iznogoud

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/136200/audia4avant_brokenspring.jpg"></center><p>
I flew to NYC to pick up a 2001 A4 Avant, that was supposedly a pretty good deal. I had arranged to go to Mike's and check out the car, and all of this with the help of this forum (thanks guys).

The fact that I got delayed picking up the car was not enough to ruin Mike's evening. I got there in the late afternoon, about 3 o'clock. I knew that at least one rear wheel bearing needed to be replaced, so we started on the job. And that is when the surprises kept coming.

While taking out the bushings of the rear knuckles, the suspenssion springs just broke away! Both Tom (working on the left side) and "White Tom" (working on the right side) were in awe when this happened. You should have seen their faces: "Oh, this is a first with this car." somebody exclaimed. I was shocked; I had never heard of anything like that let alone seeing it happen on my newly aquired grocery getter.

Mike looks at me and says: "You are not getting out of here tonight." and started pacing around. He stops pacing, looks at me: "I am thinking. I am thinking." and continues to pace. "Time for AudiWorld" he said and got in the office. Having fully realized that I managed to completely take over his evening and probably pissed off his fiancee, Mike is looking for rear springs. He comes out some minutes later having found a pair on the north side of the city. Doh! He starts driving and I hang out with the boys back there talking turbos,mods, and thinking of the 1200 mile drive ahead.

Mike returns and minutes later the springs are on, only this time, the right carrier bracket has started to drop pieces of itself on the floor... It is "rotting" away. Looked like I was going to take a chance, a 1200 mile long chance. And I did.

I left the shop after having ruined everybody's evening, as it was about 8 pm at that point. I headed to the gas station and quickly crossed Manhattan into Jersey.

While in Jersey the snow started coming down. It was actually ice throughout Pennsylvania and into Ohio. The semi-trailers opened up the way in the light snow. But this was not the case on the ice. I was almost put into a spin several times, but the ice-driving experiences paid off! I managed to drive through the big snow storm of the Northeast and survive, in a car that could drop a rear right wheel at any momment!

After 23 hours of straight driving, mostly in bad conditions, and after having done the 1200 mile trip in only 4 more hours than the nominal 19, I was home.

So big thanks go to Mike who managed to get me on the road even if it meant he had to sacrifice his evening. He said: "that's how we operate" and I stand proof for his statement. If I find myself anywhere near Queens I will stop by to bug you guys and give you the necessary gear-head chat.

You guys RAWK!<ul><li><a href="http://www.tyrolsport.com/">TyrolSport</a></li></ul>

l0stnyc

Those guys are good and happy to read you got home alright.

two2

glad to hear shops like these are still around.

getting a good shop to work on my car is hard to find in CT.. may have to take a ride west some time.

paulroad

Nice to know you had a safe trip.

iznogoud

I was highly amused by the thinking process in Mike's head to shuffle around cars on (and under) four lifts in order to get things done by keeping almost all cars in the shop at ay one time. Unbelievable. Only in NYC and of course my native country, Greece, a sop would spend 10% of their time suffling cars around to make things work.

This was a life experience for me and I am grateful for it!