What's in the workshop this week?

[MikkiJayne]

Originally Posted by 1781cc

I'm astounded at the workload... on a 2.8 as well, most would vault at the idea if it's not an S8 so kudos all round.

A8s deserve love too Counter-intuitively, the V8s are much easier to work on as they are far better packaged. Aside from the room at the front to get to the belts, everything else on the 2.8 is actually harder to get to.

The car itself is actually in really nice condition though. No seized bolts, everything coming apart nicely, etc mostly because it's all been coated in engine oil for years Its just overdue a ton of maintenance. For example, the steel nut on the aluminium stud to the right of the junction box in this pic almost always just snaps off. This one came apart no problem. Plus, the junction box itself is in perfect condition, which is unique in my experience thus far! I keep those in stock now because every D2 needs one, but I've crossed that job off the list without having to do anything



Sadly, I have added the steering rack to the list. After flushing a gallon of ATF through it, its still coming out like school custard, and the rack still doesn't feel right. As described by HP earlier, it just springs back to the centre with no resistance. I've agreed with Dean that while the engine is out its best to change it for safety's sake if nothing else. Plus we'd be really ****ed if I put the engine back in and the rack failed completely a few weeks later!



This is what the original fluid has settled to:



I've dropped the column in preparation for the rack coming out. You can't disconnect the column from the rack with both of them bolted in place, and I can't open the doors on an A8 with it up on the lift, so I've disconnected the column now which means the rack just unbolts from the engine bay later.



The header tank has seen better days.



As have the brake discs



Everything on top of the engine is now disconnected, ready for work underneath



Suspension comes off as an assembly. Its much easier to break down in the vice, and it makes taking the engine out a whole lot easier without all this stuff in the way!