DRC

[Winstone]

Had a quote today from Audi to replace all 4 shocks for just under £1,600. Is this the going rate or am I being mugged off ?!??!

[MikeFish]

Not sure but thought that sounded reasonable.
However, the question I'd be asking is do all 4 shocks (if any) actually need to be changed.

[psglas]

That's a good price from Audi. I've had 3 done in the last year with varying amounts of goodwill from Audi. The last one was just less than £400 with 50% goodwill. The shock and tube are £300 ex VAT for the parts alone.

The main risk is you may need other parts which will bloat the price. If they'll guarantee the £1600 it's a good deal assuming you have the original shocks. You can be sure they will fail at some point.

[TonyHayers]

Price on the face of it isn't too bad, but I would find out if they've done any other DRC work and whether they have the proper tools. You'd be surprised how many don't. Audi Bradford did have the tool, but still managed to cock mine up by leaving the valves locked *and* damaging one of the charging pipes.

I'd recommend going indy with Unit20, MRC or AMD tbh.

[MartayMcFly]

I was £400 to replace one, so sounds right.

[guffy]

Sounds good to me, i was £1700 for one shock and an accumulator.

Don't be surprised if other things need replacing and the cost starts to esculate...

Does the quote include VAT and labour?

[Winstone]

They are the original shocks and the car has done 80k. It was in for a service with an indy Audi Specialist who diagnosed that all 4 need replacing but they do not have the special tools to carry out the work. The price from Audi includes parts, labour and VAT. I am trying for some goodwill from Audi but I fear the mileage and age (56 plate) may rule this out.

Excuse my ignorance but what is an accumulator?

[TonyHayers]

Shocks are connected diagonally (front right to rear left etc) and the flow of hydraulic fluid between each pair is controlled by a valve a.k.a accumulator, central valve etc. Replacement cost is £900 odd plus VAT :s

[Winstone]

Ok thanks. Bl00dy hope I don't need one of those too!

[TonyHayers]

Ok thanks. Bl00dy hope I don't need one of those too!

I think I remember Grizz saying that they are very rarely a problem, usually just leaky shocks.

[F@tBoyF@t]

Ok thanks. Bl00dy hope I don't need one of those too!

I think I remember Grizz saying that they are very rarely a problem, usually just leaky shocks.

I think that the Kayaba valve can be phucked if you allow the leaking shock absorbers to go on too long.
Having said that by that time the car is pretty much undriveable anyway?

[Winstone]

Ok thanks. Bl00dy hope I don't need one of those too!

I think I remember Grizz saying that they are very rarely a problem, usually just leaky shocks.

Fingers crossed!!

[PetrolDave]

I think that the Kayaba valve can be phucked if you allow the leaking shock absorbers to go on too long.

Not only if you leave it too long - I had a shock go on a Saturday evening (had to swerve at 70(!)mph to avoid some d*ckheads walking in the road on an unlit dual carriageway), drove no more than 10 miles after that and could hear the "death rattle" of the valve underneath the car - cost around £1600 for the valve plus the one shock that failed.

[Markymark-RS4-B7]

Sounds very reasonable to me for all of that work.

[Winstone]

BIG thumbs up for Stansted Audi. They had the car in on Monday and I picked the car up on Tuesday and I am very pleased indeed. Car is transformed and the customer service at Stansted Audi was first class!