Just installed the 034 Motorsport strut brace
04-29-2017, 10:10 AM
#101
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Did you finish step 18 of the installation instructions?
Step 18 – Using a 5mm Allen Key and 2 of the supplied M8 flathead screws, secure the cross brace to the left and right strut brace. Torque to 35 Nm.
Step 18 – Using a 5mm Allen Key and 2 of the supplied M8 flathead screws, secure the cross brace to the left and right strut brace. Torque to 35 Nm.
04-29-2017, 10:17 AM
#102
AudiWorld Member
Yeah, they are tight, but again it still has the ability to slide within the slotted area left and right...
04-29-2017, 10:20 AM
#103
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04-29-2017, 10:47 AM
#104
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So I just got my allroad yesterday and installed this today, but now I'm a little confused. I put it on and the center bar that goes from the left to the right has so much slack. you can just slide it from left to right in the slots that are in it.
I really assume there shouldn't be this much movement. Not sure what I could have done incorrectly at this point though...
Like to video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5P...ew?usp=sharing
I really assume there shouldn't be this much movement. Not sure what I could have done incorrectly at this point though...
Like to video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5P...ew?usp=sharing
04-29-2017, 11:46 AM
#105
AudiWorld Member
I had the same issue. Called 034 and they said crank it down to secure the middle bar. It's a clamping force that secures the middle bar, and in some cases the suggested torque is insufficient. It took 35 lbs. in my case. As it is not the bolts connected to the body, the torque applied is not important. Just be careful of rounding off the bolt heads when applying the extra torque needed. Yours may not need the 35# it took for mine, so just tighten until the center is secure.
04-29-2017, 01:29 PM
#107
AudiWorld Member
Hmm, I had the same problem. At 14 ft lbs the crossbar still slid around to I just cranked down on it. So when is there enough clamping pressure? When the 5mm bolt strips, the allen head rounds out, or someone breaks their allen key off in the bolt head.. Poor design imo.
The ECS strut bar isn't as pretty but may be a better design. Torque values aren't supposed to be a guessing game.
ECS cross bar clamps down to one side with two bolts on either side instead of getting squeezed in between like the 034 bar with one 5mm bolt..
The ECS strut bar isn't as pretty but may be a better design. Torque values aren't supposed to be a guessing game.
ECS cross bar clamps down to one side with two bolts on either side instead of getting squeezed in between like the 034 bar with one 5mm bolt..
Last edited by up-n-coming; 04-29-2017 at 01:44 PM.
04-30-2017, 07:06 AM
#108
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It's also $125 cheaper, so it would be interesting to see what kind of results folks that purchased it are getting compared to the 034 Motorsport brace
04-30-2017, 08:23 AM
#109
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The center bar was a bit of a hiccup, but it was correctable. Less expensive is always appealing, but I felt comfortable going with 034 based on their parts performance records. I don't have the means to measure or the knowledge of what the data points would be, but it would be interesting to see a comparative.
Last edited by rrwood; 04-30-2017 at 10:10 AM.
05-01-2017, 11:38 AM
#110
AudiWorld Super User
I just saw that video. Something is definitely wrong. In my car, even without putting on the bolts, I had a hard time moving it around since it was tight. Definitely not loose like in your video. All I had to do was put the bolts in place and tighten it and it doesn't move even by 1mm.