Pinch bolt help...but not removing it.

[indiankid95]

So I'm putting in coilovers on my 02 S4, removed and installed shock assembly and coil on passenger side in 30 minutes. Bear in mind this is my first dealing with coilovers. I didn't even remove the pinch bolt on this side and everything went great. Well drivers side gave me heaps of trouble getting the bolt and shock assembly out so I went ahead and took out the pinch bolt and popped out the links, now I'm trying to put it all back together and have literally everything done on the front except the damn pinch bolt. It came out like butter but the links refuse to go back in. Am I missing something here? I did the axle on this side maybe 1-2 months prior and removed the pinch bolt then also but it went in fairly easy then. This time I can not get the links back in to insert the pinch bolt. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[mjfloyd1]

I found it easier to use a bottle jack under the shock and raise the assembly up. Then I was able to push the upper control arms in with my hand.

[indiankid95]

Hmm. I'll give this a shot, I've been jacking on the upward facing lower ball joint. Could be my mistake. Thank you!

[lebrondog6]

Put a flat head in the openings and push them right in. Easy

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[Zba]

Are you using lube?

[indiankid95]

Are you using lube?

No I'm not lol

[indiankid95]

Put a flat head in the openings and push them right in. Easy

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Where do you lift the hub up from? I used the suggested shock body location and got closer than I've been to getting it to fit. Flat hasn't worked for me yet. Bigger screwdriver I suppose?

[marka4]

How u going boss sorted

[vavJETTAw36]

You should coat the non threaded area with antiseize. That how I ensure I'll never have pinch bolt issues. P


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[lebrondog6]

Where do you lift the hub up from? I used the suggested shock body location and got closer than I've been to getting it to fit. Flat hasn't worked for me yet. Bigger screwdriver I suppose?

Jack it up from the lower control arm to the knuckle. Get it close to the top not a struggle or anything or unsafe. Use a flat head and pry them open and they slide in

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[indiankid95]

Jack it up from the lower control arm to the knuckle. Get it close to the top not a struggle or anything or unsafe. Use a flat head and pry them open and they slide in

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I have done that also but it seems my angle is off? The ends of the links that do go in are just a tiny bit off angle. I'll take a picture when I get back to the car. I guess I'm not jacking enough.

[landfill]

If you look at the end of the joints
they are not %100 cylindrical where
they slide into the steering knuckle.
The portion of recessed metal on the
ball joint has to be lined up with the
hole where the pinch bolt rides. If they
are not lined up properly then the hole
is no longer round inside and the bolt will not
slide through as some of the joint is protruding
into the hole. You have to jack up the whole hub
and play with the arms until everythings aligned.

I hope this helps.

[marka4]

Reem out the hole n add some loob itl fit hahaha.

When I did mine and others iv never had issues its sad to see people on youtube ect using oxysetileen grinders ect wow hay.

Hav you tryed to use a flat head and open up the bit that has the slot bug flat head few taps hear n there then yep use your m8 jack and it should b ok. Must b rusty as, fo you have alloy or steel uprights?

[audacity]

If you look at the end of the joints
they are not %100 cylindrical where
they slide into the steering knuckle.
The portion of recessed metal on the
ball joint has to be lined up with the
hole where the pinch bolt rides. If they
are not lined up properly then the hole
is no longer round inside and the bolt will not
slide through as some of the joint is protruding
into the hole. You have to jack up the whole hub
and play with the arms until everythings aligned.

I hope this helps.

what he said. first time i went at it this got me for a few minutes.

[indiankid95]

Actually just needed a second hand and a jack on the lower ball joint. Got it in with a buddies help but now I have a bad shake at about 60+mph. Gets worse with speed. The whole car vibrates.

[landfill]

Double check to see if everythings tight.
You goofed somewhere. Also make sure
the springs are seated correctly.

[landfill]

Also people that let the steering knuckle
hang with the axle still in the hub tend
to pull apart the inner CV joint and not
know. Therefore putting the car back
together with the joint separated. Then
subsequently road test it like that and
destroy the CV. Check that as well.