ECS Tuning Street Shield Review

[GTItoS4]

So after taking two decent hits to the underbody on a stock ride height S4, I decided to pull the trigger on the ECS Tuning Street Shield for a B8.5. I installed it Sunday and have driven around on it for a few days now.

Like everything from ECS, the kit is very well packaged and includes everything you need for the installation (and some things you don't; I'll get to that). Here's their link: http://www.ecstuning.com/News/Audi_B...014/ES2771912/

And their installation instructions, which you should read even before you order: http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3...dplate_PDF.pdf

So, for the B8.5, ECS tells you to remove an "aluminum shield" from the subframe shown here on p.8 of the instructions (it's not really green, that's just highlighter). ECS sort of suggests it's there to protect the electric power steering.



However, on my assessment, this part is NOT aluminum, NOR is it a shield (primarily). It is very much a beefy steel angle bracket designed to strengthen the aluminum subframe! It is also the lowest thing under the front of the car and can take a big shot without risking the subframe suffering direct damage. It *might* protect the PS unit, but I don't really think so as the PS is tucked a couple inches higher than this bracket, well under the subframe.

I was not willing to eliminate this structural bracket because honestly, I think it would add risk. My steel bracket had already taken a big hit and it showed. Both bolts holding it in were scrubbed across the asphalt. I was about ready to pack this kit up at this point and just keep the stock shield. But, the bolt just needed some grinding on the triple square socket heads to get them to accept my M10 bit. They are also loctited in there and have a good amount of preload. That bracket is intended not to move, ever. Either way, I got it off.

Comparing old vs new, the ECS shield doesn't cover as much as stock:


After some quick measurements, I was pretty confident I could keep the bracket and use the aluminum shield... Solution? The aluminum shield needed two new holes. It can then be mounted over the bracket, using the same holes in the subframe that hold the bracket.


Advantages are keeping the stock stiffening bracket and also not needing to use the ECS riv-nut setup. The ECS bolts provide adequate engagement, but a little longer bolt wouldn't hurt, nor would some blue loctite which on the stock bolts.


Only problem of keeping this bracket is that, *I think*, it makes the speed nut screws a bear to install on the bumper. But I can't confirm this because I didn't install it without the bracket. However, they will all go in with some muscle to move the shield and trim pieces together. Best to do this with a screw gun or driver while pushing hard on the aluminum. Who knows? It might be like that even without the bracket. Also, be sure to tuck the bracket under the painted bumper lip as seen in the top right of this pic!
The ECS instruction aren't clear here, and it isn't clear when you first position the shield before tightening any bolts.






With all of that out of the way, I'm now very confident that the front end of the car is ready for more battles on the ski slopes and around town! This thing could go off roading without fear! Ok, maybe not. But it's stout!

Overall though, a nice product from ECS. I think they could do a tad more design work on this for the B8.5 and make it easy to keep the subframe bracket/brace, and probably save them some money by excluding the whole riv-nut tool and fittings.

[egyptianzeus]

Nice write up! Mine is on it's way. So just for clarification, did you end up removing the brace mentioned in the ECS instructions?

[zps123]

i should get this. but avoiding bottoming out is even better though

[amz]

Why wouldn't they design a little groove or so,etching for that subframe brace?


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[Lockon_B7]

Been thinking about one of these myself, any change in road noise?

[GTItoS4]

Nice write up! Mine is on it's way. So just for clarification, did you end up removing the brace mentioned in the ECS instructions?

I removed it, used it as a template to add two holes in the ECS shield, then reinstalled it with the ECS shield. The bracket and shield have to go in at the same time, so it's a little tricky to position, but not that bad.

[drob23]

Very nice review, thanks!

[GTItoS4]

Why wouldn't they design a little groove or so,etching for that subframe brace?


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My assumption was they just tweaked the existing B8 design rather than reinvent things for B8.5.

[GTItoS4]

Been thinking about one of these myself, any change in road noise?

Nope. And I have picky ears. I think it's a tiny bit louder at idle because there's no damping pad like the stock shield. So idling in the garage, windows down, you might actually hear some engine.

I should also say, it's just enough of a pita to install that you probably don't want to dick with it for an oil change. Buy an oil extractor if you're gonna diy.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Thanks for the review!

The bracket is indeed a protection plate, it's not structural though. In essence when you remove it, the skid plate is replacing that piece and protecting more.

The "X" shaped bracket is the structural support for the sub frame as it bolts to the body of the vehicle and sub frame.

Jason

[GTItoS4]

Maybe? But my mechanical engineering degrees tell me it's also intended to make that aluminum member stronger. It's heavy steel, and it's damn strong being an angle bar design. There's no way a 4mm aluminum plate is anywhere near as strong. It seemed possible to keep the bar with the shield , so I did. Best of both worlds!

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Maybe? But my mechanical engineering degrees tell me it's also intended to make that aluminum member stronger. It's heavy steel, and it's damn strong being an angle bar design. There's no way a 4mm aluminum plate is anywhere near as strong. It seemed possible to keep the bar with the shield , so I did. Best of both worlds!

Glad to hear you were able to fit it up with out removing it regardless. I will say though that if it were structural then it would be included on both steering racks. Vehicles with out electronic steering do not have that piece.

Jason

[sirsycott]

question, so those bolts attached to the stock aluminum "sheild bar" on my car have been grinded off completely from me driving a little too hard over a dip, and when i mean grinded off , they are no longer existant

would that affect the integrity of other parts of subframe?

also anyone have a part number? and price ?

[GTItoS4]

My bolts were not in good shape either. That is definitely the low point under the front of the car and the bolts will take hits.

I was able to get mine out but it took some work. One of them was packed with asphalt in the M10 socket head. It looked like it was ground flush. But, with a metal pick I was able to remove the asphalt "plug". Then I had to grind away the scraped metal that was fouling the M10 bit with a Dremel, without removing too much so that the bit would still engage. A few taps with a hammer got the M10 bit to bite and I was on my way.

[GTItoS4]

The steel bracket/bar in question is called an "underrun bar" by Audi. It is part number 8K0423401.

The two bolts that hold it in place are part number N91208802. There is some blue loctite on them and they thread into a blind rivet nut inside the aluminum cross bar. Don't over-tighten/strip these nuts or life is gonna suck.

[GTItoS4]

Glad to hear you were able to fit it up with out removing it regardless. I will say though that if it were structural then it would be included on both steering racks. Vehicles with out electronic steering do not have that piece.

Jason

The electronic steering box is tucked entirely above and behind the aluminum subframe. The steel bar does not shield this box that I saw. I'd contend that this bar is designed to protect and strengthen the aluminum subframe. It could have easily been a B8.5 improvement by Audi. I felt keeping it had more pros than cons, as it only adds more protection to the subframe.

[S4'ed]

It looks like it provides less protection to the steering rack boots.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

It could have easily been a B8.5 improvement by Audi. I felt keeping it had more pros than cons, as it only adds more protection to the subframe.

It's definitely plausible, either way I don't think it will hurt anything whether you decide to keep it or remove it. Appreciate all the feed back!

Jason

[GTItoS4]

It looks like it provides less protection to the steering rack boots.

Yeah, true.

But the stock plastic shield provides about as much protection as a fine piece of cardboard.

Also, you can probably trim up your stock piece to attach out there by the boots. There are some available screw holes not used by the ECS shield.

[Lockon_B7]

Nope. And I have picky ears. I think it's a tiny bit louder at idle because there's no damping pad like the stock shield. So idling in the garage, windows down, you might actually hear some engine.

I should also say, it's just enough of a pita to install that you probably don't want to dick with it for an oil change. Buy an oil extractor if you're gonna diy.

That's exactly the kind of answer I was hoping for! Thanks.

[Andrew Lane]

I just installed my Street Shield today. Pretty straight forward install. The worst part of the job was having to grind off the heads of the bolts that hold the underrun bar/guard on... I hit a friggin' raised manhole cover the second day that I had the car and mashed them pretty bad... I was glad to see that was the only real damage other than a hole in the stock skid plate! I have been way more careful and keep my eyes peeled for those type of obstacles at all times now! Right after that incident I ordered the Street Shield and finally got around to putting it on today.

[Gusman1]

I just installed my Street Shield today. Pretty straight forward install. The worst part of the job was having to grind off the heads of the bolts that hold the underrun bar/guard on... I hit a friggin' raised manhole cover the second day that I had the car and mashed them pretty bad... I was glad to see that was the only real damage other than a hole in the stock skid plate! I have been way more careful and keep my eyes peeled for those type of obstacles at all times now! Right after that incident I ordered the Street Shield and finally got around to putting it on today.

The exact same thing happened to me about 2 weeks ago. Will probably get one soon.

[Idtrav]

Been using mine for a couple months now up in Snowy Alberta and has saved me a few times with massive chunks of ice falling off vehicles. I've bottomed the car out rough a couple times (lowered on coilovers) and this plate has saved everything well.

I had to grind those (2) bolts off from the power steering unit too and that was a pain in the ass.

My only complaint is that the shield does not go farther towards the front!!! I backed out of a pile of snow last week (that I knew I shouldn't have driven in but GF didn't wanna get out on the road) and ripped off the bumper protection plate and vertical stacks. $500 in parts from the dealership that i'm trying to source from either ECS or ebay right now cuz I aint paying those prices from a couple pieces of plastic.

[Andrew Lane]

Yeah those bolts are a pain in the ass... I don't know why they made them with those damn riv-nuts... At first I thought that I was going to be able to get them out because they were turning with a pair of vice grips, but it was just because the whole riv-nut was turning inside. The same thing will happen if the new bolts that go in there get tagged too... Time will tell!

[dean.mohr]

After a particularly violent snowy parking lot thrash, I lost my factory underbody protection. Picked up one of these for my B8 and ran into a few issues...

First, I had 0 of my original fasteners. The kit comes with some, but I had to order a bunch of the quarter turns.
Second, the quarter turn fasteners that it comes with were a b*tch to get in, and most didn't hold. Not sure if something was bent improperly, but I swear I spent 2 hours trying to install the thing and it still hits the metal bracket that connects to the core support.

That being said, my car is a 100k mile car that is now on its 5th Ohio winter, so who knows what kind of underbody abuse it has taken. I don't regret buying this.

[Andrew Lane]

When I installed mine I found that leaving the three crossmember bolts loose and pushing up fairly hard on the skid plate was the only way to get them to lock in properly. I agree that it was a bit of a pain in the ass! Hopefully now that I figured out the trick to it I'll be able to do it quicker the next time, otherwise oil changes are going take quite a bit longer!

[14S4GWM]

^ Get an oil extractor and you won't have to get under there again.

[Andrew Lane]

True, but I like to get in there and inspect everything while I do the service. It won't be that bad I'm sure!

[kjeeper10]

The exact same thing happened to me about 2 weeks ago. Will probably get one soon.

Older thread but figured id update with my situation. I too hit a raised manhole. The hit was in fromt of the metal bar. The hit was extreme enough to bent the bar, shear into the alum subframe and bend it inward 1/2. It also cracked the rack eventually killing the steering. I can say this in response to the thread. Holding the subframe theres nothing to it. Thing weighs maybe 20 lbs and the cross bar is hollow. I WILL be keeping the metal bracket if i go With the ECS sheild.

[waxxonMTL]

damn it, didnt knew about that, I wonder if my mechanic did remove that piece or not, hopefully not :O Wonder why ECS instruct to do this. They shouldn't

[kjeeper10]

damn it, didnt knew about that, I wonder if my mechanic did remove that piece or not, hopefully not :O Wonder why ECS instruct to do this. They shouldn't

Thinking the ECS shield would deflect the object being hit. The bracket on mine took the hit which pushed it into the subframe cross member. I would still try and keep it because of how weak the sub frame actually is. Also because I already f’d my rack .. even with the bracket.. dont feel like a round 2 lol