Tramlining

[mcandmar]

Me too, looks like all the oil is on the outside of the damper at this stage.

[panzerwagen]

The replacement of the damper is NO cake walk!

The easy part is from the top where you dis connect it from the hoge-poge of the plate that holds both tie-rods
and the damper The nightmare comes when disconnecting from the rack body!!!!
Prepare to lose skin and swear like you have never done before!!! You start asking what was on the Audi
designers minds when they conceived the design of the rack and damper unit!!!!!

[dan_b]

what was the outcome on this Dan - did you solve the tramlining issue - i have this on mine and I am about to replace the bushes as i think these are shot again but would be interested in the damper. I also know mine needs a good alignment as its not been done for a while.

Good point, sorry should have got back on this.
The upshot was the bolts holding the bracket to the rack and the damper were stretched/shot, which meant there was enough play in that part of the system to mess up the steering.

Replaced said bolts and bracket and all the play and noises went. This also cured the tramlining and vague turn-in. Problem solved cheaply, with just a few skinned knuckles!

[s2driveruk]

nice one, i will check mine too

[dan_b]

The car drives better than it's ever done now, glad to have got all these small bugs ironed out.

On a related topic, now the steering is back to what it should be (and also I've got rid of the awful servotronic nonsense!), I can't praise highly enough the improvement in handling you get from the RS2FARB/ WhitelineRARB setup, and with the H&R/Koni suspension too, yeah it corners well now

[Greg_S]

which bolts was it you replaced dan?

[dan_b]

The long ones that hold the bracket to the rack - they had been stretched and so there was play in the bracket mounting even though they could screw no tighter. Not good.

[Greg_S]

no not at all. will check mine at the next service

[panzerwagen]

So Greg how did you manage to work on the damper?

There is just no bloody room or easy access to it. At least on left hand drivers!

[panzerwagen]

Sorry Greg! I meant Dan......

The damper is literally buried down there!!!!

[Greg_S]

it isnt a great deal better on RHD. best way I found to get to it was to put the steering on lock so that they are in a better position. not ideal though

[dan_b]

Or get someone with very long, very skinny hands to do it for you

[S2central.net]

My old Typ85 Coupe GT actually sheared those rack / bracket bolts clean off. Very scarey moment even though I was doing a three point turn somewhere in Dublin. Heard this almighty twang noise and immediately realised the steering felt wrong.

Very lucky that day - in a weird way !

Good thread this - deffo one to watch out for.

Paul

[Chris5044]

Could you please show a picture of these bolts ... im a bit confused ... there are many bolts ... I have this problem in a bad way .. got worse form enthusiastic driving other day .. and when i brake u struggle to control it...

this is dangerous ... ps: also if you have the pic for the adjustment nuts too that would be great ... and to how much they are adjusted to

would be very grateful

[dan_b]

Hi Chris
For the bolts that had stretched, go back to Alistair's post on the previous page, you'll see a bracket numbered "21" with some bolts called "13" - it's these that had stretched on mine. Access to them is a PITA and I ended up getting a mechanic friend of mine with small hands and lots of patience to do it for me.

To adjust pre-load, if you look down on the steering rack below your brake master cylinder, you'll see a metal plate facing up at you with a big nut on it - that nut can be adjusted. Tighten it ever so (say no more than 1/4 turn) and then see the effect it has - you'll notice heavier and more positive steering, but if you go too far, the steering won't self-centre.

Another thing you might want to try if you've got a 3B is to disable the ridiculous Servotronic - under the rear seat on the driver's side is a blue relay box with Serovotronic written on it - just unplug the b*stard and you'll instantly get firmer, more responsive and weighted steering which doesn't go mental on you every now and then.