What started out as a simple plan to remove the front hubs so they could be taken to a garage to have new wheel bearings pushed in turned into a 3hr nightmare.

 

First thing I noticed when jacking the car up was the wishbones were hanging and bushes looked tired

 

Then the track rod end ball joint nut just couldn't be fully removed. I tried every trick I know and after a full 2hrs of trying I gave in and took a grinder to the stud, so now a new rod end is needed.

 

Figured the wishbone would give the same fight and cut this off as well.

 

My car is very clean and 74k its very clean underneath as well except the subframe and suspension components at the front. Lots of corrosion hence the hassle with it all.

 

I just hope the rod end aren't seized to the track rods or thats an even bigger job to deal with.

 

So what should of been a £20 in the mechanics back pocket job turned into needing around another £100 of parts

 

Cant wait to do the other side

My front suspension was the same when I stripped it all out a couple of years ago. Just down to years rather than mileage. Fortunately, I wasn't too worried about cutting bits off as I was changing the lot to the complet Audi TT set up with cast wish bones, hubs and the 2.5 turns quick rack.

The shocks were changed just before I took ownership but springs look original and brake lines look to be in reasonable order.

I've had to get new abs rings for the front end as well.

Hopefully once its all together that'll be the front end hassle free for a while

Better off finding a subframe as they are prone to snapping the captive nuts off inside the front mounting for the lower arms. 

I did consider that, all back together now though, I just need to do the tracking.

I've heavily waxoiled it all now as well so hopefully last a few years