[ainarssems]

Handbrake is common problem with shaft getting rusty and seizing up. You can free them but it needs stripping down caliper and most garages will not do it. I stripped one of mine but a circlip went flying and I never found it luckily I had very similar caliper from A6 that I could scavenge missing part from. I spray mine with lubricant whenever I get close to them to prevent problem and I do pass MOT every year but get advisory on handbrake. If you have done it once it is not too hard but it can be stressing if you do it first time.


Front suspension arms I would recommend replacing all at once as if some fail others will soon follow. There are couple of options depending on mileage you do and if you can replace them yourself. Dealer prices are expensive, Lemforder(same as OEM) cheaper, Meyle better then OEM and priced between OEM and Lemforder or cheap no name from e-Bay(even better German) which are fine if you replace them yourself and do not do much mileage. I do have cheap ones replaced by me now 3 years and 11k miles, still fine. I paid around £120 for a A4/A6 set from germany and £45 for the 2 arms from eurocarparts for the 2 arms that are different and sold the remaining 2 arms from set on ebay for £25, so whole front end cost me around £140