Diff mount comparsion

[itsmatt33]

I noticed there was no thread comparing the various brands. I imagine they all dont differ much from each other but maybe people with the different mounts can chime in with their thoughts and experiences. Obviously the higher the durometer the harder the mount.


ECS ~$190

Features include:
Tuned polyurethane isolators (70A durometer) selected for a firm yet compliant ride
Precision machined billet 6061-T6 housing for durability and corrosion resistance.
Poly material is more resistant to water, ozone, and chemicals, maintaining its resiliency and elasticity longer than conventional rubber.
Increased drivetrain rigidity and response
Long-term testing done on multiple vehicles for real-world qualification

Spulen ~$112

Features:
75A Durometer polyurethane mount
Precision CNC'd Mount
Removes drivetrain “slop” and clunking
No added vibration inside the vehicle.
Limited Lifetime Warranty

apikol ~$240


Blue:55A durometer
Red:70A durometer
and apparently they have a green which is 95A durometer

PowerFlex bushings (bushings only to be installed in stock mount) ~$50

Powerflex Street (Yellow: 70A or Purple: 80A) - Replacement Performance Suspension Bushings
Powerflex Black Series (Race: 95A) - Ultimate Performance Bushings Offering The Most Precise And Accurate Alignment



So i guess the question is- what's too hard and what's too soft.

[itsmatt33]

excuse my misspell in the title.

[texasboy21]

Why not go with the PowerFlex replacement bushing? Its about $40 and a breeze to install.

[itsmatt33]

Why not go with the PowerFlex replacement bushing? Its about $40 and a breeze to install.

just added that to the list

[diagnosticator]

I like the Apikol Blue. If I needed a replacement that is the one I would go with.

[cmiguel32]

Recently installed the Spulen and absolutely love it. No more drive line clunk going into 3rd at redline.

[DarkoNova]

Depends on how stiff you want it to be. The power flex 95A would be the hardest out of the ones you listed.

I had 75D and solid aluminum mounts for everything in my e30 and there was no increase in NVH because I left the tranny mounts rubber. But damn if it wasn't solid as hell.

I plan on doing pretty much the same thing for the Audi.

[cmiguel32]

Depends on how stiff you want it to be. The power flex 95A would be the hardest out of the ones you listed.

I had 75D and solid aluminum mounts for everything in my e30 and there was no increase in NVH because I left the tranny mounts rubber. But damn if it wasn't solid as hell.

I plan on doing pretty much the same thing for the Audi.

Good to know. Was considering going with 034 street transmission mount, now i'm not so sure.
Currently have 034 street engine mounts, Spulen rear diff mount, and the ECS diff carrier inserts are on their way.

[DarkoNova]

Yeah the transmission mounts are the deal breaker, from what I've found. I forget what material I had engine and tranny mounts made from, it was similar to delrin. I put both the engine and tranny mounts in and the interior started buzzing and rattling at idle. Took the passenger side tranny mount out and put a stock rubber one in and it got noticeably better.

Put some softer poly mounts in place of both tranny mounts and it was back to stock smoothness, just noticeably more solid and snappy over bumps and shifting.

[evo_ski]

dont differ much

Hehe, nice one.

[thetikm]

I have the powerflex race rear diff bushing. It made absolutely no difference in nvh.

[customa4]

I have the Apikol blue and it made the "clunking" when shifting worlds better.

[diagnosticator]

I have the Apikol blue and it made the "clunking" when shifting worlds better.

With that info, I am going to get the Apikol blue. Is should tighten things up nicely. Although tips don't have as much drive line torque variation during shifts like a manual trans does. I want a firmer shift feel when the trans shifts up, a firmer diff torque reaction mount should provide that.

[evo_ski]

With that info, I am going to get the Apikol blue. Is should tighten things up nicely. Although tips don't have as much drive line torque variation during shifts like a manual trans does.

I have a powerflex purple ready to go for my car. I am doing a full rear end rebuild so we shall see how that feels.

[diagnosticator]

I have a powerflex purple ready to go for my car. I am doing a full rear end rebuild so we shall see how that feels.

Looking forward to hearing how that works for you.

[itsmatt33]

Appreciate the input fellas. Makes it harder to pick one since everyone has only said good things and no one has complained of increased cabin noise/vibration. Is there any detriment to going as stiff as possible? any major benefit? I will update the list with prices now

[texasboy21]

I did not notice any additional NVH as well. Throttle input seems more direct, and it soaked up the bit of the little bit of remaining drivetrain slop.

[shoemaker617]

Apikol blue is the best one

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900AZ using Tapatalk

[XLR8 Craig]

We have always heard good things back from customers who use the Apikol blue mount.

Other wise good information here.

Thanks,

Alex

[MurkyRivers_A4]

I have the powerflex rear that I just installed not too long ago. Absolutely love it. No movement, easy as hell to install, and a fraction of the price. What else could you really ask for?

[itsmatt33]

I have the powerflex rear that I just installed not too long ago. Absolutely love it. No movement, easy as hell to install, and a fraction of the price. What else could you really ask for?

but what about that beautiful shiny cnc billet?!

[thomastollar]

What about the transmission mount....is the consensus that it adds too much vibration? I am interested in putting in both the diff mount and trans. mount, but sounds as if the trans. adds too much vibration. Any input from those who have done the mod.

[itsmatt33]

What about the transmission mount....is the consensus that it adds too much vibration? I am interested in putting in both the diff mount and trans. mount, but sounds as if the trans. adds too much vibration. Any input from those who have done the mod.

honestly, i had the stern mount and i F*&%^*$ hated it. it added so much vibration that i just threw another oem mount back on.

[texasboy21]

honestly, i had the stern mount and i F*&%^*$ hated it. it added so much vibration that i just threw another oem mount back on.

I tried the 034 track tranny mount mount, and switched over to Stern because the NVH was too much. The first gen Stern was a bit more quite than the 034 track mount, and much more rigid. The second (latest) gen Stern mount was just as rigid, but considerably quieter.

The Stern engine mounts however, holy hell..

[MurkyRivers_A4]

but what about that beautiful shiny cnc billet?!

In my mind, its very shiny and CNC billety....... Who is going to climb under my car and prove me wrong :)

[thomastollar]

The second (latest) gen Stern mount was just as rigid, but considerably quieter.

so would you recommend the Stern trans. mount, or do people think the stiffer diff. mount tightens up the system enough with no need for trans. mount?

[mauromj]

Power Flex black series and 034 inserts. Perfect combo (Assuming you want to tighten everything up as much as you can :)).

[itsmatt33]

so would you recommend the Stern trans. mount, or do people think the stiffer diff. mount tightens up the system enough with no need for trans. mount?

I think that depends on what u wish to get out of the car really.

the diff mounts clean up the clunk between hard shifting when the diff is moving
the trans mount i think tighten up transmission movement all together (which means there will be move vibration than stock as follow from a more solid mount.

[uzone02]

any pros of replacing it?

[MurkyRivers_A4]

I have 034 track density engine and trans mounts with the powerflex diff, as previously mentioned, and there is no slop/clunk/movement AT ALL.

This is exactly what I was looking for and am totally ok with some added NVH to have everything solid.

[itsmatt33]

any pros of replacing it?

end all slop/clunk/movement as previously mentioned

[customa4]

I have the 034 street density trans mount and it didn't seem to add much NVH if any. At this point, I have the 034 snub mount, 034 engine mounts, 034 trans mount and the Apikol rear diff mount and the car is solid. No complaints.

[Charles.waite]

I plan on doing a Powerflex purple Diff mount eventually. Have a spare diff mount hollowed out for it, just haven't had the time to deal with it.

FWIW, I had an 034 Street Density tranny mount in my b6 and while it definitely increased NVH, it also greatly increased driveline rigidity and made shifting feel more accurate and completely eliminated the obnoxious driveline clunk everyone complains about. I was running a stock rear diff as well. The NVH was occasionally tedious, but on the whole I preferred the car with the stiffer mount. Part of the NVH *could* have been from the single mass Valeo I installed at the same time, but I'm not certain. Either way I plan on going with the 034 Street mount again for my b7 whenever I get around to upgrading that. The b7 idles WAY smoother (and absolutely zero vibration at all) so I don't anticipate the increase in NVH being as bad as it was on my b6.

[jpulll]

The Stern engine mounts however, holy hell..

tell me about it! i love how connected the car is but wow is there a lot of vibration when trying to get going.

did you notice any difference in shifting, accel, deccel when switching from firm to soft? just a difference in cabin vibration? i don't want to give up how planted everything feels but i doubt it's going to ease up on me even after the "break-in" period and readjustment.

[thomastollar]

just found this thread > click here, but am still kind of unsure about trans. mount as the jury seems to still be out on how bad the vibration is.

[thomastollar]

found this one too > here. Sounds like vibration from trans. mount might have much to do with how it is installed, especially being sure to loosen mounts, settling engine and then tightening.

[itsmatt33]

still have no clue which diff mount i am going to buy. i am leaning toward ecs because of price and durometer.

[thomastollar]

Why not the powerflex?

[Steve Bassen]

There shouldn't be any real NVH from a diff mount bushing. The subframe bushings still isolate any vibrations from the chassis that the diff might have. I've had aluminum diff bushings in my E36 for 7 years and never once noticed anything aside from less drivetrain slop. With my B6, I just window weld'ed the stock bushing, although the Powerflex insert would have been on my list if I'd seen it at the time. From what I've heard, the stock mount casting is the weak point at some obscenely high power level, at which point you'd want one of the fancy billet mounts.

[Willënskraft]

still have no clue which diff mount i am going to buy. i am leaning toward ecs because of price and durometer.

Roll a dice

1 = ECS
2 = Spulen
3 = Apikol Red
4 = Apikol Blue
5 = Powerflex Purple
6 = Powerflex Black Series

*or whichever are you're top 6 choices


Sent from the Death Star