Polyflexing the complete RS4 B5

[Jism]

So i had a price offer of a complete Polyflex kit from front to back for the RS4 B5. I know this will make the car do stiffer, but is it all worth it? I've seen various reactions to polyflexing a car which makes it stiffer but with more sqeeks, noises and proberly more wear done to the arms for example.

Did anyone go through this proces and if so, is it worth it?

I'm bout to smash 850 euro on parts lose from all the work being done in replacing all rubbers. Just wanting to make sure, lol.


https://www.powerflex.co.uk/pdf/create.php?id=2712

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Ply is a horrible material for use in bushings when it comes to suspension movements. They breakdown very quickly.

For things like subframes and carriers, etc. they're not bad.

[Jism]

I've just ordered for up to 850 euro for the complete package, including 2 submounts for the tranny, total of 1275 EURO. I'm really curious, at least my garage is confident the value of the car will be better after this tough job of 2 - 3 days of labor assembling all mounts on their place.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

That's unfortunate.

[getslideways]

...at least my garage is confident the value of the car will be better after this tough job of 2 - 3 days of labor assembling all mounts on their place.

Maybe Holland is different, but anywhere else in the world, something like this will add zero additional resell value to the car. Not to mention the shop who fed you that line is looking at a paycheck from 2-3 days of labor, so they will tell you anything to get that sort of a payday. You must agree their opinion will be heavily biased.

If you just want to do it, then by all means, its your car, but if you are doing it because they told you some fantasy story about how you will get that money back when reselling it, I would recommend you re-evaluate.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

That and the car will drive like a cement mixer in a few months from the poly bushings in the suspension wanting to fall out.

[Jism]

LOL.... "Drive like a cement mixer"

So the Poly-thing wear out ? What about lifetime guarantee? Lol.

Currently most of the rubbers are flat and make the car feel very insecure. I've heard good stuff about the poly-thing and wanting to apply. Dont get me wrong for only doing it for the value of the car.

With audi itself, i have a feeling that it's between comfort and driveablity. I think the original pressure plate & rs4 clutch is pretty weak, compared to the set i have now (Sachs 15% enforced)

[Mikse]

What bushings would you recommend for front subframe, 034 track density rubber or alloy version?

[Jism]

I took the highway in germany today, man that car above 200kmph feels like shit. every bump it just bounces up and down like crazy. Might as well completely replace the suspension as well while i'm at it.

[Mikse]

I took the highway in germany today, man that car above 200kmph feels like shit. every bump it just bounces up and down like crazy. Might as well completely replace the suspension as well while i'm at it.

My car also feel very restless on heavy braking and fast cornering. New Rear poly bushings and new KW3 didn't help. Next is subframe bushings to rear and probably to the front.
Most likely also renew control arm kit (still running originals after 16 years)

[Jism]

They proberly must be bend twice by now at 16 years, lol.

I'm replacing all bushes, from front to back. I'll be picking up parts upcoming week, starting to work on it next week (pics included). It's going to take a few days but we're confident and take it step by step.

[Mikse]

Heh, yet to fail MOT so can´t all that bad

[Jism]

MOT is like exhaust gasses n stuff? The RS4 B5 should qualify even without cats.

[Jism]

[NOTORIOUS VR]

I took the highway in germany today, man that car above 200kmph feels like shit. every bump it just bounces up and down like crazy. Might as well completely replace the suspension as well while i'm at it.

Odd, my S4 with stock arms/bushings and KW V1's felt rock solid @ 290 km/h

[Jism]

I have'nt changed those in a very long time. Let's say i bought the car 2 years ago and only focussed on the more important things then bushings. But they got worse overtime which is obvious for any rubber inside a car.

At some days the car just feels very lumpy on the highway, esp when doing speeds over 200kmph.

The plan is to replace all bushings step by step, and eventually sort her out at the dealer for proper alignment ( i have no trust in any other company anymore since the dealer is the only one doing PROPER alignment).

[shepa401]

I was considering doing the same thing with a kit from ECS. About the same price as an OE replacement kit. The ones on the car right now are pretty much at the end of their life.

I have already replaced all the front control arms with ones from 034 so only have the rears left to do.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B5_S4...ngs/ES2763560/

[Jism]

You did the black ones... Do you feel any difference now since you've picked the hardest possible kit out there? Lol.

We're working on the car. Pics starting from tomorrow.

[shepa401]

I haven't made any purchases yet. I was still looking at options.

Were you using any specialty tools to get the old ones out and the new ones in?


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[Jism]

We had to soak all the bolts in WD40 / Oil since it looks like they where'nt removed in the last 15 years. We dont wanna snap them off.

So i can post tomorrow some pics & results of replacement of rubbers yo.

[Jism]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...9#post11750929

First pics.. have'nt drove it yet. This is just the back.

[Jism]

Just did a testdrive. I'd defenitly recommend replacing stock mounts with powerflex's one's. We only did the back but it feels like the car is much more solid in cornering. You can really feel the difference. On front it's the 'old' understeer but i'm pretty sure that replacing front will solve that too.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Just did a testdrive. I'd defenitly recommend replacing stock mounts with powerflex's one's. We only did the back but it feels like the car is much more solid in cornering. You can really feel the difference. On front it's the 'old' understeer but i'm pretty sure that replacing front will solve that too.

No one that knows anything would put urethane bushings in the suspension components. You could have gotten the same results for much less money with new OEM bushings

[Jism]

But the OEM's would wear out, right?

I can feel a difference and esp much better cornering. Much more solid. Even better then the day i bought the car (2 years ago).

[NOTORIOUS VR]

But the OEM's would wear out, right?

Of course everything wears out. But OEM will last much, much, much longer than poly bushings.

[Jism]

Yeah the OEM's defenitly did a good job:



They where proberly never replaced in their lifetime.

[Jism]

Bin driving for 2 days now, you really get used to the new 'setup'. It's bin much better, but we're still not done yet.

Next thing will be the front including new alignment at audi dealer. The reason why i choose for audi dealer is that their alignment of wheels and steering is utterly better then all the other alignment company's i've tried so far. I've either had my car back with a mis-aligned steering wheel or a car that tends to pull either left or right on the highway. I have a feeling audi does things much better then all these general company's.

[Jism]

Part 2....



Took a complete day to get things lose. Tools broke, stuff broke, geezus what a task. It's a 15 year old Avant and ofcourse showing it's age. The rubbers where defenitly gone, and we're replacing the brakelines with steel ones since 1 snapped in the process.



had to torch the shit down in order to get the stuff out.



These will be sprayed by tomorrow, completely clean again. I expect to have the car back by tomorrow, so i'm curious again to see how it performs. I have to tell you that the 'new' feeling will dissapear within a day or 2.

[getslideways]

I thought you were paying a professional shop to do this? If thats the case, why do the burn method and not just use a proper press?

I did the burn method when swapping bushings on an old 240 I had.... never again, the press took a fraction of the time and effort. Plus the housing doesnt get all chipped and mangled when trying to hammer the outer ring out.

[Jism]

No, i payed for a pretty amount of parts in the first place.

Most of the work can be done without a press, and for now it looks and feels OK.

We dont expect to remove these parts every year for maintaince or something, lol.

[Jism]

Steel brakelines ^^



Car will be put together with new rubbers, brakelines and coated parts.

[MacDaddy]

I dont think the poly bushings are the end of the world, every time ive used them they started squeeking after about a year, as far as wearing out, ive never had them in the car long enough to know.

[Jism]

Man this all needs to be merged into my RS4 B5 thread.





We've replaced a couple of bushings too, but the most important one would the one for the subframe. We figured out why the Quattro drivesystem is banging like crazy when shifting hard. Both those rubbers on the back that hold the frame are worn out. Since they dont exist for Powerflex in general ( see https://www.powerflex.co.uk/pdf/create.php?id=2712 )



So if anyone experiencing banging check for those 2 first (On the back left / right side wheel subframe)



Replaced also 2 transmission mounts, the old ones where almost flat lol.



And here she is



With a flat battery since the trunk ligh drained it the last following days.

There's alot of work in put, thats for sure. :)

[Jism]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...2#post11794492

Some more work, finally coming to an end.

So far:

- Car handles much, much better
- Cornering is defenitly improved
- Feels more solid, esp railroadcrossings are less 'bumpy'
- You actually can slam the steering wheel far left or right without worrying the car is going to break out, that solid!

Cons:

- At some particular roads and speed, you can feel a little more vibrations going on into the chassis, but it's not disturbing and you'll get used to it within a day.

Worth it? Yes. I'd like to put this into the archive for anyone in the future being on the same dilemma. It takes alot of work (5 days, spread over 4 weeks), things can go bad and need replacement which takes time and $, but in the end it's a call it a day.

https://www.facebook.com/b5blog/