Question on Tuning and Breaking Drivetrain Components

[dal59]

Okay, so many folks have tuned their cars and have had no problem with breaking parts. At least not yet. However, we all have read on here and other places of those that have experienced their diffs., driveshafts and other components breaking. The general consensus is, that if you get a piggy-back tune, you can remove it and still get the car repaired under warranty at the dealership. Whereas the APR tune will add more power, but you have to get the APR Plus and go to one of their authorized repair shops instead of an Audi dealership.

My question is this: regardless of the type of tune, does it seem that most damage is caused during launches, hard accelerating around corners or other low-end torque situations? I do not seem to hear of any parts breaking while doing 70mph on the highway and flooring it. Meaning, it seems like it is the low-end torque the car cannot handle too well, and the extra HP, once rolling is less of an issue.

Any experience or thoughts on this?

[eightamrock]

Okay, so many folks have tuned their cars and have had no problem with breaking parts. At least not yet. However, we all have read on here and other places of those that have experienced their diffs., driveshafts and other components breaking. The general consensus is, that if you get a piggy-back tune, you can remove it and still get the car repaired under warranty at the dealership. Whereas the APR tune will add more power, but you have to get the APR Plus and go to one of their authorized repair shops instead of an Audi dealership.

My question is this: regardless of the type of tune, does it seem that most damage is caused during launches, hard accelerating around corners or other low-end torque situations? I do not seem to hear of any parts breaking while doing 70mph on the highway and flooring it. Meaning, it seems like it is the low-end torque the car cannot handle too well, and the extra HP, once rolling is less of an issue.

Any experience or thoughts on this?

This is an anecdotal response, based in observation of what I have read so far.

1. The transmission in our RS5's are not dual clutch. They have the ability to "launch" but they really shouldn't. I think Audi banks on people just not doing it that much. Even stock ones have broken when people abuse the launch feature.
2. I bought the RS5 because it was fast enough out of the box, this is all purely subjective and up to the individual, but the risk on a $90k car for a few extra fractions of a second of 0-60 time still doesnt seem worth it to me.
3. I had APR plus on a previous car, its not worth it. Go all in or dont do it at all.
4. Pay to play. If you are concerned about warranty, dont get it chipped or do a piggy back. It will never work out in your favor.

Just my opinion. People will disagree and your risk profile will be 100% different from mine. My 16 S4 had the full catalog and I loved it. Im sure I would love a tuned RS5..... but I dont know that I can stomach what comes next...

[chavez885]

Okay, so many folks have tuned their cars and have had no problem with breaking parts. At least not yet. However, we all have read on here and other places of those that have experienced their diffs., driveshafts and other components breaking. The general consensus is, that if you get a piggy-back tune, you can remove it and still get the car repaired under warranty at the dealership. Whereas the APR tune will add more power, but you have to get the APR Plus and go to one of their authorized repair shops instead of an Audi dealership.

My question is this: regardless of the type of tune, does it seem that most damage is caused during launches, hard accelerating around corners or other low-end torque situations? I do not seem to hear of any parts breaking while doing 70mph on the highway and flooring it. Meaning, it seems like it is the low-end torque the car cannot handle too well, and the extra HP, once rolling is less of an issue.

Any experience or thoughts on this?

Yeah that's right Dal, the cars that break are from launching. You're not gonna break it from a roll, it's the drive train shock.

[JohnEnglish]

Yeah that's right Dal, the cars that break are from launching. You're not gonna break it from a roll, it's the drive train shock.I know of at least one person that is tuned and had a front axle break while they were powering through a corner. However, the axle might have been weakened or damaged from previous launches.

[eightamrock]

I know of at least one person that is tuned and had a front axle break while they were powering through a corner. However, the axle might have been weakened or damaged from previous launches.

There was also a recall for several RS5's that was in reference to a defective axle bolt. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCRIT-21V295-3014.pdf

[scott1961]

I have never launched my car, 0-60 means very little to me. But the extra power have added makes the car a lot more fun to drive. Same goes for the cars I have added superchargers too, no launching and never once damage any of them

[dal59]

I have said it before, and I will say it again. I believe that a significant portion of the damage done to our cars is in large part due to the superb Quattro AWD. On a RWD car you can add 200 HP and it will just make the tires spin out of control, but usually drivetrain components will not break. Now, add slicks to that RWD car and you may very well break an axle. The car will always find the weak spot to release this added energy. However, our cars hook up so well that unfortunately some of the metal in the drivetrain is the weak spot, and something has to give.

I brought up this thread because I am considering adding a Racechip piggyback tune. Possibly the RS version which is approx. 10HP & 20TQ less than the GTS version. I rarely launch my car, but if I do, I can just set the Racechip and the Pedalbox back to stock (off) for the launch and turn them both back on after the launch. That is why I was asking if it seemed that most "breaks" occurred during launches and other low-end torque maneuvers as opposed to full throttle once the car is already rolling.

[JohnEnglish]

It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the M3C xDrive. There are tuned cars out there pushing 750 HP. I wonder how long the drive train will hold up.

[dal59]

It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the M3C xDrive. There are tuned cars out there pushing 750 HP. I wonder how long the drive train will hold up.

I would assume / hope that if the power comes from the factory, the parts would be made to handle that level of power. It seems that Audi built the RS5 to handle 444 HP & 443TQ, but little or no more. I suppose Audi could have very easily tuned our cars to make 500/500 to compete with the M3 & M4 but would have had to upgrade the drivetrain as well.

[dal59]

I would assume / hope that if the power comes from the factory, the parts would be made to handle that level of power. It seems that Audi built the RS5 to handle 444 HP & 443TQ, but little or no more. I suppose Audi could have very easily tuned our cars to make 500/500 to compete with the M3 & M4 but would have had to upgrade the drivetrain as well.

Oh, and if tuned to 750HP with aftermarket components, your point is well taken. I think metal will be flying.

[SharkNardo]

I have said it before, and I will say it again. I believe that a significant portion of the damage done to our cars is in large part due to the superb Quattro AWD. On a RWD car you can add 200 HP and it will just make the tires spin out of control, but usually drivetrain components will not break. Now, add slicks to that RWD car and you may very well break an axle. The car will always find the weak spot to release this added energy. However, our cars hook up so well that unfortunately some of the metal in the drivetrain is the weak spot, and something has to give.

I brought up this thread because I am considering adding a Racechip piggyback tune. Possibly the RS version which is approx. 10HP & 20TQ less than the GTS version. I rarely launch my car, but if I do, I can just set the Racechip and the Pedalbox back to stock (off) for the launch and turn them both back on after the launch. That is why I was asking if it seemed that most "breaks" occurred during launches and other low-end torque maneuvers as opposed to full throttle once the car is already rolling.


The RaceChip GTS comes with a 2-year warranty, up to $10,000. Now I'm not sure how easy it would be to work with RaceChip on a claim if you did have a catastrophic failure, but it is there. If you're considering the RaceChip, why not go with the GTS w/ warranty and dial back the power setting if you're concerned about something breaking? I specifically went RaceChip vs an ECU tune so I wouldn't need to worry about Audi warranty issues or TD1. The car is making over 500hp/500tq with the GTS, I don't need any more than that. Just my .02.

[dal59]

The RaceChip GTS comes with a 2-year warranty, up to $10,000. Now I'm not sure how easy it would be to work with RaceChip on a claim if you did have a catastrophic failure, but it is there. If you're considering the RaceChip, why not go with the GTS w/ warranty and dial back the power setting if you're concerned about something breaking? I specifically went RaceChip vs an ECU tune so I wouldn't need to worry about Audi warranty issues or TD1. The car is making over 500hp/500tq with the GTS, I don't need any more than that. Just my .02.

I agree and have not made a final decision yet. I am trying to get them on the phone to ask a couple of questions to help me decide. There is a Youtube video of the GTS install on a RS5 with before and after dyno. It made 50HP and approx. 60TQ. Lower TQ than advertised but that is okay with me, as it is the TQ that causes the most damage. However, it still puts you right around that 500/500 mark which has always been my goal.