Seem to recall reading that folks have replaced the ball joint gaitor/boot. And as part of the process cleaned and regreased the joint.

Got a boot that will do for now - it fits but not perfect. The old boot was persihed and fell to bits when I split the joint.

Cleaned the old grease I could see on the outside, but I see no way that you could even get some form of solvent in to dissolve the inside grease. Further despite trying with a grease gun needle (approx 1/32" dia) there ain't no way you can get grease inside. Compressing the ball into the joint gently in a vice doesn't move the ball relative to the joint.

For now it gets new grease on the outside - wiggle the ball around to work it in and the temp boot.

 

Wobble the ball and and forth wiping it off each time, then regrease. FYI, Audi makes a boot that fits perfectly.

 

Wobbling is what I resorted to doing. I am now all wobbled out. And just had the telephone call with Xlot re Audi Boots - just now need to work out what an Audi 5000? is called as a RoW car - Audi 100 I think.

Cheers

 

Audi part number 431.407.377.A

 

Cool - Many thanks Visit the Audi dealer Monday me thinks

 

I just finished replacing the boots tonight. cleaned all the old grease, wiggled around while doing so... Then slipped on the new boots, relpaced the little metal ring / clamp. Looks as good as new.
I got new boots from 928intl.

 

This regrease/reboot work that you guys are doing; is this for an S4 or earlier year model (or does it matter)? When I was doing my motor mount exchange a few months back I realized my boots were completely shot and I really didn't want to spend the exorbitant cost for a replacement set of A-arms. I understand 928 Motorsports offers them for 87+, but they're still pricier than I want to spend at the moment as I'm into an expensive motor rebuild.
Thanks

 

Nicholas

I was talking S4+ but the principle applies to all. I was lucky I caught the boot early in it's life as a split boot.

For you and I the only option if the joint is worn is the refurbished arms from Carl or 928intl or mega bucks for a new arm.

 

Jon, glad the part number helped.

I don't know how tested they are yet, but Carl's steel replacement arms seem like a much better deal than rebuilds for the 87+ cars.

 

Flying dog,

I have Carl's steel arms on my car and I LOVE them. IMO they are way better than the factory arms.

 

Actually Carl has an upper ball joint rebuilt kit which I installed on mine a few months back. That only costs $150 and is worth every penny, especially since it can be installed while the control arm is still on the car. It takes about 90 minutes total time to do the job.

 

From what I gather on the website, those rebuild kits are only good for the models built prior to '87. Unfortunately for Jon and myself, the rebuild kit wouldn't benefit our later models.

 

LIZARD 931

On what yearmodel did you install Carl´s upper A-arms? Does he have a website?


/Tobias

 

www.928motorsports.com is the link for Carl's site.

I just noticed that the kit is for 78-86 models. I'm curious as to why it wouldn't work on the later ones.

 

The later arms are thinner and harder to rebuild.