£400 repair bill for car!!

[doris9034]

I have been WFH for the best part of a year - like so many other people - which means i have barely driven my car in that time, apart from popping to the shops etc.
On Saturday i had a call from a friend to help her out as she had an emergency and needed her daughter collecting, so obviously happy to help her out. Got in my car, and there's an awful banging noise .....
Sorted friend out using DP car so fine, but took mine to the garage this morning and now its going to cost me £400 to get it fixed!!!
I know it is what it is - but how has this happened when it's basically just been sat on the drive most of the time?!?!?!? Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

@Youvegotafriendinme

If it’s a coil spring, I had one of them go on a Ford Fiesta and the noise was crazy! Unfortunately they can and do go for any and no reason. My car was used a couple of times a week so not a lot but used none the less.

If it is the coil spring, I think £400 is far too much for the replacement. It doesn’t involve more than putting it up in the air, removing the tyre, and replacing. Would take a good mechanic around a hour for the fronts and slightly more for the rears. My DH is a master technician for Audi So can get the exact amount and timings if you want?

It doesn’t involve more than putting it up in the air, removing the tyre, and replacing

Depends on type (and whether Front or Rear), but mostly you'd remove the wheel rather than the tyre, and almost certainly have to remove some pinch bolts, probably the drop links and the top mount - then attach spring compressors, or remove the strut and compress on the bench or in air compressors. OP mentioned a plural - doing both sides and possibly doing old and worn out dampers at the same time could easy run to £400 - but we don't actually know what the job was.

If it is the coil spring, I think £400 is far too much for the replacement. It doesn’t involve more than putting it up in the air, removing the tyre, and replacing.

A front coil spring involves more than that. The strut needs to be removed, spring compressed, top mount removed then reassembled. Rears are normally quicker.

@Elai1978

If it is the coil spring, I think £400 is far too much for the replacement. It doesn’t involve more than putting it up in the air, removing the tyre, and replacing.

A front coil spring involves more than that. The strut needs to be removed, spring compressed, top mount removed then reassembled. Rears are normally quicker.

Exactly

How old is the car?

Has it literally been sitting there for a whole year? (Although springs shouldn't be affected by dirty idle)

It was both front coil springs - supply and fit £150 each, and then £30 for some mounting rods....
I do know Audi parts are expensive but i do trust our mechanic - we go to him regularly and he's literally round the corner so convenient plus like to support local business!
All sorted now - just need to remember to drive like a snail over the bumps from now on...