borden

So just had all of my control arms changed including shock mounts 

Bought my arms on eBay. I got the arms for 354 shipped.
2 shock mounts for 36$ shipped.
2 u shaped stabilizers for 41$ shipped.

The arms that I had were for the a6/passat kit. SO the top front arms where not the same.
I had to get the right once for another 80$.


My local Portuguese mechanic did the job. I supervised. (was afraid, but he did it right)
He actually new what he was doing and did not forget anything. 

Overall only 2 arms were really bad in my car. One lower arm had bad bushing and one upper had a bad ball joint. The rest looked ok but the car does feels like new now!


Over all the labor was 350$. He did spend about 6hrs
Alignment was another 60$. He did good job aside for one thing! The steering wheel is slightly off. (not straight) So I had no heart to ask the guy get it back up to the lift. (it was about 5:00 and everyone wanted to go home. (it was my fault. I tipically remind them in the beginning and at the end to straighten it but this time I forgot!)

SO the Question is: can I take the air bag off and just move the wheel?? (I can do the job in about 10 minutes but are there any problem in moving the wheel??

Thanks

DENNIS

tozoM8

I move mine but it is very course. If you have a litle problem only, after you move, you will have the same problem but the other side.

PaulW

Unless your guy really knows what he is doing with an A8 and you gave him the procedure on how to align it....it's probably not properly aligned.

I would consider bringing it to the dealer and having them do it, ask for an as-found and as-left readings.....they will get the wheel straight, you don't even have to ask.

pw

borden

It is only about 5 degrees but it is noticeable. The tech fallowed the procedure on his alignment computer. It did give him before and after. The computer showed it in sink but the steering wheel was off slightly.

Will consider going to the dealer. It is a bit far though.

DM

PaulW

....or compare them to this.....did they measure all parameters listed below and show the spec?

<img src="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/susp_whls_brake_steer/align4.JPG">

tozoM8

If is only 5 % you can't fix it with the wheel adjustment. They have to align again.

borden

HM.
Will go back for the print out on Monday.

SO let me get it straight:
my car drives straight with no problems. the wheel is a bit off.


Now because the wheel is off, the alignment is automatically off?? I thought that there is another independent adjustment for the steering wheel, is that not so??

tozoM8

Even with wheel little off, your alignment can be good. They should hold the steering wheel straight before they start the alignment process. But it can be something else. My wheel was off a little, but after I rotated my tires it is straight again.

borden

THe aligment is in. (At least the screen showed it straight right before he took it off and the car drives straight!) (stopid me I did not get the print out but I think they did print it. )

Always Overcharged

Thank you