Another Rear subframe refurb...

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by steamship

it's possible to just replace the straps one by one with everything still in situ:

I'm doing it right now Tips coming later

[scottmgibb]

I look forward to seeing how you got on!

[Ronin]

Another source of all the bushes needed found:

https://www.strongflex.eu/en/catalog...owe-audi-a8-d2

[scottmgibb]

That is interesting – they are about £30 each (before import/postage etc), vs about £42 for the ones from the other site, but they are a little harder – 80 vs 75sha. Same deal with the fronts.

For a full set front and rear it would be about £230 vs £350.

Does anybody know if you are likely to feel much difference between 80/75sha?

[scottmgibb]

Oh, I have also looked into getting the subframe blasted locally. I have a quote for £90 for glass blasting, and around the same (depending on the time taken) for sand blasting. Does that seem reasonable in people's experience?

[Ronin]

Originally Posted by scottmgibb

Oh, I have also looked into getting the subframe blasted locally. I have a quote for £90 for glass blasting, and around the same (depending on the time taken) for sand blasting. Does that seem reasonable in people's experience?

I'd say this is a bit pricey, i paid £144 for blasting and powdercoating of rear subframe, roll bar and about 3 small brackets and stuff, £90 just for blasting seems a bit much but nothing extreme

I really doubt you can feel the difference between 80 and 75 hardness, 60 would be closer to normal rubber bushes so they would stiffen up the car vs stock for for sure, old rubber (in our old Audis) stiffens up and hardens with age too..

No one on the forums has done the rear in poly so its a bit of a gamble on your part, some people on the european audi groups have done this and say they could not feel the difference between rubber and poly

[scottmgibb]

Well, I have ordered a set for the rear. With the way VAT/import fees work, it is about the same to order front/rear sets separately as it is together, so I will see what the rears are like before ordering the fronts (it will be a while before I get to that anyway). It was £129 in total, and there should – in theory - be no further import/VAT charges from the delivery company.

[Ronin]

that's really cool, let us know how you get on with pics and everything

[MikkiJayne]

Thoughts and tips on the tank straps halfway down this post about the barnfind

TL;DR - clean up the threads on the tank strap studs with a spare nut, before loosening the main nuts. You do not want these studs to break out of the body and start spinning.

[Ronin]

https://shops.audi.com/en_GB/web/tra...ategory=118665

Tradition have added rear bushes at an astronomical price