[Biturbos4] new guy on the list

[Grant Lenahan]

This is always a trade off. In the old days (B2, B3) cars, all the 
bushings were rubber press-ins and relatively cheap.  On those cars, I 
would, somewhere in the 80-100k range, go through and replace "every 
rubber bit I could find". This included the strut top bearings, which, 
on those cars, were good for, oh, 2 miles (actually about 50k).

On my S4 (which I had from new --> 80k) I had 1 tie rod end and 1 
control arm go.  Both were done ~65-70k.  The others showed no signs of 
imminent failure, so I did not do them.  I cant say when they DID go, 
since I did not have the car long enough to find out.

in general, I find the newer cars to have suspension components that 
last longer than the older ones, but the parts are more numerous and 
costly.  Pick your poison.

Good luck,

Grant

Mark R wrote:
> I agree with Grant.  If the money is super tight, can just replace 1 
> or 2 links.
> However: Alignment is necessary if you replace one or all links.
> And from recollection, separately the links would total around $800. 
> as opposed to $500. for the kit.
>  
> No question Grant is correct- the wear isn't even.
>  
> Mark Rosenkrantz
>  
> On 4/26/07, *Grant Lenahan* <glenahan at vfemail.net 
> <mailto:glenahan at vfemail.net>> wrote:
>
>     My finding is that the parts dont wear out as a set, and you should at
>     least trade off just repalcing the links, tie rod ends, etc as
>     they wear
>     out, rather than doing a mass replacement.
>
>     There are arguments either way.
>
>     Grant
>