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Heads Up: R8 V8 Rear Ball Joint Replacement

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44K views 60 replies 26 participants last post by  fredrik.byhmer  
#1 ·
To all: Just a heads up on an issue that might affect V8 owners. I have an '08 V8 that was in for a 'health check' with Audi while I borrowed their V10 R8 Plus (awesome!). Anyway, they discovered my rear ball joints were worn and need replacing. They then advised that Audi no longer make the V8 ball joints as they upgraded the rear suspension on the V10 and only supply those parts. Apparently the ball joints on their own cost approx 650 pounds but the parts alone for the full V10 suspension are 2,200 pounds (UK). They then said they had to go away and ask Audi permission to fund the difference. Thankfully Audi said yes (which I think they are obligated to if they no longer make the V8 ball joint parts) and I've had the full suspension in the rear upgraded to V10 spec for 650 + labour (about 880 in total). So, the point is, if this happens to you insist on Audi covering the difference in case they try to charge you the whole thing. Given the car manufacturers code of conduct which has clauses covering provision of parts for at least the life of a cars production, I think they would have a hard time not doing this. I'm satisfied, just wondered if they even needed to point out to me that there was some question of covering it really.

Cheers
M
 
#3 ·
I had this done on my car. Audi reported a warn ball joint and that all rear suspension arms would have to be changed, you can't change just the one. Third party warranty paid for the worn one, I paid ÂŁ500, and the remainder was funded by Audi. They said they did as re goodwill, but perhaps it was because they had to change it to the V10 version.

Car had 36k miles on it.
 
#5 ·
This issue came up in the PPI on an R8 i was going to purchase back in November, ended up passing on the car because the parts were 5k alone plus labour to fix. You are correct, both sides have to be updated and why its a big bill. No mention of Audi floating part of the bill, and didnt look into it much further. I was surprised this was an issue at 34kms already. I think Audi has a design flaw and a TSB should have been put out to rectify the issue on cars with premature wear in the ball joints.
 
#6 ·
Had mine done a few months ago on my 2008 V8 - it'd gone back in for an oil change after a new engine was fitted 1000 miles prior and the dealer noticed it so they had the car for another 3-4 weeks (total about 3 months last year). Car had done about 47k miles (mostly motorway). Audi extended warranty + excess covered it.
 
#8 ·
Sorry, been offline with broken broadband a few days. My car has about 42k miles on it. I'm now going to R8 + dampers and springs too as the mag ride ones are leaking in front and are too costly in my mind. R8+ half the price and after a weekend with an R8+ perfectly adequate, nice stiff ride but not too jolty on the road.
 
#11 ·
thats perfect. thanks. Looks like they replaced upper and lower control arms, the tie rod link and the knuckle/bearing housing on both sides.

the v10 control arms and tie rod link are significantly more expensive then the v8 stuff. I wonder if there if there is any easy way to identify which version is on the car.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I would have no idea how to tell the difference. All I can say is that the work was done at the end of Oct 2012. When Audi said they would cough up the majority of the cost I was quite surprised. I asked why, and they said they want to look after their customers. Now whether that means that they knew it should be changed and used this as a good opportunity to do it I do not know.

I was horrified when they told me the whole rear end needed changing, thinking it was going to cost me big style, but thank you Audi for helping me out.

If anyone can show me the difference, I'll see if I can have a look if you can tell visually. Perhaps the best way to tell is from the part numbers, someone on here may know them.
 
#13 ·
sometimes the part numbers are cast on the control arms. I am going to get under mine this weekend and see what I can see. I assume there is probably a visual difference but without having both sets side by side to compare who knows what is what.

It was definitely a running change on v8 cars as there are production date breaks in the part number revisions in 2010 (rev c) and 2011 (rev d).
 
#18 ·
Guys,

I have just been advised that mine are worn. Can I just clarify that I ask Audi to cover the difference for the parts?
 
#19 ·
My MOT is due on Friday and last year I had an advisory that there was some play in a pin / bush on the offside rear suspension arm. Really hoping I am not going to need everything replacing!!
 
#20 ·
This is what they are telling today, that there is quite a lot of play in the suspension arms :( I'm more than a little bit pissed at them actually as I had all 4 mag ride shocks replaced in april and they said nothing:mad:
 
#21 ·
How many miles do you have on the car? At the last MOT my car had only done 17,500m so I'm surprised that there were any signs of wear after such a low number of miles.
 
#25 ·
I've got the same problem on an early V10 (2009). My rear lower control arms are faulty, but the ones i've got are no longer produced, so I have to change all 4 arms instead of 2, together with ball joints and some other stuff. This all comes up to a hefty price tag.

I suspect that early V10s had the same problem as the V8s, and the parts were updated after they started producing the V10.

Mileage on my car is just over 20k km - this is roughly 13k miles. So the wear is premature, no doubt about it.

Any tips on how I should argue for Audi covering the replacement cost of non-faulty items? Especially now that the production of first-gen R8 is over? Any documents I should cite, perhaps?

Audi techs - perhaps you know if there's a TSB on this issue?
 
#27 · (Edited)
Not sure how many people this has impacted but I just went through this ordeal with my 2009 V8.

Some background I dug up is that back in 2011 Audi put out a Technical Service Bulletin stating that "due to further technical development" an updated/improved thicker diameter Control Arm assembly design was rolled into production sometime during 2011 production. It seems to have been all V8's and V10's (2008-2010) and up to and including VIN 002563 in 2011.

And because of the updated design if you have control arm ball joint issues AND if you have the older design you can't just replace that one part becaues simply speaking they no longer offer the part! Instead you have to update to the new design which necessitates replacing the upper and lower control arms on both sides, both tie rods, and both wheel bearing housings.

Bad News: It ends up costing close to $6k including parts, labor, and alignment
Good News: I got mine covered under aftermarket warranty. And I gotta say the car now feels crisp/tight like a fresh car.
 
#28 ·
Glad to hear you got it covered. To be honest, I think it's good to replace these suspension parts routinely anyway - it's amazing how changing out the control arms, bushings, shocks, springs, etc can do wonders for the car. Suspensions take such a beating, and you don't realize how the ride and handling quality are suffering until you refresh it.
 
#29 ·
I had this done to my car too a few years ago. It got caught on the PPI, and the Audi dealer did it for free for me. :)
 
#30 ·
Hi all - for your awareness, I had this issue with the front and rear of my '07 V8 - and Audi's path was indeed to fit the later part number components. My 3rd party Warranty provider covered what would have been a ÂŁ5,300.00 bill (though may have been less with some negotiation and goodwill). Note though that the warranty provider did wriggle a bit as initially they felt that this was not a repair, and was an upgrade/modification. Took some to-ing and fro-ing to get Audi to share the workshop guidelines.
 
#34 ·
Only managed to find this -
NHTSA ID: 10124662
TSB ID: A401333 2026402-

Supersedes technical service bulletin group 40 number 11-18 dated july 14, 2011. when a control arm or wheel bearing housing (swivel bearing) is replaced, additional parts must be replaced due to a supersession of service parts.

Anyone found the actual document?