Hi
i had the following response from Prestige.
It looks like he really has been thorough in his checks, he had quoted part numbers etc.
can anyone confirm if there really are two completely different axles based on age?
The comment he makes about there being a couple of parts necessary to fit this to my car seems incorrect because the brake pipes etc don't fit, it is not just the bushes.
I have seen later A2 rear axles and they don't look like this one. (I will have s quick look under the wife's 2004 TDI 90 and see if that is the same as every other rear disc axle it have seen.
Prestige said
There is however 2 different types of axle for the A2 which may well be the issue you are seeing. According to ETKA (Audi Parts Catalogue) the axle changed from Chassis number 8Z-3-000001 which means the axle from our car is the later style (Part number 8Z0500051AB). The earlier style axle fitted up to chassis 8Z-3-000001 is part number 8Z0500053B but the good news is this was dropped in 2008 and replaced with the later one. This is good news because the parts catalogue lists the pieces needed to fit the later axle to the earlier cars (I am assuming here that your car is an earlier one up to 2003?). It shows you needing 2 of 8Z0501541 which is a bonded rubber bush.
One small comment, they mention that the early one was dropped it 2008 (wow A 2008 A2 !!!!)
Before i I tell them they are wrong I would need to be sure and they do sound quite convincing and have obviously checked their facts.
Cheers
steve B