Project P.I.T.A

[s2driveruk]

So after a couple of years of easy-ish MOT prep and breezing through, this time its failed on a few things.

Having driven the car almost daily over the winter, its definitely taken its toll underneath which previously was nice and tidy, now its crustyville!

So far, its had the following done

4 x Continental ContiSport 5's
New front ball joints
Replaced the throttle hose
Brake and clutch bleed
New rear ball joints
(attempting) to remove the rear tie rods to replace min the boots or could be the whole arm(s)
Front and rear powerflex black wishbone bushes
Numberplate lights - screws fused to the retaining metal sleeves ()
Intermittent horn (i blame having kids...) so tracing the issue to sort that out
Read discs and pads
Caliper overhaul at the front to clean up, degunk the carrier pins and free up a lazy lower piston on the brembo's which was causing an anooying, heat related hum

Never a dull moment

[Fat Audi 80]

Sounds fairly normal for our opportunity cars!

Touch wood the mechanicals are fine on one after a few years hard work. More pressing is the sagging headlining and recently cracked windscreen!

I am not looking forward to stripping the interior and trying to find OEM matching material for the headlining...

[s2driveruk]

If i remember correctly I think Audi Tradition were stocking headlining material so you should be ok. Windscreen - I feel your pain, mine is in need of being done but I won't until I get the paint sorted as window needs to come out to resolve rust on leading edge of the roofline.

Managed to break a newly purchased scissor ball joint separator DON'T whatever you do buy a Laser scissor spitter from Halfrauds, its total junk. I'll post up a picture for your amusement later

[david1980]

Btdt with the splitter they are rubbish

[Nuvo]

Me three, a good quality two arm puller is needed here.

[s2driveruk]

Here's the scissor type separator I mentioned before...quality bit of kit, there is so much play between the two halves that as soon as any tension is applied through the bolt, they twist on themselves and as you can see it destroyed the lower half from chewing done the side of it. Got a refund this evening.



Powerflex bits arrived from Eurocarparts this afternoon and due to a **** up on their side, I got a 40% discount which was a bit of a win. Front and rear for £97 shipped

Now if the wishbones are ready to collect tomorrow then I can start putting stuff back together...

[S2central.net]

I have an old sykes pickavant one - had it seriously 20yrs or more... good tools cost a lot these days - too much cheap shyte around.

[s2driveruk]

true enough Paul...I wouldn't mind but that piece of junk was £21!!! I'll order a Draper pro version for the same money and I'm sure it will be decent.

Having said that, still not managed to get the sodding tie rod off the hub arm - running out of ideas on how to get that apart and may have to take an angle grinder to it at this rate

[Greg_S]

What about warming the arm up with some heat, also have you soaked it for a few hours with some wd or equivalent?

[s2driveruk]

Soaked with plusgas and tonight some freeze spray..will see in the morning whether it made any difference

[S2central.net]

Good choice of chemicals there - I like to use freeze spray first then chase it with a shot of plusgas.

Try a good few heavy hammer blows on the strut where it meets the joint - the shock can help loosen things.

I would personally avoid heat if you don't want to risk damaging the joint.

A good quality scissor type remover should get it out.

[Fat Audi 80]

If it helps I think I resorted to a blow torch to get mine off!

Thanks for the tip re: Audi tradition, I will check them out....

[PRY4SNO]

My favourite penetrant is AeroKroil by Kano. Works like magic.

If you can't source any of that, the cheapest, and possibly even more effective due to higher surface tension, is equal parts Acetone and ATF mixed in a spray bottle.

[s2driveruk]

Yep bought a small blow torch at the weekend and finally managed to get it released, trashing the tie rod ball joint in the process. Now waiting for a fresh pair of rear tie rods to arrive...at £57 a side, felt they were good value and the original ones have lasted 25 years.

[S2central.net]

Ouch, but at least you made progress... That is a good innings for track rods - a healthy dollop of copper grease on the new ones should see them through the next 25 (allegedly).