How much?

cavanmaniac · 22-01-2008 11:49am #1

Garage man tells me my two rear shocks are 'leaking' and need to be replaced. Audi A4. What's the cheapest I'm looking at here to buy the parts and get the work done? Is a scrapyard a bad route to go?

I have to say I was surprised about the shocks because I haven't noticed any sort of bottoming out noise in them...

listermint · 22-01-2008 11:53am

First of all stop right there, garage could be chancin their arm. They tried that sh*te wit me when i got my mothers wheel balanced. I knew the shocks were fine, but he aske me did i want them to do them while it was there because they were near gone. Told him to take a hike and do what i brought the car in for. Get a second opinion.

listermint · 22-01-2008 11:55am

http://www.aa1car.com/library/ride1.htm

Quick look over.

groupb · 22-01-2008 11:56am

Never buy shocks in a scrapyard as its impossible to know what type of use/abuse they have had before. Buy new ones.They should always be relaced in pairs. If you do'nt want to go to a main dealer most factors or specalists like GSF should have them.

domania · 22-01-2008 12:03pm

Have a look at the shocks yourself. Are they leaking? You'd notice it on each shock. If they are then your better off replacing them. When did you car last sit the NCT? If it's due shortly then wait until then as they will give you a more honest assessment and the retest price is low.

Never buy replacement shocks from a scrap yard. If you need to save money then go to somewhere like Advance pitstop or fastfit to get the work done. Ring them up and ask for a price. They are generally far more reasonable and you'll only be off the road for a couple of hours while they do the work.

http://www.advancepitstop.com/

http://www.fastfit.ie/

cantdecide · 22-01-2008 12:09pm

If it's standard model ther should be no problem. If it's a quattro it could be very expensive.

I had a '98 A4 avant TDi Q Sport and i got rear shocks for it. Garage told me that they couldn't be got except as a genuine part. Bollocks to that I said and made my own inquiries and they were right, I tried everywhere for them. Not only that but they were a special order from Germany that took weeks to arrive and when they did, they cost €750+ fitting. I didn't even need them that much in the end:rolleyes: That's what happens when you leave garages use trial and error with your car.

cavanmaniac · 22-01-2008 12:39pm

Cheers guys, I was taking it with a pinch of salt tbh, defo until I can get someone to look at it.

I also need a set of new tyres which I'm planning to get done in Blanchardstown shortly, they also do shocks and stuff so I'll get him to have a gander.

Incidentally, is there any particular brand/type of tyres that people recommend? Motorway speeds is the fastest I go but I like something grippy as well. Michelins were on the car when I bought it...

[edit] And how much am I looking at for new shocks, not Quattro?

cantdecide · 22-01-2008 1:05pm

cavanmaniac wrote: »

Cheers guys, I was taking it with a pinch of salt tbh, defo until I can get someone to look at it.

I also need a set of new tyres which I'm planning to get done in Blanchardstown shortly, they also do shocks and stuff so I'll get him to have a gander.

Incidentally, is there any particular brand/type of tyres that people recommend? Motorway speeds is the fastest I go but I like something grippy as well. Michelins were on the car when I bought it...

[edit] And how much am I looking at for new shocks, not Quattro?

€100-€150 maybe? If they're just that, it's probably worth doing if the car is from the '90s.

mickdw · 22-01-2008 1:11pm

cantdecide wrote: »

If it's standard model ther should be no problem. If it's a quattro it could be very expensive.

I had a '98 A4 avant TDi Q Sport and i got rear shocks for it. Garage told me that they couldn't be got except as a genuine part. Bollocks to that I said and made my own inquiries and they were right, I tried everywhere for them. Not only that but they were a special order from Germany that took weeks to arrive and when they did, they cost €750+ fitting. I didn't even need them that much in the end:rolleyes: That's what happens when you leave garages use trial and error with your car.

Ya Audi TT quattro shocks impossible to get too. 500 fitted at main dealer. Strangely I priced them at the parts department too at the main dealer and they wanted 470 just for the parts??

cavanmaniac · 22-01-2008 1:16pm

That sounds fine, it's a 02 model (hence my scepticism about shocks being gone it wouldn't have got much abuse), I got a fright when you said 750 but that sounds cool!

domania · 22-01-2008 1:55pm

I use Uniroyals on all cars. Great wet weather tyre with loads of grip and low road noise. Go for the Rallye 550 for a car that size.

meathstevie · 22-01-2008 9:38pm

"Ya Audi TT quattro shocks impossible to get too. 500 fitted at main dealer. Strangely I priced them at the parts department too at the main dealer and they wanted 470 just for the parts?? "

That's perfectly normal. If they fit the parts a VAT rate of ( if I remember correctly )13% applies. If you buy them over the parts counter it's 21%.

As for non-VAG shocks in a non quattro I reckon you should be paying around

meathstevie · 22-01-2008 9:41pm

"Ya Audi TT quattro shocks impossible to get too. 500 fitted at main dealer. Strangely I priced them at the parts department too at the main dealer and they wanted 470 just for the parts?? "

That's perfectly normal. If they fit the parts a VAT rate of ( if I remember correctly )13% applies. If you buy them over the parts counter it's 21%.

As for non-VAG shocks in a non quattro I reckon you should be paying around
250 euro for quality stuff fitted. The other side of that story of course is that a quality shock should last for about 100k km if the car isn't stressed too much. If the ones in it are the originals it's perfectly normal that the seals have worn over time.

How much?

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