How long should front suspension parts on an A6 last? At just under 50,000
miles, the track rod end joints are shot -- so much free play that the front
wheel toe in can be changed by over 1/2 inch just by wiggling the tires.

Audi dealer says that "virtually the entire front end needs to be replaced"
-- for more than $3000 (US). I have a Carmax extended warranty, and they
are now fighting with the dealer about coverage.

1. Should these parts wear out in less than 50K miles? The car has never
been driven on rough/unpaved roads.

2. Is $3000 a reasonable estimate to replace stuff in the front suspension,
or is the dealer "padding the job?"

 

<stephens@no-fixed-abode.com> wrote in message
news:2j03kv4n7nr1odr2fotpglctij83euvmpa@4ax.com...
> How long should front suspension parts on an A6 last? At just under
50,000
> miles, the track rod end joints are shot -- so much free play that the
front
> wheel toe in can be changed by over 1/2 inch just by wiggling the tires.
>
> Audi dealer says that "virtually the entire front end needs to be
replaced"
> -- for more than $3000 (US). I have a Carmax extended warranty, and they
> are now fighting with the dealer about coverage.
>
> 1. Should these parts wear out in less than 50K miles? The car has never
> been driven on rough/unpaved roads.
>
> 2. Is $3000 a reasonable estimate to replace stuff in the front
suspension,
> or is the dealer "padding the job?"

Can't it be that only the silent blocks are worn? That would not be abnormal
after 5 years of service.

Ronald


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My '98 A6Q wagon just turned 130K this past week and it has never had a
problem like this. Likewise my '95 A6Q wagon which I traded at 140K.

Let us know if Carmax honors the extended warranty. I am guessing they will
find some excuse for stiffing you.

Bob


<stephens@no-fixed-abode.com> wrote in message
news:2j03kv4n7nr1odr2fotpglctij83euvmpa@4ax.com...
> How long should front suspension parts on an A6 last? At just under
50,000
> miles, the track rod end joints are shot -- so much free play that the
front
> wheel toe in can be changed by over 1/2 inch just by wiggling the tires.
>
> Audi dealer says that "virtually the entire front end needs to be
replaced"
> -- for more than $3000 (US). I have a Carmax extended warranty, and they
> are now fighting with the dealer about coverage.
>
> 1. Should these parts wear out in less than 50K miles? The car has never
> been driven on rough/unpaved roads.
>
> 2. Is $3000 a reasonable estimate to replace stuff in the front
suspension,
> or is the dealer "padding the job?"

 

On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 14:22:03 GMT, "eBob.com" <eBob.com@totallybogus.com>
wrote:

> My '98 A6Q wagon just turned 130K this past week and it has never had a
> problem like this. Likewise my '95 A6Q wagon which I traded at 140K.
>
> Let us know if Carmax honors the extended warranty. I am guessing they will
> find some excuse for stiffing you.

They have approved most things, but they insist that only 4.8 hours is
allowed for replacing all four control links, while the dealer insists that
it is 9.6 hours. The dealer will not provide any backup for their figure,
and the Maxcare warranty people say they go by the "national labor
estimates" for each make/model of car. Both are pointing fingers at each
other.

I have contacted AudiUSA to see if they can help break the logjam.
Meanwhile, my car sits not getting fixed!

>
> Bob
>
>
> <stephens@no-fixed-abode.com> wrote in message
> news:2j03kv4n7nr1odr2fotpglctij83euvmpa@4ax.com...
> > How long should front suspension parts on an A6 last? At just under
> 50,000
> > miles, the track rod end joints are shot -- so much free play that the
> front
> > wheel toe in can be changed by over 1/2 inch just by wiggling the tires.
> >
> > Audi dealer says that "virtually the entire front end needs to be
> replaced"
> > -- for more than $3000 (US). I have a Carmax extended warranty, and they
> > are now fighting with the dealer about coverage.
> >
> > 1. Should these parts wear out in less than 50K miles? The car has never
> > been driven on rough/unpaved roads.
> >
> > 2. Is $3000 a reasonable estimate to replace stuff in the front
> suspension,
> > or is the dealer "padding the job?"
>

 

On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 21:56:00 -0400, stephens@no-fixed-abode.com wrote:

>How long should front suspension parts on an A6 last? At just under 50,000
>miles, the track rod end joints are shot -- so much free play that the front
>wheel toe in can be changed by over 1/2 inch just by wiggling the tires.
>
>Audi dealer says that "virtually the entire front end needs to be replaced"
>-- for more than $3000 (US). I have a Carmax extended warranty, and they
>are now fighting with the dealer about coverage.
>
>1. Should these parts wear out in less than 50K miles? The car has never
>been driven on rough/unpaved roads.
>
>2. Is $3000 a reasonable estimate to replace stuff in the front suspension,
>or is the dealer "padding the job?"

My '99 A6 had a track rod end go after less than 30K miles! There was
a recall on some A6 models for track rod ends. (don't know whether it
affected US models). My A6 was built after the recall period had
finished but maybe yours wasn't.

It seems very unlikely that your whole front suspensions should need
replacing after 50K unless you drive over very rough roads all the
time. I would get it checked by another garage if not sure.

Mark

 

My A6 had to have the track-rod ends replaced at about 50K miles, and
this was done under the Audi replacement scheme (my A6 is a 98 model
quattro). I have now (at 130,000) got to have a number of suspension
joints changed.

$3,000 does seem a little excessive, but most of that will be the
labour, as all of the driveshafts etc. will need to be dismantled if
they have to change hub assemblies etc.

But to counter Mark's comments, if a suspension joint has worn/failed
badly, and you kept on driving it with a vibration (and, my theory is
that you did, because of the 1/2 inch movement comment) then that
vibration WILL have severely damaged all of the surrounding suspension
joints. Driving at 30 mph with that much movement would be like
driving at 100mph cross-country across the rockies.

Ashley


On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 10:47:42 +0100, nowhere@home.com wrote:

>On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 21:56:00 -0400, stephens@no-fixed-abode.com wrote:
>
>>How long should front suspension parts on an A6 last? At just under 50,000
>>miles, the track rod end joints are shot -- so much free play that the front
>>wheel toe in can be changed by over 1/2 inch just by wiggling the tires.
>>
>>Audi dealer says that "virtually the entire front end needs to be replaced"
>>-- for more than $3000 (US). I have a Carmax extended warranty, and they
>>are now fighting with the dealer about coverage.
>>
>>1. Should these parts wear out in less than 50K miles? The car has never
>>been driven on rough/unpaved roads.
>>
>>2. Is $3000 a reasonable estimate to replace stuff in the front suspension,
>>or is the dealer "padding the job?"
>
>My '99 A6 had a track rod end go after less than 30K miles! There was
>a recall on some A6 models for track rod ends. (don't know whether it
>affected US models). My A6 was built after the recall period had
>finished but maybe yours wasn't.
>
>It seems very unlikely that your whole front suspensions should need
>replacing after 50K unless you drive over very rough roads all the
>time. I would get it checked by another garage if not sure.
>
>Mark

>************************************************* ****
>Ashley Shepherd
>Consultancy Services
>email to ashley.shepherd@virgin.net
>************************************************* ****