MOT Fail....

[JimRS6]

Well the RS6 failed its MOT:

Front upper suspension arm bushes on the rear of the suspension leg

and a massive leak from Nearside Front Shock

Ouch

[bam_bam]

Bye bye DRC?

[JimRS6]

Potentially, it's going to the stealers for full diagnosis, at a cost of £60, so once I've more information I can make a decision. I have 2 weeks before the MOT is out, and currently no £££ due to spending mega money on the house!

Hopefully get some Trade Discount from the Stealers too which may help me!

[lswing]

Koni Yellow Sport struts, best cheap and good solution. You'll still need new bushings, top hats. Then it won't handle like crap:)

[p19dro]

I recently replaced the top arms with meyle hd ones for not to much but the pinch bolt was an absolute nightmare to get out. Ended up snapping the hex head off and then pulling them out by threading a nut with spacers to pull them out. The meyle kits come with the replacement bolts required.

[JimRS6]

if only c6 front shocks fitted... There's some on the bay...

I can't afford the £1800 for Coilovers atm, and don't want to compromise on ride & handling quality.

Hopefully do a deal on parts with Audi, have them fitted by my garage then get the system recharged, as I assume the £840 estimate is £500 labour at main stealer rates!

[Capt Ric]

Jim,
Like many had the leaking front DRC shocks a couple of years ago.
Wanted to keep it original and in anycase was cheaper than replacing with coilovers, which may or may not be better.
Cost approx £1k and no problem in nearly 3 years.
Highly recommend Unit 20.

[Shoppinit]

I can't believe there are still cars out there on DRC other than Dave's.

Make sure the stealer knows how to recharge the DRC properly (assuming you don't get a phone call halfway through to tell you you need new reservoirs) so that you don't end up with your ass in the air. I mean the car's ass. You kinda put your ass in the and drop your trousers when you trust your car to a stealer anyway.

/or do what Ric said

[JimRS6]

I've just found a DRC shock on eBay wrongly listed as Nearside Rear, when it looks like a front shock 100 notes...

Clamp the DRC pipe, change shock, then get the stealers or find someone else to recharge the DRC?! could save me several hundred quid!

otherwise being ass raped by Audi is the only option,

[JimRS6]

Bit the bullet and went to the main stealers yesterday for the DRC shock replacement and recharge. £750 so cheaper then both quotes they gave me, coffee on arrival and collection, update calls throughout the day, health check, and a valet...

Tbh I'd also expect the red carpet to be rolled out! however can't fault the service, and it drives like a dream.

[Shoppinit]

it drives like a dream.

What, floaty and that feeling you've got no control over what happens?

[Nobby]

^ Lol

Hey, I have DRC too. I do fear its days are numbered though. It was changed around 2 years before I bought it so its atleast 5 years old now.

Got a complete spare set of DRC dampers though - just hope I can catch it early and the valve(s) don't break. Saw a new valve on ebay a few months back that was £180. Think they are over £700 new. Still kicking myself for not buying it.

[Shoppinit]

I would be interested to see an autopsy one of those valves. I wonder if there's a generic hydraulic valve that could replace it. I don't know much about hydraulics, but there must be loads of off-the-shelf stuff for diggers and whatnot.

[TomRS6TT]

Good thinking Shoppinit. Few days ago I looked general drawing of central valve and I'm quite sure it's possible to fix them. In near future I'm planning to buy used one from ebay to start looking what's needed to renew one of these valves.
I have little noise from passenger side rear strut, but there is no oil leaks from any of them and noise goes away when strut has warmed little, so it's mission to fix it if possible.

[JimRS6]

it drives like a dream.

What, floaty and that feeling you've got no control over what happens?

Haha no it feels less wallowy and bouncy, it was horrendous on the awful roads around here! It was like driving a vw that had been slammed on cheap coilovers and standard shocks!