One of those weeks

[Jim Haseltine]

Strange how a car knows when it's MoT is due isn't it?
Monday I discovered the OSF DRC hose had split - luckily my local dealer's parts manager was able to get one for Tuesday morning.
Yesterday I put it in for MoT a few days early - it failed due to the OSR shock having sprung a leak. By the time it was failed I'd missed the parts cut-off so a new shock is unlikely to arrive before Tuesday morning as there are no deliveries on Saturday and Monday is the National Lazy Worker Bank Holiday.

[cammmy]

ah man, sorry to hear that.

[Jim Haseltine]

Reckon the shock has been leaking for a while, probably haven't noticed it because I've not been doing many miles.
The oil I drained from the OSF/NSR last week looked almost brand new - and pretty much was as I had to fit a new NSR shock a year or so back.
The oil I drained today from the NSF/OSR was different and I'm dreading that it may have caused other problems.
Oil on the right is what came out of the shock, it's pretty much 50/50 oil and water and looks like white coffee while the oil on the left is a sample of what else pumped out from the pipes and NSF shock after I'd fitted the new OSR.

[ATinOf]

If that was out of a box or diff I'd share your concern Jim, but the oil only acts as a damping fluid, passing through orifices and valves, so I wouldnt worry too much for the DRC, still not nice to see. Im assuming theres no foreign matter in it (metal, rubber)

[ATinOf]

You must have jinxed me Jim, doing a major service, noticed rocker cover gasket OffSide has been leaking, so now changing that. Pig to do with engine in situ.

[ATinOf]

Job would be so much easier if that far bottom corner fixing under the myriad of pipes back there was in a more accessible spot...

[Jim Haseltine]

Pig to do

There are few jobs on an Audi that aren't. Over the years I've built up a collection of tools custom modified to make specific tasks easier. Said tools are now rendered useless for their original roles although very rarely one can be used for another awkward task on another car - usually another Audi.
Modification instructions for one spanner were actually contained in an Audi workshop manual.

[c3nturi0n]

I don't miss those days ... hopefully it will be back on the rd soon.

[Jim Haseltine]

Some odd handling this week which felt like maybe there was some wear in the front bushes or ball joints. Then by chance this morning I spotted a large pool of shock oil behind the nearside rear wheel. Split hose. That's two and a shock this year. I suppose it's not bad really as the car is 13 years old and in the 7 years of my ownership it's needed 2 rear shocks and 3 hoses.
Kudos to the parts manager (again) as a replacement hose should arrive tomorrow morning.