[s-cars] Just shoot me and put me out of my misery

[Daniel Hussey]

Lee,

First question, how the hell does your dealer get away with charging you
$1,000 for a rebuilt rack!!!!  More than that, how do they sleep at night.
I know it's apples to oranges, but I've looked at the damn things...
Servotronic or no servotronic, I paid $250, plus installation to get one
rebuilt on my 5ktq.  It's a lot of seals, but that's usually all it is.  I
think new is like $1,300, but a rebuilt one should not be that much if you
fork over a core.

You should be able to get a rebuilt rack for MUCH less.  If not, I am
seriously scared!!!!!!

I hate aftermarket warranties for exactly these reasons.  It's more like
processing medical insurance claims IMHO.  But, depending on how much you
paid, you have to think of it this way... it's $600 and not $1,000.

So, about the rear shocks...  I have only replaced these once, and I'm a
little unclear on this as well, but I think there are three positions on the
Bilstien shock that the lower spring perch can sit on.  Do you think maybe
they are using the wrong one???  Can anyone shed any light on this???  I am
doing my suspension install with Bilstiens in about two weeks so I would
like to know so I don't get the same results as Lee!

So, my questions are...  Are there more than one position for the lower
spring perch to sit on the rear Bilstein shocks, and if so, do you think
this could be the cause of Lee's troubles???

Later,
Dan
'95 S6 Avant (Europa/ecru)
'87 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 (aka "Ski Bitch")
Seattle, WA



----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Levitt" <lee at wheelman.com>
To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2003 9:21 AM
Subject: [s-cars] Just shoot me and put me out of my misery


> Delete now if you're not interested in my venting...
>
> I have spent more time in the past two weeks talking with people on the
> phone about my car than I have spent driving it.
>
> Here's the latest:
>
> I pick up the car from the shop that screwed up the R&R of my rear shocks.
> It's still sitting 3/4" low in the rear.
>
> I ordered another set of Eibach spacers from Shox.com and expect to
receive
> them today. They're 10mm tall, which translates into approximately 3/8",
not
> 3/4". We don't know what else could be wrong.
>
> I *had* planned on taking the spacers and the original shocks to my *good*
> mechanic so he could sort out the problem.
>
> Well, that isn't going to happen for another week and a half now.
>
> Thursday morning I took the car to him for a steering rack replacement.
This
> is supposed to be replaced by my new warranty that I bought through
Accell.
> I bought the warranty, along with one for my A6, about six weeks ago. I'm
> not in the computer yet. My mechanic faxes the contract over to the
warranty
> administrator, Heritage Warranty Insurance.
>
> This morning nothing has happened. I call. Two hours later I finally
figure
> out that the guy who has the fax copy of my contract is out today.
>
> They get it entered, and the claims process starts.
>
> My mechanic sourced an Audi rebuilt rack at about $1000. Heritage is
willing
> to go $400 for an aftermarket remanufactured rack. They also want *him* to
> provide a year of warranty on the labor if the new rack has to be R&Red.
>
> What's more there's no chance the car is going to be done today. Which
> leaves me without a car through Tuesday evening. Guess what, Heritage
> provides *one* day of rental car coverage based on the amount of work
being
> done. No adjustment for repairs that span weekends.
>
> And of course my mechanic is now backed up with other work which didn't
get
> done while he was dealing with this paperwork, and he won't be able to
look
> at the shocks on Tuesday after the other work is done.
>
> My car will be down for a total of 9 days and I'll be out over $600 for
this
> repair, plus the cost of a rental car. And we *still* haven't gotten to
the
> reason behind the rear end sitting low. And when we do, which is not
> scheduled for a week later, I expect I'll end up with the two original
rear
> shocks reinstalled and a bill for another $300 for *that* labor.
>
> Did I mention I'm self employed and I have deliverables up the yinyang due
> to clients that aren't getting done?
>
> Just shoot me.
>
> I am so f***ing pissed.
>
> Lee
> '95.5 S6 avant
> '96 A6 quattro avant
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> S-CAR-List mailing list
> S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list