. My German friends just couldn't figure out why I was so happy to get my hands on this S2 Avant uni-body. I remember one German guy saying "it's nothing special! It is the same as Audi 80 TDI." It isn't the same, BTW. I kept telling them "we never got this!!!" It is now one of maybe two B4 avants in the US.

Tom you are setting a standard with your build

Thanks buddy. I just wish I wasn't such a perfectionist. It really slows things down to a snails pace. I just keep telling myself it wil be worth it. Again, your pictures today help.

I'm ready to see some RS blue now. Two more weeks and my foot should be healed enough to push this pig on my trailer and drag her to the shop for paint. It can't come quick enough.

[rs2coupe]

That's my Detroit lean, BTW. That was a funny day. My German friends just couldn't figure out why I was so happy to get my hands on this S2 Avant uni-body. I remember one German guy saying "it's nothing special! It is the same as Audi 80 TDI." It isn't the same, BTW. I kept telling them "we never got this!!!" It is now one of maybe two B4 avants in the US.



Classic
If they only knew. It's the dedication to the brand and model where not available.


Thanks buddy. I just wish I wasn't such a perfectionist. It really slows things down to a snails pace. I just keep telling myself it wil be worth it. Again, you pictures today help.



They're not the best pics but something to update this everlasting thread. It's okay to be a perfectionists as long as you know when to quit. Hey I tried calling you back yesterday.



I'm ready to see some RS blue now. Two more weeks and my foot should be healed enough to push this pig on my trailer and drag her to the shop for paint. It can't come quick enough.

Yea man take care of that foot. Me too I'm looking forward to seeing it all painted Wish I could have helped!