B7 A4 Snub Mount Installation

[Cottonmouth]

I recently had to replace the OEM snub mount on my car, so I decided to do a little DIY for those looking to do the same.

I would say this is a pretty easy job. Maybe a 2/10 on a difficulty scale.


Symptom:
I noticed the shifter on my car moving rearward during spirited driving. It progressively got worse to the point where it was happening for every shift. The shifter was moving up to 1/4".

This is when I decided it was a good idea to replace the snub mount.

Required Tools:


flat head screw driver
13mm socket
#6 torx bit
ratchet
jack & jack stands or ramps


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6042424091_75edf96bd8_b.jpg


First thing you will need to do is elevate the front of the car. I used ramps. You could also use a jack and jack stands. Either method should use the parking brake and chock the back wheels. Failure to do this could kill you!


Next grab your flat head screw driver and proceed to remove the screws from the skid plate. They should only need about a half turn to come out.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6081/6042967780_f238c77362_b.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6042967834_b435de86d9_b.jpg


Once removed, have a look under for the snub mount assembly.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/6042424351_f8b13bf94f_b.jpg


Use the ratchet and #6 torx bit to remove the bolts, and the 13mm socket to remove the nuts located in the picture below.
The brackets and OEM snub mount should come right out.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/6042424393_fec21aba7c_b.jpg


Here is what the front Snub bracket looks like removed.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/6042968074_d87a1f044f_b.jpg

Once it has been removed you should be left with this:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/6042424159_0fb35d0799_b.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6206/6042967566_8125e449e0_b.jpg


The OEM snub mount won't come off without effort, so try spraying some lube on it and it should make it a whole lot easier.
Here is how it looks removed.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/6042424301_e534d2a7d0_b.jpg


Here is a comparison between the OEM snub mount and the 034 Motorsports snub mount.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/6042424549_e4b6300d8d_b.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/6042967952_e731b05a63_b.jpg

This shot should give you an idea how soft the OEM snub mount is.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6069/6042968008_cbd1017630_b.jpg


Now spray the new snub mount with a bit of lube and push it onto the mount.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6042967322_2ec3483fec_b.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6042967240_deee0027b7_b.jpg


Now line everything up where it was removed from and screw in the #6 torx bolts where we removed them from. Then screw the nuts back onto the front bracket. (You should be able to see from the wear on the bracket how it was aligned previously).
Once installed it should look like this:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/6042424801_916c0956d1_b.jpg

Now start the car and run it for a minute or so to ensure there are no rattles of anything out of the ordinary. Turn off the car. Now go back under and re-install the skid plate. Remember the screws only need about a half turn to tighten. Don't forget there might be a few hot parts under there so don't burn yourself.

Put the car back on the ground and take it for a test drive. You should immediately feel little to no movement in the shifter while driving around and going through the gears.

[sdy101]

Very nice writeup!! [up] [up]

Only other suggestions I would offer up, is that I also microwaved my new snub mount for about 30 seconds before sliding it over the lubed mount and used a feeler gauge to make sure the mount had clearance all around inside the bracket. It's a very nice mod for $40 (or less) and 30 min of your time.

[BoSNiaN]

Do you mean torx 36? torx 6 would be pretty small....I tried with 40 and it was pretty loose, might have stripped my bottom bolt[:/]

[BoSNiaN]

Anyone? [>_<] Subscribe to your own threads people!!

[Cottonmouth]

Anyone? [>_<] Subscribe to your own threads people!!

I am subscribed.. I just haven't had a chance to go out and double check. My right arm has been out of commission due to a rather bad burn. I am planning on installing my 034 catch can very soon so I will have a look when I am under there hooking up the oil fitting.

The reason I said it was a #6 is because that is what was stamped on the side of the bit.

[Cottonmouth]

Do you mean torx 36? torx 6 would be pretty small....I tried with 40 and it was pretty loose, might have stripped my bottom bolt[:/]

If you were under there then you must know what the correct size is right?

[BoSNiaN]

Oh, no worries then, let me know when you check[:)]

But no, like I said, none of my standard bits fit (there is no #6 torx, they are all T# so I am wondering what you actually used).

[Khaotic]

Just did this yesterday, and it is not torx bolts, it is allen (or hex as OP said) bolts so thats why none of your torx will fit.
If it is #6 allen head I cant say, I never looked at the allenbit I used but Im sure it is.

[Cottonmouth]

Just did this yesterday, and it is not torx bolts, it is allen (or hex as OP said) bolts so thats why none of your torx will fit.
If it is #6 allen head I cant say, I never looked at the allenbit I used but Im sure it is.

Torx
http://www.etoolsrus.com/prodimg/EZ80160.JPG

Allen
http://www.mcfeelys.com/img/hex-drive-bit-HRA-0810.jpg

The bit was definitely torx

[Cottonmouth]

Ok... So I checked my tools and it looks like I did use a #6 Allen bit to remove the bolt. The equivalent Torx should be a #40 I believe.

[BoSNiaN]

Ok... So I checked my tools and it looks like I did use a #6 Allen bit to remove the bolt. The equivalent Torx should be a #40 I believe.

Knew something wasn't right [:p] Thanks but T40 (torx) doesn't work, its too loose and I may have already stripped my bottom bolt slightly. I'll try again later in the week with #6 allen, thanks again Cottonmouth!

@lube, what did you use to get the OEM off and the new one on? You think WD40 is a good idea?

[Cottonmouth]

Knew something wasn't right [:p] Thanks but T40 (torx) doesn't work, its too loose and I may have already stripped my bottom bolt slightly. I'll try again later in the week with #6 allen, thanks again Cottonmouth!

@lube, what did you use to get the OEM off and the new one on? You think WD40 is a good idea?

I guarantee the #6 Allen will work fine. I didn't use any lube at all.

[BoSNiaN]

I guarantee the #6 Allen will work fine. I didn't use any lube at all.

I meant for getting the OEM snub mount off and the 034 one on.

[Cottonmouth]

The OEM one was so soft it slipped off fairly easy. The new one popped on with a little force. WD couldn't hurt.

[a3s-line]

I ordered mine from APR but it has three pieces inside the package.I don't know why.Can anyone shed a light on this issue?
Is it hard to push inside the snub mount on the metal part? Should I lube it?

[TheKid23]

There's been different options talked about, spray lube and microwaving it for several seconds. And, some haven't done anything but slipped it on.

[BoSNiaN]

Just had the time to do it today [:D] Few observations after installing my APR mount:

1)Used my bare hands to pull the stock one off, good thing I replaced it as mine was beginning to degrade (cracks)
2)Didn't have to use grease or microwave the APR mount to get it on, simply placed it on the group and pushed the bracket into it
3)APR mount sticks out a bit....I don't know if its supposed to, but its longer than the actual bracket (10-15% of the mount goes over the edge of the bracket)

I definitely noticed a difference but it could just be in my head because I noticed the opposite of what normally happens...the car idles better (shifter vibrates less at idle), the car shifts better (gears feel more secure when found and helped smooth out my 3rd gear grind although it's not completely gone), and even shifts faster (lag between shifts feels reduced and that bump once you shift between the lower gears feels reduced too)[o_o]

p.s: download the APR pdf here (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8E81Y8DD) for install snub mount instructions if you'd like a 2nd reference and obviously the steps are the same regardless of the brand.

[Cottonmouth]

I would keep an eye on the APR snub mount. A few people have posted examples of them where they have deteriorated badly.

[BoSNiaN]

I would keep an eye on the APR snub mount. A few people have posted examples of them where they have deteriorated badly.

I realize that now...I choose APR at the time (July?) because of their popularity, I think those people may have installed it improperly or microwaved it (has to do something bad to it...), but there is a lifetime warranty on them AFAIK so I am not too worried.

Btw, did the 034 stick off the bracket or was the end of it even with the bracket?

[Broccolihash]

Excellent write up! Used it last night to install my AudiUP snub mount.

[Cottonmouth]

Thanks man!

[seal66]

good writeup man. The snub mount is one of those best bang for the bucket upgrades you could do.

Also if anyone gets the 034 zero vibration(or clearance bracket) don't remember the name, it fits the snub a lot more securely and is a total pain to get in unless you loosen the radiator support to put it on. But, it makes a hella of a difference. I ran both the stock snub bracket and 034 one so.

Anyways great writeup.

[AdiDas]

Is this the same set up for the 3.2?

thanks