Hi All - I just bought my first Audi last week, a 98 A4 2.8 manual, and it has a broken rear spring. I was quoted by a local Audi/VW specialist $250 to replace it. This seems awful high, and has me considering my options.

The car has 140k miles on the original shocks. I'm on a really tight budget and was thinking of attempting to replace the spring myself, and use the saved $$ to replace the shocks as well.

So my question: Are replacing shocks/springs on these cars that labor intensive? I've done this job before on Hondas, and working on an AWD Audi has me scared. I couldn't find a write-up anywhere and I'm looking to stay stock height, no mods. Thoughts?

 

look around in the classifieds for people getting rid of used springs. you can probably find one for under $50 shipped and install it yourself. the rear isnt very hard, the front are worse having the fourlink suspension and all. a set of bilstein sport shocks are around $500. thats pretty much the cheapest shocks that are an upgrade from stock.

edit: btw for $250 you can get a set of 4 new aftermarket springs.

 

you can get a set of S4 struts/springs for 250 lol. S4 springs themselves are super cheap though. you can find a set for about 50 shipped. also don't drive with the broken spring for too long, my whole rear end chasis twisted causing my rear CA to scrape the fender liner when my springs broke. also it's not that hard of a job but try to get some1 else to help you and hope there are no stuck bolts. good luck

 

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/wheel28c.shtml The rears are really easy to swap. $250 is expensive for a full set of all four springs new. If you really want to stay stock height I think maybe the easiest thing to do would be message someone with a 2.8 that upgraded their suspension and see if they'd sell an old spring for cheap if you don't mind buying used. Or you could do the S4 springs upgrade as mentioned which is like less than .5" lower but apparently much better. Good luck.

 

We're about to install S4 springs on another A4 here (seems to be all the rage these days around here lol), and he'll have a spare stock spring that I'm sure would be available for peanuts. I agree with Hiwords - have a second set of hands - it helps especially during reinstall. Spring swapping is pretty easy on these cars, and it's good that you have done it before, so you're familiar with spring compressors and the potential for serious injury. I'd never recommend someone do one for the first time without experienced help alongside.

 

hey i just went through the same thing and it was the same price at most places, im not sure if your location but i ended up going to a better audi/ VW shop here in leominster MA and they hooked me up with a used one installed for $160

 

I took my 99 A4 in to have a bent tire rod replaced this morning, and they phoned me to tell me I have a broken spring, and replacement is $1500-this is the Audi dealer. I told them to hold off on the spring replacement-am i being hosed?

 

you're getting hosed off better than a burning house

 

Bro, are you kidding? Look at the posts above - $1500 is prison-shower rape. You could buy aftermarket springs new, pay to have them installed, and be out the door for half that.