Hey yall its been awhile since I actually dropped in with my loved but trouble some 2.8 (good news is I got rid of the loud noise the bad alternator and drive belt were causing).

My brakes are still going (have to change front rotors and pads) and have to work on the suspension now that I know everything that needs fixing, all four lower control arms and tie rod ends for the front... along with both front drive axles (yes I know this is getting pricey).

Thing is I can't bother with any shops buying the parts for me they... want $100 for each rotor $100+ for each pad and lets not get to the control arms and drive axles. So I have decided to buy the parts online myself but that brings about the dilemma. I don't know how to balance good and decent priced parts from the just too cheap parts.

So far I am settling on these for my brake work...
rotors (2 of these)... http://worldimpex.com/item_detail.html?sku=9895
pads... http://worldimpex.com/item_detail.html?sku=238790

Everything else I am still completely lost on (I am looking at stores and ebay but don't know what I can trust to buy on ebay... the drive axles and control arm deals look tempting).

Overall I'm just looking for stock quality but not at dealer prices

early 1998 A4 2.8L Quattro tiptronic

My left side cv boot even ripped already hoping it doesnt go on me these next three days of class. Thanks for the help as usual guys.

 

in the stickies theres a list of good merchants and links to their sites. i bought my brembo rotors and pads off ebay for like $240. also got my shocks and springs off ebay. i know you can get a set of zimmerman rotors on ebay (which are the same exact rotors you linked to) for $120 per pair or like $200 per set. not $100 each. pads are cheap so whatever you want for those just go for it.

on ebay, if its fairly priced (meaning if you see a complete brake kit for $50, or a full turbo kit for $200, its probably junk) and brand named, then its normaly a safe bet. as long as your not looking at the absoloute lowest priced stuff its not bad.

ecstuning.com is a good place to get alot of replacement stuff

 

Adam@spp on AZ sell the set of rotors (f&r) for $300. Ecode has a stage 2 rotor, pad, b.lines and fluid for $600ish.

 

Thanks guys. I got the brakes done today (ordered the parts--$173 tax and shipping included... installed for $60 coming to a grand total of $233. Definitely better than $500+ tax).

Now its just my Control arms and Drive axles.

I also jacked up my car and tested the wheels (car placed in park) and these are the symptoms in the front.



Front left has symptoms of figure A (1 inch) and B (1cm).
Front right has sypmtoms of A (1inch) only.

 

100 bux per pad? wtf is it made of lol. the brakes you listed are fine. for the CAs and drrive axles, get FEBI CAs and drive axle prices won't change much but if you live in NY or nearby states, germanautoparts.com is the best place to go. figure A is ok, 1cm of figure B is not good. def get on the CAs and axles fast. also, watch out for the dreaded pinch bolt in the front. there's a bolt that holds the 2 upper control arms to the spindle, just don't take it out.

 

Thanks man yeah I'm getting ready to buy the drive axles and CA kit and was wondering if this seems like a good CA kit on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...Q5fAccessories

On another note I changed my oil myself.
Now if I could change those parts by myself I'd be good cause now I gotta save the money to pay workmanship to get those done (why the hell dont you guys live in NYC or long island lol).

I'll keep you guys posted.

 

i think people have installed kits like that off ebay and had them work fine.

if you want to try it yourself... go here http://www.mediafire.com/?xzhbw04j9bh

download the file. its got every service procedure in there with sketches and diagrams. print out the one for your control arms. just follow the steps.

 

Thanks alot man. I may not try the control arms myself but definitely see alot of other stuff I am willing to have a go with on my own. Been looking for something of this sort for awhile (kept looking on ebay for a bentley manual for cheap).