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Question for a friend who's wife has a nice Audi TT roadster:

There's an occassional loud creaking noise out of the passenger-side front suspension. Dealer service told them to fix it, they'd have to replace the sway bar ($600 including the necessary realignment).

I realize I'm only really familiar with old British stuff, but I could replace the bushings and end links on any Triumph's front sway bar for well under $50...are the end links and bushings not replaceable on VW/Audi sway bars? My friend drove the car today, but Audi put some nice cover under the car preventing a good look at what's going on. Anyone out there with any experience here (or recommendation of a less-expensive repair or repair shop)?

Thanks,

Jamie Palmer

Well being the VW dude, and brunt of most of the VW jokes, I'll field this one.

First what dealer? Second if it hasn't been in an accident then there is now way the bar it self needs to be replaced. Also how many miles? And is it on the stock suspenion still?

Now as for the endlinks and bushings there is good and bad news. The endlinks are east to replace with the wheels off and a 16mm socket. To replace the bushings you have to drop the subframe in the front, not fun. And you will spend much time cussing and fighting getting the old out and the new in.

But $600? No way, highway robbery. You can get a new aftermarket sway bar with all new poly bsuhings for less than half that.

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

Adam, thanks for responding!



I'll ask tomorrow. They live south of Garner, so I would assume the one in Cary, but I'll check.



No accident, totally stock, and I think roughly 65k miles, mostly highway.



I'll let them decide on this one. If you were going to take yours somewhere and have it done, where would you choose? I can help them with the end links, but I'm not sure I want to take on the subframe considering I don't have enough time to work on my own car...



I'll pass that along. Thanks again for the insight!

Jamie

I found out today the dealer was Leith Audi in Cary....should they be going somewhere else (it's out of warranty)...?

Well here is the thing I kno some of the people over at Leith VW and Audi and thay always treated me great but there have been several others with stories similar to yous. Lots of money for stuff that shouldn't cost much. See the post in the Vendor's section about VW.

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

Jamie,

If you are looking for a non dealer to take your car too I think most of the local Audi peeps would highly recommend Chris Dale at Import Autowerks here in Raleigh, http://www.importautowerksllc.com/ . Go check out the forums on http://www.nceuro.org for more advice. It's where all the local Audi peeps hang out.

Good luck,
Jake

Ok you use "peeps" twice in one post

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

Thanks, guys! I've passed your suggestions on to the owners. My friend's eyes got pretty big when I showed him Adam's first post.

Thanks again,

Jamie