Sourcing parts for failed MOT - rear shock/rear discs/front suspension ball joint

Hi all.

Just had my 2001 A4 tdi Avant back from MOT and failed on the following - N/s/r shock. n/s/f/suspension upper and lower ball joint, rear brake discs.

Anyone know if in Bristol area there is 'cheap' parts supplier or whether its just worth sucking up the cost? Been quoted £350 + vat for the repairs?

Is it ever worth buying used parts and should I try and source myself?

Anyone know of any independent chaps who might see this as a project of love and not charge the earth?!

Am based between Bristol and Bath.
As someone I know said....thats 15 bottles of 2005 st emillion grand cru!

Cheers !

Rich....

Well I would try and find your local GSF or ECP.

The rear shock absorber you will need a pair, as you shouldn't fit them individually as the handling will be unbalanced, especially if they are both originals.

The rear brake disks & pads will be due for replacement at that age in any case. These will be about £100-£120 ish inc VAT at Audi I think.

With the NSF suspension upper and lower ball joints, do they mean the suspension arms? The lower front (I think) is a common failire item as the bushes/joints give up with age/mileage, so if they are still original on your vehicle then they will be due a change in any case.

Again, you may want to get the other side done as well, and it may well be the case that if you are going to be keeping the car, then all the arms will need to be done at some point. If you need an upper one done, then labour difference will be minimal I think for the other upper one to also be done, you will just need the other arm.

Don't buy the cheap arms as you find them on Ebay and also in some motor factors, as they will not last very long at all, and some of them fail very quickly.

If you can, find some one that can supply you with the Lemforder arms, these are Audi OEM, and will probably be about 50% of Audi prices.

Finally, if you are going to get the parts yourself, do ring Audi for a price, as then you have something to go on. I would expect that the brake disks/pads and the shock absorbers you may be surprised at the prices, where as the suspension arms are serious money.

Buying second had parts is always a risk. For safety related items always buy new parts. If you are getting the parts 2nd had of another vehicle of a similar age, unless they have just been replaced with nice new shiny parts before it was scrapped, they may well be in the same state as your ones at the moment. Save your dosh and get new.

thanks John - many thanks for the advice. I think I'm going to just chat everything through with the local mechanic...I guess the more interest I take the more likely I am to see where the ££££ is being spent....and so hopefully save.

Have tried a couple of places for ball park quotes and they vary from 350 - 550 so worth shopping around!!

Cheers

Might also be worth asking then what parts they are going to use and who they are made by? There is good mark-up in the cheap copy parts...

Can I gate crash this thread?!

I am looking to get new discs and pads all round and wonder if eBay sourced ones are ok? Or if I should go with ECP sourced ATE discs and pads.

The eBay discs/pads are around £35-45 shipped for the set where as ECP ATE products will be around £75.

Happy to save a few quid but not if braking performance will be poor and they wear out quicker.

Thx, Rich

I personally would give Ebay a miss on this one, especially as it is safety related.

ECP for a complete set of ATE disks & pads is good, but check the main dealer also, as the genuine set for your application will be around £100ish