Hi All!

I'm hoping someone with more experience than me can help me just get an idea of where I stand with some work.

My 1997 1.8 petrol A4 failed its MOT. I had anticipated needing tyres, and sorted that out in advance... but the mysterious clicking sound when turning corners turned out to be a fail -

"nearside front lower suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint" - and same for offside.
and "nearside outer front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc" - and the same for offside.

The MOT garage quoted £370 but a private mechanic I've used in the past quoted £250. So I went with that! I also got him to do a service for another £100. Ended up being a big bill =(

He replaced the arms - he said one was an upper arm and one was a lower... and replaced gaiters and filled them with grease. I picked it up... took it back to the MOT garage and they just knelt down and peeped underneath and said they'd go and do my certificate (not much of a comprehensive re-test!)

It's still making the clicking sound though, when going around corners. Not as bad as before but it's clearly not fixed properly.

I called my mechanic to ask if he'd expect it to still be clicking around corners and he said it must be that the CV joints themselves need replacing. He said he'd get back to me with a cost.

I know that the CV joint is tough to get to. I've already paid him to get to them once... I'm worried about getting hit with a big bill for him to do something that possibly he should have done before.

What do you guys reckon? Is this just a bit of a bugger for me and take it on the chin or is this something he should have done differently the first time around, and that I should negotiate on those grounds?

Thanks a lot =)

Edit - I suppose another question is, given that we've just spent nearly £600 to get the car through its MOT, is replacing the CV joints something that can be put off for a bit?!