B9 S5 Strut Brace
 

This was not on my modification wish list. I wasn't going to dress up the engine bay that nobody is going to see but me and the mechanic..... and not convinced that this will make any difference what so ever....how is that for a sales pitch? But hey, I was browsing the ECS website and their billet strut brace was 61% off at $103 shipped. I'll have $100 bucks worth of fun just installing the thing! https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part...019218ecs01~a/

Aren't you installing it for reduced chassis flex, increased rigidity and better handling? ;)

That is what it says on the internet so it must be true! All kidding aside, Audi did take the time to actually include the braces on the car to begin with, and this is a beefier version that also ties the two sides together, so I don't doubt that this modification offers some kind of minor incremental benefit. Like I said though, I bought it mainly because it was on sale and gives me something to do! Borrowing a phrase from some car review I read the other day, Now the chassis is so stiff I actually feel bad for the pothole!.

The sale pitch worked for me! Bought one, got a leftover strut brace from the mustang I sold, eventually I'll make a wall piece out of them for my man cave down the road haha.

I wonder how this compares to 034's offering...

It's $275 more affordable than the 034 unit.

As soon as I saw that I placed an order for the ECS one, lol. 63% off it is...

I am tossing around the idea of getting one too. Or a rear sway bar. Or both!

I think the A5SB needs a rear shock tower brace or another means to tighten up the rear than it needs the front. The B9 A4 sedan feels more rigid than the A5SB, I have nor driven the A5 coupe so cannot comment.

That is probably true, but I installed a rear strut brace years ago on a Subaru Forester XT, and although it did take flex out of the chassis, it totally ruins the practicality of the trunk. That dumb thing was always in the way and eventually ended up taking it out for good. It might be ok on a sedan but it ruins a hatchback.