034 Motorsport Subframe Inserts & Drivetrain Inserts - Anyone fitted them?

I’ve got the drivetrain insert set from 034, the difference is subtle but tightens things up a little. I’ve had them in for years, I believe there are cheaper options out there now that do the same job.

Ryan

Ecs tuning make a hard plastic version, power flex make a few different Polly versions rather than alloy and I’m sure I remember seeing that people had bought 1 made of chinesium off either eBay, amazon or Ali express. There are some of the other American manufactures doing them as well. As far as I can see they all do the same but there’s a big variation in price

I have the Powerflex transmission and diff mounts, road series yellow . I didn’t go for the 034 Motorsport billet mounts as I just wanted to take any slop out of the drivetrain and to limit any vibration.
I also then looked at the Powerflex road series subframe mounts but they come in two parts, one in the bottom and one in the top that require lowering of the whole subframe to get too. I decided then to go with the 034 Motorsport billet subframe mounts as these just insert into the bottom of the subframe and are very easy to fit.
It’s all definitely with doing as it all helped sharpen things up but I felt the transmission & diff inserts made the most difference but maybe it was because I did these first.

I bought this as an alternative to the 034 transmission mount (much cheaper) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172675504097, I believe quite a few people from this forum have too. Definitely smooths gear changes between 1st and 2nd.

In terms of ARB's, I went for an OEM RS5 one (https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-volkswagen-audi-parts/rear-sway-bar-225mm/8k0511305s/). Not quite as thick as the 034 one but it was a lot cheaper. I bought mine from ebay Germany. You could also try TPS/Audi direct IIRC it was about £120 brand new.

Lemonski said:

Thanks for the swift reply Ryan.

Who else makes inserts like the 034 ones?

Thanks

Lee

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Forge do them.

I had them on my first S4 and all good. My new one has sport diff and I removed the mounts after a quick drive as I got the whine some owners report.

I fitted a gearbox mount aluminium insert first.

(manual 6 speed, horrible box so far) and had a knock on startup, got new bolts for it from Audi greased it back up and refitted it and all was well.

Slightly easier to get into second without looking like a learner driver.

Then I fitted the powerflex rear diff inserts and got a lot of transmission noise and whine in 5th 6th. (Front insert torqued to 20nm rears 70nm)

Poor design for the installer as the metal is not secured to the insert you have to position both and center with not much room to move.

The only info I could find on torque settings for the rear inserts were 70nm and 50nm.


On finding the second figure of 50nm and setting to that it drove better for a day or two, then the noise came back and there seems to be more slop when letting on and off clutch/accelerator.

loosening and re torquing the rear mount inserts to 50nm cured it slightly but still not as good as it was.

Does anyone know if the torque settings I am using are correct? New bolts are no longer stretch bolts so as long as I don't de-thread the diff I should be ok to re loctite and adjust.

Does it matter that the collar of the front bush insert + steel washer now holds the diff at a slightly different angle to before. Has now lifted the front of the diff 10mm or so?

Should I have the full weight of the car on its wheels for final tightening of the rear mounts and as there is not any visual movement in the diff once the inserts are in, is it best to support the diff with a jack as you tighten to spec, or leave the bushes to carry the weight before tightening.

I have a feeling the inserts could be causing another knock on effect but I want to make sure I have this part done right first.