Stiffening the Audi 80 Convertible Chassis

Newbie Joined: May 10, 2016 Posts: 14

Okay... so we know the cars do suffer from scuttle shake. Also that if you compare them against cars of a similar vintage they are at least comparable.
However I wonder whether there is room for improvement.

My other daily is a Saab 99 and through Saab circles I am aware of a 6 point chassis brace that I am told significantly improves the rigidity of the Saab 900 / 9-3 convertible chassis. I wonder whether this would fit, could be adapted to fit, or at least the concept be used to construct something that would fit our cars, and whether it would realistically improve things for our cars.

Thoughts?

http://www.saabbrace.co.uk/index.htm

Camped on the site Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 314

Pretty sure the cabrio already has a similar frame like this from the factory above the transmission tunnel under the dash...
The v6 came with a strut brace which made them feel much better, having driven both 5 cylinders and v6's I can testify that the brace really helped, sure on the later models the bolt holes for the brace are already there even if the brace itself isn't.

Newbie Joined: May 10, 2016 Posts: 14

Things have improved in recent weeks. The chap I bought the car off wasn't using it a great deal, and shortly after I posted the original query I realised the tyre pressures were right up - 36 psi I guess to avoid flat spotting them whilst it was parked up. Dropping them down to 31 psi as per spec has made a significant difference to the ride, and improved the scuttle shake too. To be honest it isn't that bad - I'd just forgotten how much there is on cars of a similar vintage - I have experience of early Saab 9-3s and C900 convertibles and they're arguably just as bad.