My 1985 5000S has a bad brake accumulator. I had the name of someone in the midwest who had an exchange program going wherein he would send out a recharged unit for $50 plus core, followed by a return of the core charge upon his receipt of the old (dead) one. I have since lost his name. Does anyone by chance have his name/address, or any thoughts to share on the subject? I would like to avoid the expense of a new one, having been quoted something around $400 for a new one. Thank you for your time.

If the guy's name is Russ Southerlin, in Castle Rock, Co., don't trust him. I sent $68.00 to him five months ago and he has never done the job nor does he respond to an e mail request for my money back. I don't know of anyone else doing this at present. New ones at performance autoparts or Jagworks.com are at $222.00. It is an hour to replace it yourself with basic hand tools and patience.

I was looking at my accumulator, which is also bad, and it looks like the union toward the rear of the car, the one with the large bolt, is extremely rusty- I may need to replace it. It is a part that looks like it normally gets rusty on a car though, due to location, etc. Typically (obviously you have not seen mine so you can't say for sure) due to its function, does that rust go all the way through, or is it the flaky type that looks hardcore, but is just a shell?
Dan Spahn
'87 5kSQ

Bentley says you need to drill a hole in them to let the gas escape before throwing them away. I suppose I could sell them as cores. One has a bad valve, other is plain dead. I guess I could make fins for them & hang them from the ceiling.

I had no problems dealing with Russ...

I don't know what happened in your case. Too bad really :(

Someone needs to learn how to do this? Anytakers?

Steve
Michigan

I have seen someone mentioned on the Audi list. The word is that he is always behind.

I would be happy to if I could get a recipe. I need an old one for experimental purposes though. I talked to a Metric repair guy here in Billings who scoffed and scorned me for even having the thought of recharging those. Of course he also hates Audis too. I have never had mine off so I am not totally confident of recharging it unless I can hold it and look it over.

Somewhere on the web I saw what I recall were instructions, or a description, of rebuilding a bomb. I don't recall that it was all that difficult. Did require some equipment such as a vaccuum pump. As I recall it is just inert gas and a diaphram, I never could understand the price. Particularly when someone can rebuild them for $60-70.00 and make a profit.

I'll find an old one and start experimenting. I refuse to practice on my only one.

Russ Sutherlin russell.s.southerlin@lmco.com
I got this from the Q-list. I emailed him to see if he is still in business.

I have checked the Q-list archives and have heard from some members off list. It seems that Russ Sutherland can not be relied on to perform. P.S. He hasn't responded to my e-mail.

<a href="http://www.audifans.com/archives/1997/12/msg01840.html">Click here 1.</a>
<a href="http://www.audifans.com/archives/1997/12/msg00173.html">Click here 2.</a>
<a href="http://www.audifans.com/archives/1997/12/msg00180.html">Click here 3.</a>
<a href="http://www.audifans.com/archives/1997/12/msg00143.html">Click here 4.</a>

I have the shop equipment available for the rework, if someone wants to donate a sample bomb for R&amp;D. Assuming it's successful, you can have the sample back, refurbished, free of charge. Email me for shipping details.

DAJ