S3 trailing arm suspension collapse!

[bargrave]

Hi everyone,

I have a 2002 Audi S3 with some 68,000 miles on the clock which has performed well until last week.

Driving along the M40 the car suddenly lurched from the centre lane to the outside lane, where fortunately there was space for me. On pulling off at the next services, I was shocked to see the rear offside wheel at an angle of 15 degrees or so to the car. The recovery mechanic said it was wheel bearing failure and the car was sent to Victoria Audi in London, where it had been serviced 3 weeks earlier! On being telephoned from the roadside Audi said that if it was component failure Audi UK would be responsible for putting it right.

After some prevarication the garage subsequently rang to say that the trailing arm had snapped clean in two due to a hairline fracture caused at some time in the past by impact damage and produced an estimate for half the value of the car, given that the suspension failure had pulled the entire rear differential out.

Is this a known Audi problem? Surely the breakage of a trailing arm should not be classed as wear and tear for a car of this build quality. I am certainly getting a second opinion from an independent mechanic, but the principle of having to do so at all seems wrong in these circumstances.

Has anyone ever heard of this happening to other S-model quattros? Does anyone think that 6 year old Audis should have rear trailing arms that simply snap in two!? I am pretty shocked Audi is trying to wriggle out of this. Any suggestions?

Richard.

[Awesome_Andy]

I have never heard of that happening, how long have you owned the car for? Like they said, there could have been some previous damage to it (caused by a previous owner) which has caused it be weak.

Oh and just a note, this is best going in the S3 section, not the S4 B5 section

[david7m]

I've never heard of this either, but to be fair, I dont you think you have a leg to stand on with the cars age and mileage My gearbox selector snapped the other month costing £800, didn't even look into a complaint.

Has the car been involved in any accidents? # of previous owners?

Dave

[okkim]

I think that this is the same fault as in many TT's have.

[bargrave]

Thanks for all the replies, and sorry to post the original message in the S4 B5 section...I am new to the site. I have owned the car for 3 years, and it has never been involved in an accident. I am not aware of any impact to the underside either. Oh well, looks like I may have to shell out if the insurance company says the damage is caused by wear and tear and not impact damage.

[david7m]

Why are your insurance company involved?

Dave

[imolas4uk]

i have seen this fault before and it is the same fault as okkim has mentioned on the tt