Bent subframe in Audi TQ '86

Hi, the mechanic said that my Audi TQ '86 has a "bent subframe"? How serious is that? I had a little mishap; drove over the curb and
over a sign and back on to the road. The oilpan was flattened and the car quickly lost it's oil. I drove it for a block looking for
a parking spot after flattening the sign and the car drove fine, backed it up and everything, no problems. No problems starting up
either. I noticed that the driver's door opened with a slight hesitation. So what's a "bent subframe"? Is this something that can be
fixed with a frame puller? Is it worth it? The car drove fine (it's at the mechanic now), is it ok to drive it the way it is?

TIA
cp

"cp" > wrote in message news:LLXBd.41491$Y72.38948@edtnps91...
> Hi, the mechanic said that my Audi TQ '86 has a "bent subframe"? How
> serious is that? I had a little mishap; drove over the curb and over a
> sign and back on to the road. The oilpan was flattened and the car quickly
> lost it's oil. I drove it for a block looking for a parking spot after
> flattening the sign and the car drove fine, backed it up and everything,
> no problems. No problems starting up either. I noticed that the driver's
> door opened with a slight hesitation. So what's a "bent subframe"? Is this
> something that can be fixed with a frame puller? Is it worth it? The car
> drove fine (it's at the mechanic now), is it ok to drive it the way it is?
>
> TIA
> cp
>

The subframe is a rather small piece of iron and probably easy to find at
any junkyard.
Since you want to keep the car, find a new subframe and repair the old lady.

Ronald

R@L wrote:
> "cp" > wrote in message news:LLXBd.41491$Y72.38948@edtnps91...
>
>>Hi, the mechanic said that my Audi TQ '86 has a "bent subframe"? How
>>serious is that? I had a little mishap; drove over the curb and over a
>>sign and back on to the road. The oilpan was flattened and the car quickly
>>lost it's oil. I drove it for a block looking for a parking spot after
>>flattening the sign and the car drove fine, backed it up and everything,
>>no problems. No problems starting up either. I noticed that the driver's
>>door opened with a slight hesitation. So what's a "bent subframe"? Is this
>>something that can be fixed with a frame puller? Is it worth it? The car
>>drove fine (it's at the mechanic now), is it ok to drive it the way it is?
>>
>>TIA
>>cp
>>
>
>
> The subframe is a rather small piece of iron and probably easy to find at
> any junkyard.
> Since you want to keep the car, find a new subframe and repair the old lady.
>
> Ronald
>
>
A rather small piece of iron with a whole lot of crap bolted to it.
Expect to have fun or pay a lot in labor charges.

> A rather small piece of iron with a whole lot of crap bolted to it. Expect to have fun or pay a lot in labor charges.

Nah, I got good mech connections, labor won't be that bad.

cp

> The subframe is a rather small piece of iron and probably easy to find at any junkyard.
> Since you want to keep the car, find a new subframe and repair the old lady.
>

What a relief! If you don't mind, what and where exactly is the subframe?

TIA
cp

It connects the body on both sides of the engine and runs under the oil pan.
Four bolts drops it. You could carry it in your trunk.

cp wrote:
>>The subframe is a rather small piece of iron and probably easy to find at any junkyard.
>>Since you want to keep the car, find a new subframe and repair the old lady.
>>
>
>
> What a relief! If you don't mind, what and where exactly is the subframe?
>
> TIA
> cp
>
>

> It connects the body on both sides of the engine and runs under the oil pan. Four bolts drops it. You could carry it in your
> trunk.

That's what I thought it was, I could see there was a dent in it, seeing what I when over, that's one tough car.

I noticed that there was a slight hesitation when opening the driver's door after I parked the car, after rolling over the sign.....
could there be more than just a bent subframe?

TIA
cp

cp,
Yes, there could be more damage than just the bent subframe - there is
probably some permanent set to the unibody. Is it worth trying to pull it
out? If it's minor, then probably not. The cv/u-joint/center bearing mount
on the prop shaft will allow for some minor angle changes - just be sure
that the impact itself (which bent the subframe and thus moved the engine
and tranny) did not damage the prop shaft and it's connected parts - minor
damage to these things will make one heck of a racket at moderate speeds.
Also, be thankful that you don't have a CF driveshaft like the (IIRC)
90q20v's - they don't take too kindly to a strike from a concrete sign
anchorage. Replacing the subframe would be an ideal time to do some
important mount replacements - subframe mounts (4), engine mounts (2),
tranny mounts (2), sway bar mounts (2 mid-supports and 4 end-support rubber
pieces). Check the lower control arms while you're at it - make sure
there's no play in the ball joints. Make sure that your mech uses new
subframe bolts (4) as they are stretch bolts (like head bolts) and should
not be reused. Check with your mech as well to ask if the strike was in the
area of the oil pickup - you can get a replacement at the local auto
wrecker. If you may consider taking the car to the track in the future -
the medians have tires instead of signs there ;-) - you may also consider
putting a "20v windage tray" in there to prevent oil starvation in high g
turns. You can get the tray from the dealer, and it's shown at Huw Powell's
site at (note that you'll need 2 oil pan gaskets instead of 1):
http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/rebuild2.htm
http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/rebuild3.htm
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)
"cp" > wrote in message news:8Q5Cd.47815$KO5.38575@clgrps13...
> > It connects the body on both sides of the engine and runs under the oil
pan. Four bolts drops it. You could carry it in your
> > trunk.
>
> That's what I thought it was, I could see there was a dent in it, seeing
what I when over, that's one tough car.
>
> I noticed that there was a slight hesitation when opening the driver's
door after I parked the car, after rolling over the sign.....
> could there be more than just a bent subframe?
>
> TIA
> cp
>
>

Hi Steve, thanks a lot for your reply, I will print this out for the
mechanic in case he skips on these things.

Thanks again!

cp

PS We had a good track up the hill, now it's gone...... but I drive safely, it
was just this one time...

"Steve Sears" > wrote in message .. .
> cp,
> Yes, there could be more damage than just the bent subframe - there is
> probably some permanent set to the unibody. Is it worth trying to pull it
> out? If it's minor, then probably not. The cv/u-joint/center bearing mount
> on the prop shaft will allow for some minor angle changes - just be sure
> that the impact itself (which bent the subframe and thus moved the engine
> and tranny) did not damage the prop shaft and it's connected parts - minor
> damage to these things will make one heck of a racket at moderate speeds.
> Also, be thankful that you don't have a CF driveshaft like the (IIRC)
> 90q20v's - they don't take too kindly to a strike from a concrete sign
> anchorage. Replacing the subframe would be an ideal time to do some
> important mount replacements - subframe mounts (4), engine mounts (2),
> tranny mounts (2), sway bar mounts (2 mid-supports and 4 end-support rubber
> pieces). Check the lower control arms while you're at it - make sure
> there's no play in the ball joints. Make sure that your mech uses new
> subframe bolts (4) as they are stretch bolts (like head bolts) and should
> not be reused. Check with your mech as well to ask if the strike was in the
> area of the oil pickup - you can get a replacement at the local auto
> wrecker. If you may consider taking the car to the track in the future -
> the medians have tires instead of signs there ;-) - you may also consider
> putting a "20v windage tray" in there to prevent oil starvation in high g
> turns. You can get the tray from the dealer, and it's shown at Huw Powell's
> site at (note that you'll need 2 oil pan gaskets instead of 1):
> http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/rebuild2.htm
> http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/rebuild3.htm
> Cheers!
> Steve Sears
> 1987 Audi 5kTQ
> 1980 Audi 5k
> 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
> (SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)
> "cp" > wrote in message news:8Q5Cd.47815$KO5.38575@clgrps13...
>> > It connects the body on both sides of the engine and runs under the oil
> pan. Four bolts drops it. You could carry it in your
>> > trunk.
>>
>> That's what I thought it was, I could see there was a dent in it, seeing
> what I when over, that's one tough car.
>>
>> I noticed that there was a slight hesitation when opening the driver's
> door after I parked the car, after rolling over the sign.....
>> could there be more than just a bent subframe?
>>
>> TIA
>> cp
>>
>>
>
>