Major problem with my S3 -

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willow

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Hi,

I'm new to this site and was wondering if anyone can help or have experienced a regular occuring problem I have with my S3, which is costing me a fortune.

Attached to the axel there are two arms attaching the wheels to the chasis. On my back drivers side, this arm has snapped a total of 3 times in one year at a cost of £600. The result is the whole wheel collapses inwards. My local garage, who order their parts directly from Audi have spent hours trying to find out what is causing this arm to snap so frequently. They have had it up on ramps, measuring the whole underside of the car, replaced bearings etc, checked for any major crash damage. There is no wear to the tryres and all the mechaics there are totally mistified.

I understand that this is a common fault on S3's and would appreciate any advice in getting this rectified as I had a new arm fitted 6 weeks ago and it has snapped again for the 4th time!

I must have some rights in terms of warranty from these parts in order to go back and contest this with Audi.:gun2:


Any help please / advice, would be most appreciated.

Simon
 
It's not common (although not unheard of), is there any chance that the garage doing the work is over tightening some bolts as I could see that causing the parts to snap if they couldn't pivot on the bushes.

I would say you have comeback against both whoever made the parts and whoever did the work and should not have had to pay for it after the 1st replacement broke. Might be worth speaking to the citizens advice people about it regarding your rights.

Is the car lowered or had any mods etc?
 
I'm curious now, apart from the car dropping down and the top of the wheel going inwards when the lower track arms snap, does it do any other damage to the car?

The problem lie with the bushes drying up or getting too tight? this makes the end of the arms tight and unable to rotate, which snaps the ends right off I believe ?!?
 
Hi there,

Thanks for your mail.

No, the car is bob standard, has not been booted or been in a smack. Its a bit of a catch 22 as the garage swear blind that they fit everything OK, however if I go back to Audi they are going to swear by their parts. However, I must have a case if the part has snapped 4 times now!

I suppose Citizens advice is the way forward really.
 
Did you keep the other broken parts? have they all broken in the same place or have you not really been able to see?

The original issue was a crap batch of the tie-rods but I doubt Audi are still selling duff parts. Did you get the part from Audi and get it fitted or did the garage get it for you? if you got it straight from Audi I'd throw a wobbly at them, if not I'd suggest the garage that fixed your car does the decent thing and sorts it. If not get some advice legal or otherwise as somthing is not right for it to keep braking the same part.
 
audi upgrades
This is a really distressing problem, I feel for you.

Have these things snapped whilst driving? Surely that's mighty dangerous if so?

Is the garage an Audi specialist independent? Personally I wouldn't take my S3 to anything less, although that may not make any difference in this case.

Good luck, I'll watch this one with interest.
 
Bad luck, like adam s3 i really do feel for you!

Being new to owning an S3 this issue is becoming more and more concerning for me! i just have visions of me driving along quite happily when the next thing i know is "CRUNCH" and the ****** tie arms collaps on me looking me looking pretty stupid stuck in the road!

Let us know how you get on, i too will be watching out for this thread
 
As RichA3Turbo suggested in AdamS3's thread to solve the problem you could put some adjustable arms on it insted of the audi item in question.
This may be more expensive to start with but should save you some money in the long run, as the arms are much stronger.
Hope this helps?
 
I've got a set of Forge adjustable arms sitting in my bedroom waiting to be fitted! I haven't bothered so far as I was waiting until I get my car lowered. I might just get it sorted sooner. This is such a worrying problem.

Sorry to hear your woes (everyone by the sounds of it!)

ATB

Rich
 
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