Alu Kreuz - downside?

[Hellahashtags]

Just installed the EC Alu Kreuz on my B8.5 S4. I recognized the cornering benefits immediately, just as expected. However, I also feel like my ride quality has suffered slightly; and I don't know if it's only in my head or not.

Anybody else recognized this downside with the Alu Kreuz before? My car also has H&R OE springs / adaptive dampers (usually set to "Comfort").

[onlyaudis]

its possible. two things, alloy tends to transmits vibration more than steel does. (like on bike frames) Also you are tightening things up and tying things together more tightly, and that can transfer more noise vibration and harshness to the chassis and passengers. I would not think it would be a day and night thing, but like having 4-5 more pounds of air in the tires. I beefed up my stock steel brace with a few more square tube bars that i welded to it, and did not notice any major difference in vibrations, just a tighter front end.

[DannyDeez]

Didn't notice a decrease in ride quality with the AK on my B8.5 S5.

[brainpan]

I remeber reading that the stock brace is designed to collapse and direct the engine towards the ground in a front end collision. Some people said the AK would prevent this and could cause the engine to be pushed into the cabin in a bad enough crash.

Sent from my Note 5

[SportVier]

So, then, whether you install one of these really depends on how much you value:
a) your own life and those of your passengers, versus
b) an incredibly minor increase in chassis stiffness

[jcdeng]

I remeber reading that the stock brace is designed to collapse and direct the engine towards the ground in a front end collision. Some people said the AK would prevent this and could cause the engine to be pushed into the cabin in a bad enough crash.

Sent from my Note 5

did it actually happen where someone with AK experienced a bad enough frontal crash that the engine got pushed into the cabin and the same person survived to tell about it? or its just speculation?

[brainpan]

did it actually happen where someone with AK experienced a bad enough frontal crash that the engine got pushed into the cabin and the same person survived to tell about it? or its just speculation?

Just speculation AFAIK

Sent from my Note 5

[Joker S4]

Interesting information regarding a front end crash. I didn't think about that aspect of it. But to the OP, I did notice a slight difference in ride quality as you stated, but I enjoy what call a decrease in ride quality.

I'm having my cup kit installed this week (H&R OE/Bilstien). Maybe I'll notice more after those are installed.

[mpatels4]

No downsides here on my b8. Actually AK was the first mod I did to rid of the 'floaty' steering response.
Funny how much a brace can change driving dynamics.

[superswiss]

I remeber reading that the stock brace is designed to collapse and direct the engine towards the ground in a front end collision. Some people said the AK would prevent this and could cause the engine to be pushed into the cabin in a bad enough crash.

Sent from my Note 5

did it actually happen where someone with AK experienced a bad enough frontal crash that the engine got pushed into the cabin and the same person survived to tell about it? or its just speculation?

Just speculation AFAIK

Sent from my Note 5

Yeah, pure speculation. I'm sure it alters the crash behavior somewhat, but it doesn't prevent the engine from dropping down, because if you actually look at it you realize that it doesn't sit below the engine. It sits below the transmission past the firewall. There's nothing below the engine other than the belly pan since Audi mounts the engine in front of the front axle. Not sure how folks came up with this theory given where it is actually located.

Here's a good picture of where it is located in relation to the engine. The engine would have to snap the sway bar first before it hits the AK.

[LaCross]

Right but the engine and trans will move under the car as a unit. The ak would prevent that from happening

[superswiss]

Right but the engine and trans will move under the car as a unit. The ak would prevent that from happening

If that was the case, then the beefier RS5 brace that closely resembles the AK's basic shape would have the same problem. The S4's brace is not designed to fold up under impact, it's just less rigid w/o the side beams.

S4 brace next to AK:


RS5 brace next to AK: