power steering pipe swap-WE NEED TO REMOVE YOUR ENGINE SIR!!

[sar]

right i took my rs4 in to teeside audi today to have the power steering pipe changed as it had a slow leak.
at first they said that before they could price the job they had to get it in the air on a ramp to take a look, surely they could time the job straight off the computer? but anyway....
then had a phone call dinner time ish to say they had priced it using warranty times which came back at 3.3 hours labour about £300 odd quid (i supplied the parts and fluid).
i thought that sounded plenty but i wanted it doing so i said go ahead.
then about 2 hours later i get a call saying that they cant fit the pipe and they have rang audi technical and they said the engine needs to come out!!!!!
they wanted 20+hours labour at something like £2000!, surely this cant be right?.
i told them im not paying £2000 odd quid to change a power steering pipe and told them to put the car back together.
what you guys recon? anyone had and experience with changing the pipe?.

[adsgreen]

I think they have mis-understood audi technical.
Ask them to clarrify which specific pipe has the leak from the exploded diagram



Now some of the pipes that are being changed *do* require the engine to be bolted to a support frame so that the weight is taken up of some components. But the workshop manual definately says not to remove the engine in these cases. I can't find any reference to any part of the power steering mech requiring the entire engine out.

[sar]

the leak is from pipe 24 on the diagram just near where bolt 14 attaches.

[adsgreen]

Ah I see why now - most of the power steering gubbins and especially the power steering pump are located in a space between the engine and one of the primary engine mounts. In order to get to it you would either have to take the engine out or support engine and remove the mount from below. Removing the the mount from below doesn't seem that bad - it's a process not much different from changing the anti roll bar.
However there isn't specific instructions on every single pipe - you may be that unlucky to have one that is routed in a way that can't be replaced with engine in situ.

[sar]

i hope im not that unlucky , i looked at it in the workshop and the pipe comes up from the pump and runs down the chassis leg to the rack.
i asked if any other audis past or present had to have the engine removed for a power steering pipe to be changed and they said none that they could think of.
thanks for the reply ads, anyone else with any input?.

[lengster1]

2k for the services of a mechanic for 3 days!!! Im sorry but you just cannot take these cars to franchise dealers for anything other than a basic service and stamp in the book.Bog standard decent garage for anything like this,youve not exactly had excellent brand knowledge demonstrated have you? So why pay the stupid hourly rates? I think 40-50 an hour at a good specialist is realistic.Good luck in getting it sorted but thats crazy money for basic spannerwork

[B7RSX]

As said by Lengster1 franchise dealer only for basic service and stamp in the book. I'm the same... just got the car serviced from them yesterday... stamp on the book done. They informed me my CV boot is leaking and rear pads are almost done. Said thank you very much and went and got it booked at my local Specialist... for literally half the price.
Best of luck with the work but seriously consider Specialist route.

[sar]

dont worry mate ive got no intention of giving audi £2000+.
the car was only there because it only has a couple of days of the 5 year DRC good will warranty left and i wanted it checking over for peace off mind.
so i thought if it was only a couple of hours labour i would get it done and kill 2 birds with one stone.
i talked to grizz today from unit 20 about changing it, he said he has never done one but had a b7 rs4 on the ramp so he had a quick look and agreed it looked a complete <beep> to get to and indeed the engine may need to be pulled!.
its not leaking bad i think ive only topped up the steering fluid up 2 or 3 times in 5 years just when you look at the pipe it looks thick with sludge and i just want me baby right!.
if anyone is taking my engine out it will be unit 20 or mrc not .

[rs4blacked]

As said by Lengster1 franchise dealer only for basic service and stamp in the book. I'm the same... just got the car serviced from them yesterday... stamp on the book done. They informed me my CV boot is leaking and rear pads are almost done. Said thank you very much and went and got it booked at my local Specialist... for literally half the price.
Best of luck with the work but seriously consider Specialist route.

With you saying that a Full monty service at my local Stealer £684 local audi specialist £350 no contest really

[P_G]

dont worry mate ive got no intention of giving audi £2000+.
the car was only there because it only has a couple of days of the 5 year DRC good will warranty left and i wanted it checking over for peace off mind.
so i thought if it was only a couple of hours labour i would get it done and kill 2 birds with one stone.
i talked to grizz today from unit 20 about changing it, he said he has never done one but had a b7 rs4 on the ramp so he had a quick look and agreed it looked a complete <beep> to get to and indeed the engine may need to be pulled!.
its not leaking bad i think ive only topped up the steering fluid up 2 or 3 times in 5 years just when you look at the pipe it looks thick with sludge and i just want me baby right!.
if anyone is taking my engine out it will be unit 20 or mrc not .

or take it up the road to Revolution, they've done a fair bit of work on RS4 engines now and would make a good job of it plus less of a trip for you.

[sar]

thanks pg forgot about revolution and they are only down the road.

[PaulF]

If you've only had to top up the fluid 2 or 3 times in three years it doesn't sound like a desperate leak, can't you do a job with liquid metal.

[adsgreen]

Considering the pressure of the power steering line that must be a tiny leak.

What it may be worth looking at is the joining mechanism for the pipes is incredibly well detailed in the workshop manual and has several high contrast warning about making sure certain connection are made in a specific manner. Maybe one is not quite right?

[sar]

the point where the pipe is leaking is where it goes from metal to rubber, you can not undo the connection the pipe is one piece.
i thought about some type of liquid metal but not sure it will bond to the rubber?.

[adsgreen]

jubilee clip?