2nd Gear
You are driving an Audi which is already more firm then other luxury cars in the same class because Audi tries to be in the middle between sporty and luxury. Therefore you should not have a wobbly feeling at all unless you have a suspension problem.
The more information you provide on your mechanic the more I feel like it is time to let him go and search for someone who knows more about suspension and offers better customer service then what he did. Someone who would really care and make you feel like you are doing the right thing, would take the car for a test drive and do a thorough visual inspection of your entire suspension (that includes control arms, struts and even drive axles).
Get a quote on the repairs with labor, look at your savings and talk to your wife
Make a decision afterwards if you really want to go with the upgraded version since that is a lot of extra money we are talking about.
At the end of the day I spend over $1600 just for the parts of my little project and had no labor costs. I really don't want to think about what the costs would have been considering most mechanics want around $100 per hour (if they are not AUDI mechanics).
The more information you provide on your mechanic the more I feel like it is time to let him go and search for someone who knows more about suspension and offers better customer service then what he did. Someone who would really care and make you feel like you are doing the right thing, would take the car for a test drive and do a thorough visual inspection of your entire suspension (that includes control arms, struts and even drive axles).
Get a quote on the repairs with labor, look at your savings and talk to your wife
Make a decision afterwards if you really want to go with the upgraded version since that is a lot of extra money we are talking about. At the end of the day I spend over $1600 just for the parts of my little project and had no labor costs. I really don't want to think about what the costs would have been considering most mechanics want around $100 per hour (if they are not AUDI mechanics).
I took some photos of my front shocks.
Left - is that oil and road grime?
Left - Does the plate at the bottom look bent? Does the rubber surrounding the bolt in the top left look okay?
Right:
Right side -- burnt or rusted?
Do the orange-white-white color bands mean anything in particular?
What do you see?
Left - is that oil and road grime?
Left - Does the plate at the bottom look bent? Does the rubber surrounding the bolt in the top left look okay?
Right:
Right side -- burnt or rusted?
Do the orange-white-white color bands mean anything in particular?
What do you see?
2nd Gear
That sounds like just a quote for stock/oem replacement parts with labor. Now imagine you would actually go with the "upgrade" version, that would probably double the price - yikes.
That quote was it for struts only or for control arms and struts?
That quote was it for struts only or for control arms and struts?
Changed the four shocks with stock replacements. Did improve things, but not as much as I had hoped. Handling was improved.
The change eliminated the rattle noise, which was upsetting the missus. I suspect replacing the front shocks (which did show leakage) might have been sufficient.
However, I still don't feel like it is a "luxury car" ride.
To my surprise, the car is as springy/bouncy as ever -- I guess that is the design of my A6. (I did not replace the springs.)
I have been told that the major problem is the terrible condition of the rounds in my area.
Will probably have to look to Mercedes, Lexus, Crown Vic, or an old Hummer for my next ride.
The change eliminated the rattle noise, which was upsetting the missus. I suspect replacing the front shocks (which did show leakage) might have been sufficient.
However, I still don't feel like it is a "luxury car" ride.
To my surprise, the car is as springy/bouncy as ever -- I guess that is the design of my A6. (I did not replace the springs.)
I have been told that the major problem is the terrible condition of the rounds in my area.
Will probably have to look to Mercedes, Lexus, Crown Vic, or an old Hummer for my next ride.
2nd Gear
I did mention in earlier posts Audi is in between sport and luxury. So if you want it super smooth without stiff steering, good cornering, or feeling close to the road - get a Mercedes. At least stick with a German car :P