A4 Tubular Front Subframe

**b55240** · 10-19-2016 01:48 PM

For the last few months I have been trying to source a front subframe for my car from VW and Audi and everything seems to be on international backorder with no availability. I tried to place 3 different orders and looked on Etka for cross part number availability and tried to order a few of those. I have been able to track down one part number which "may" work, but at this time, I am just frustrated with this entire thing and the stock subframe still has 3 issues that concern me.

1. Ground clearance. I am not driving that low, but I am tired of my subframe scraping over speed bumps.

2. Stock subframe suffers from poor welds and have several problems where they like to "shift" and cause a popping sound, especially in reverse. This can be addressed by seam welding, but this could lead to the subframe deforming since it is only stamped steel.

3. Stock subframe likes to rust. For me this isn't a huge issues since I live in Florida for the time being, but up north this is a major concern.

With all this in mind, I started researching and looking into the different options I had and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that a custom solution may be required. It would also work between platforms, so B5/6 A4, B5 S4, B5 and B5.5 Passat.

I have finally found a fabricator who is willing to make a tubular subframe for me. I dropped off the tubing for him this morning. He told me he is going to start fabricating the jig today and should be able to start bending all the piping this week. Stay tuned because there will be many more pictures to come!

In the meantime, this is the tubing I dropped off to him:

And if everything goes according to plans, this is what I will end up installing in the car:

Bottom:

Top:

I am actually going to set up the subframe to use the factory mounts just in case there is too much NHV with the 034 Motorsports solid inserts.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I am bringing home the jig with me as well so if I would need to make a few more in the future, I can.

**Nollywood** · 10-19-2016 02:12 PM

Looks like the tubular subframe built by a guy in the B5 section.

**jacobsen** · 10-19-2016 10:36 PM

Nifty shit!

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**diagnosticator** · 10-20-2016 02:35 AM

Stainless steel tubing? If not it will rust just as easily as the stock sub frame. IMO, the tubing diameter used for the sub frame above, is to small. Using larger diameter tubing would simplify the fabrication of the subframe.

**b55240** · 10-20-2016 08:03 AM

The one tinytim made used 1.5" tubing and 3/8" pickup points. I'm using 1.75" tubing and 1/2" pickup points. It shouldn't be too bad to make honestly. I also plan on either powder coating or painting it with bed liner since that's super heavy duty stuff. In the end, this will be a much better solution than stock.

**Gberg888** · 10-20-2016 08:41 AM

Looks cool! Id be interested in grabbing one. My current subframe is 160k miles old. And those are 160k miles of New England winters. All this is pending price.