Bizman928

Afternoon guys
I am trying to do some last minute adjustments to my AT cable to proivde a sharper gear change ready for our Curburough Track day on Tuesday with Central Region TIPEC UK. I need to take some slack out of the AT cable but am having some difficulty "popping" the ball joint cap off? Andy idea's or neat tips to get the cap off the ball on the Throttle body linkage for the AT cable? I must be doing it wrong as it won't spring apart.

Have searched on rennlist and can't find a technique - but found many good write ups from JDS and John Pirtle and others about how to adjust for correct setup

Many Thanks in advance

Steve J
1989 928 S4, MY89, Auto, Stone Grey Metallic, Daylight running lights, newly painted Red Brembo brakes complete with Porsche lettering, Cup Alloys.

Imo000

There is a small thin safety "wire" clip that goes through the socket and clips around the other side. Hard to describe what it looks like but it's in a shape of a "C". Clean up the joint really good and have a look. Even when this clip is off (you have to complelty remove it by sliding the end out of the socket) it takes a bit of foce to pop the two apart.

Mrmerlin

the ball cup may have a small pin in the side of the cup to hold it onto the ball if not try sparaying PB blaster into the connection and work the cup on the ball.
it also may have a spring clip inside the cup,
this gets filled with rust and then wont have the room to open to allow the cup off the ball,
try using some side cutter pliers or dikes to pry the cup off after you have it rinsed out

WallyP

If your ball-end has the wire clip:

Examine the ball closely to find a tiny circle or loop of wire. Look at the base of the wire loop to see which way the wire goes around the ball end.
Press the loop so as to snap the wire off of the ball end.
Pull the straight tail of the wire out of the hole thru the ball end.
Remove the ball end.
Replace the wire clip after adjusting the linkage.

Imo000

Wait a minute..... on the S4, I'm pretty sure you can adjust the TV/kickdown cable without touching the ball. Adjust the cable at the bracket, before the ball/end of the cable.

Bizman928

Hi Guys
Thanks for the replies.
The ball ends on the S4 don't have any wires or clips on them - just a solid ball and cover. I have tried washing them out with lubricant to see if there is any fouling anywhere but there isn't and the car engine is clean so no rust or grime.

There is no adjuster on the S4 AT throttle cable body frame - all the other 3 cables do have an adjuster on the body frame, just not the AT cable.

I keep bending the throttle linkage when I try to remove the ball & cover?

Any more idea's

Thanks
Steve

Bill Ball

I use a 10mm open end to lever the socket from the ball. I've had some reluctant ones where I bent the linkage a little too.

Correct, there is no adjustment except at the socket, not even at the other end of the cable.

supercedar

My 88 S4 has the cable with the black plastic nut for adjusting at bracket. The cable has a extra black plastic tube around the cable also.

Imo000

Yes, that's what I saw on the '89 that I worked on this year.

Mrmerlin

work the PB blaster into the cup,
the metal retaining ring is probably filled with rusty dirt,
once you lever it off put some grease on the ball and rinse out the cup with brake cleaner

As an aside you can adjust the bowden cable without actually adjusting the bowden cable.
To do this simply readjust the throttle cable ( the one that goes to the intake throttle plate)
If you make the throttle cable looser this in effect makes the Bowden cable tighter

Bill Ball

That sounds like the cruise control cable. Only the second half of the throttle cable and the cruise control cables have plastic twist adjustment at the quadrant. Picture from an 89:

supercedar

Bill,
My actuator for the cruise also has the plastic nut for adjustment. I just adjusted that last week by removing the inner fender. I just went out and checked again and it is the top outside cable that goes to trans that also has the plastic nut adjustment. I also noted yesterday when I tightened the cable for trans to tight I had a vibration on shifts and also shifted to fast. I loosened the adjustment 1 1/2 turns and it is purrfect.

What is the middle outside cable without adjustment going to?

supercedar

My throttle adjustment is inside (lower) cable which is adjusted at firewall with plastic nut.

Bill Ball

Yes, that's true for the cable from the gas pedal to the quadrant. Look at picture I added in post above. The cable to the throttle (I had called the second half) is adjusted at the quadrant. So, the throttle cable has two parts and two adjustments, not counting the additional small adjustments via the socket screw ends. The only other adjustment at the quadrant with a plastic nut is the cruise cable (and it should have plenty of slack, unlike the other cables). 88 could be different, but that's news to me. I've done adjustments on all MY S4s and not noticed a change in this arrangement.

supercedar

Bill,
You are correct!! I pulled the air filter and followed them as you specified. Thank you for taking the time to pound it in.
Thomas