New Audi Coupe 2.3E 10v Questions

[scottyd69]

Hi to all,

I have just joined this site and after a browse have found it very interesting.

I have recently acquired a 1990 2.3 10v Audi Coupe, the car is in stunning condition body wise and half leather interior with 17" audi alloys.

I plan to restore the car as there are a few mechanical issues that need dealing with

- Engine idles lumpy, moves a bit
- Brake judder, probs just warped and need replacing
- Hole in rear exhaust silencer
- Think front bushes are on way out, bit of noise from front

I took the car into two local garages for quotes on the repairs and was quoted between £600 and £700 for the following

- New suspension top mounts front
- Discs and pads all round
- New Rear Exhaust silencer

Now i think this is really excessive, opinions welcome

I would love to do the repairs myself, any problems or pointing in the right direction would be appreciated.

Im also finding it hard to find parts for this car, on ebay or from Eurocarparts or GSF, is there anywhere else i could look

Cheers

[NickPicks]

I used to have a 2.2 10v Coupe, and I've done the brakes and suspension a few times.

Top mounts are available from GSF. They're easy to DIY so long as you've got some spring compressors and the tool for undoing the top nut (like a deep ring spanner/socket with an allen key going through the middle) - I used to use a deep socket held in a big mole grip and poke an allen key down through that.

Brake discs and pads are easy to DIY, again, they are available from GSF.

I found the Haynes manual for the Coupe has good descriptions of how to do these jobs, although IIRC, there are a few shortcuts.

I live just around the corner from my local GSF, so I tend to use them for parts, but Allparts or other motor factors should be able to get these parts for you.

Front bushes mean the removal of the whole suspension arm. When I did mine on my Coupe, I took the arms out and took them (and the new bushes) to a local garage who pressed the old ones out and new ones in for me (cost about £20)

I've personally never liked doing exhausts, as without a post lift, it's often difficult to get the pipe threaded through the rear axle. (I once had to jack the back of my old mazda up using blocks of wood under the jack, then bigger blocks under the axle stands as there wasn't enough clearance), so I'd usually get someone to do this. Last time I needed an exhaust, the supply & fit cost was only £20 less than I could get the part anyway.

[NickPicks]

Regarding the prices you were quoted, to get a garage to do the work, I wouldn't think £600 was too over the top.

In terms of parts, disks are £25 front each, £20 rear each, pads £30 front £15 rear, top mounts £15 (IIRC) each, silencer £70,

so all together, that's about £250 in parts, plus say 4 hours to put it all together, say £70 / hour, makes about £500 in my estimates (and I'm not a mechanic - I'm just guessing the hours and rate), oh, and plus VAT.

[zollaf]

hi, nice choice of motor. i have the 16v coupe, and love it to bits. regarding the bushes on the front,its usually the wishbone bushes that go. i would replace them with polybushes. if you speak to crasher, he will be able to supply you with some. the old bushes are easy to get out with a hacksaw and drill, and the polybushes just press in by hand. but, while youve got the wishbones off, you should also replace the subframe mounts. i did mine and used the alloy mounts as used on the rally cars. they tighten the front end up no end. the only other option are standard mounts, but these need pressing in. the alloy mounts just sit on it. the old subframe mounts can again be removed by drilling out the rubber so you can remove the centre, then hacksawing through the outer.polys are about £60 ish for the 4, and the alloy mounts i found on ebay for about £50. this is a lot more than the £ 5 odd each you would pay for standard rubber mounts from gsf, but save on the labour by doing it yourself and spend the extra on descent parts, and your car will be transformed.

[scottyd69]

Hi,

Thanks to all you guys for the reply, will give a few of the above a go i think. Only thing that can happen are some srubbed knuckles i think lol.