siren001

Good Afternoon,

I was looking into the 034Motorsports X-brace Chassis reinforcement and was wondering if anyone had any experience with it?

What other mods to you have with that?

Is it worth replacing stock to the 034 Motorsports brace?

Thanks

_doom

I've got a lot of the 034 parts. Brace, drivetrain inserts, sway, and endlinks.

The brace really stiffens up the front. The front is a lot more predictable cornering. Granted I did the sway at the same time, however I can take on/off ramps at 20-25mph faster than I could with stock. I don't get the soft/washed out front feeling anymore and now I only get tire sidewall flex. Haha.

I would recommend it.

riceboy22

There's actually quite a few reviews of the Eurocode Alu Kreuz Drivetrain Stabilizer on the B8 platform which is essentially the same thing. I haven't personally installed it, but it is interesting that feedback ranges from it making a huge difference to people saying they feel no difference at all. It seems like it primarily depends on how you feel about drivetrain "slop" in stock form.

Eurocode Alu Kreuz Drivetrain Stabilizer Review
Alu Kreuz Billet Aluminum Drivetrain Stabilizer is it really worth it?

superswiss

There's a lot of confusion around what the Alu Kreuz or similar subframe braces do. They mostly improve steering feel and feedback as the OEM brace allows too much flex and results in wrong steering input. I suspect those who say they don't feel a difference are not sensitive to proper steering feedback and may have never driven a car that provides good steering feedback or don't drive on roads where it is noticeable. Eurocode summarizes what the Alu Kreuz does pretty well and it really does that in the real world, but it doesn't do more than this. I don't know how much it improves the Q5, but it is a noticable improvement in my RS5 despite that the RS5 already has a beefier subframe brace from the factory.

From Eurocode's website:

- Better steering response- both at the limit and in normal day-to-day driving
- Improved steering accuracy- more “point and shoot” versus a vague steering feel
- Less “play” or sloppiness- better composure on uneven pavement with less shimmying
- Less torsional flex from the chassis (some even report less creaking in the interior)
- Vastly improved driving dynamics along with increased refinement

delz05

I had the 034 brace on my A5... I did notice a significant improvement in the steering response during hard driving. There was a lot less front end skittering on bumpy and poorly paved roads. As mentioned above, there is an improved response to steering input and direction. I did not do any sway bar upgrades, just the X-brace. I plan on putting the brace on my Q5 as well, just waiting for some shop time.

ThunderDent

I should have mine on in a few weeks, so I can report back then.
I am, however, adding sways at the same time, so it may be hard to pinpoint just the brace upgrade feel.

jschrauwen

The reason your A5 may have noticed a "significant improvement" may be the fact that the A5/A4 has much thinner oem brace then that compared to the more beefier oem S4/S5 brace.
I would suspect this may also be the same reason why some feel a much more dramatic difference then others.

IRogue

What kind of shop time/labor is involved for x brace install? I just popped on 034's transmission insert/brace and am truly amazed at what difference it makes in getting rid of the clunk under hard shifts in sport/dynamic mode - crazy how much difference it made....

gk1

If you can do the trans insert you can do the x-brace as long as you can follow their instructions
"Do not perform this work using ramps, or with any weight on the wheels!"
Takes a couple hours and just follow the instructions carefully.

IRogue

ok thanks. wasn't sure if it could be done ramps vs a lift....