Given the extensive talk of motor mounts for our car (especially the VF mounts lately), and the fact that VF just released side motor mounts, I wanted to give their lower mount a try. I remember hearing that this mount is extremely stiff, causes steering wheel vibrations, coin tray rattling, and vibrations that would knock the fillings out of my teeth (if I had any!).
I received the mount the other day and threw the car up on ramps and went to work. Unlike other mounts that are either factory mounts with different bushings in them, this mount is two pieces. Be careful when you pull it out of the box or the transmission bracket and its respective bolts will fall out. Below is a picture of the lower side of the mount:
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As you can see, the VF Engineering logo is supposed to be visible when the mount is installed on the car. The two hex bolts that secure the mount to the subframe are 6mm, and the two that bolt into the transmission are 8mm.
As for the top of the mount, there is a washer that is placed between the forward bushing and the transmission. This bushing is slightly smaller (i.e. tapered) on one side, and that side needs to be touching the transmission, with the larger side facing the bushing:
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When installing, I found it easiest to secure the mount to the subframe first, and then fit the transmission bolts. I torqued the subframe bolts to 18 ft/lbs, and then torqued the tranny bolts to 30 ft/lbs. The two tranny bolts have lock washers on them, whereas the rear subframe bolts do not. As you can see from the picture below, the mount flows well with the underside of the car. I have the Audi TT lower stress bar, which needs to be removed for the install of the VF mount.
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The excitement was building after I installed the mount. I anxiously double checked everything, got into the car, put the key in the ignition, depressed the clutch, checked my hair in the rear view mirror, and started the engine. My hands were gripped on the steering wheel in anticipation of such vibration that the wheel would come off if I didn't hold onto it with a death grip, but after I released the wheel and blood started to flow back into my hands, I noticed there was no vibration. When backing down off of the ramps, I noticed when I gave the engine gas, the sound was changed and there was this feeling of being "one" with the car. Right at that moment, I felt like a man!
However, at idle I did notice a slight buzzing/humming, and with the air conditioning on it gets worse. I installed the mount at 5418 miles, and now have about 5550 miles on the car and the mount has broken in. I almost don't notice any vibration at idle, however I do get some feedback when the engine is decelerating between 2800 and 2000 RPM. According to VF, after about 500 miles the mount breaks in. I can tell just from the 130 miles I put on the car since I installed the mount that it has already broken in.
It is hard to describe what this mount does for the car. Right away you notice that the engine is more connected with the car, and you feel it when you drive, even under relaxed driving conditions. The great thing about driving a R32 is that we have so many excellent choices for lower mounts (eip's mount, poly bushing inserts, VF's mount) and each one is more aggressive than the previous one. I wouldn't be able to describe which mount is better, because better is personal preference. Variable such as cost and vibration depend solely on the person purchasing the mount and what they are looking for.
The VF mount is a wonderful, good looking and performing piece. Slop is considerably cleaned up, but you have a trade off of some vibration. Given our fairly widespread demographic of the R32 forum, some people will like some more vibration from the engine at the expense of reducing "slop", while others won't make that trade-off. If you are looking for a mount to tie you with the car, significantly reduce slop, and are willing to have some vibration, then the VF mount is the lower mount for you.
- Anthony
I received the mount the other day and threw the car up on ramps and went to work. Unlike other mounts that are either factory mounts with different bushings in them, this mount is two pieces. Be careful when you pull it out of the box or the transmission bracket and its respective bolts will fall out. Below is a picture of the lower side of the mount:
As you can see, the VF Engineering logo is supposed to be visible when the mount is installed on the car. The two hex bolts that secure the mount to the subframe are 6mm, and the two that bolt into the transmission are 8mm.
As for the top of the mount, there is a washer that is placed between the forward bushing and the transmission. This bushing is slightly smaller (i.e. tapered) on one side, and that side needs to be touching the transmission, with the larger side facing the bushing:
When installing, I found it easiest to secure the mount to the subframe first, and then fit the transmission bolts. I torqued the subframe bolts to 18 ft/lbs, and then torqued the tranny bolts to 30 ft/lbs. The two tranny bolts have lock washers on them, whereas the rear subframe bolts do not. As you can see from the picture below, the mount flows well with the underside of the car. I have the Audi TT lower stress bar, which needs to be removed for the install of the VF mount.
The excitement was building after I installed the mount. I anxiously double checked everything, got into the car, put the key in the ignition, depressed the clutch, checked my hair in the rear view mirror, and started the engine. My hands were gripped on the steering wheel in anticipation of such vibration that the wheel would come off if I didn't hold onto it with a death grip, but after I released the wheel and blood started to flow back into my hands, I noticed there was no vibration. When backing down off of the ramps, I noticed when I gave the engine gas, the sound was changed and there was this feeling of being "one" with the car. Right at that moment, I felt like a man!
However, at idle I did notice a slight buzzing/humming, and with the air conditioning on it gets worse. I installed the mount at 5418 miles, and now have about 5550 miles on the car and the mount has broken in. I almost don't notice any vibration at idle, however I do get some feedback when the engine is decelerating between 2800 and 2000 RPM. According to VF, after about 500 miles the mount breaks in. I can tell just from the 130 miles I put on the car since I installed the mount that it has already broken in.
It is hard to describe what this mount does for the car. Right away you notice that the engine is more connected with the car, and you feel it when you drive, even under relaxed driving conditions. The great thing about driving a R32 is that we have so many excellent choices for lower mounts (eip's mount, poly bushing inserts, VF's mount) and each one is more aggressive than the previous one. I wouldn't be able to describe which mount is better, because better is personal preference. Variable such as cost and vibration depend solely on the person purchasing the mount and what they are looking for.
The VF mount is a wonderful, good looking and performing piece. Slop is considerably cleaned up, but you have a trade off of some vibration. Given our fairly widespread demographic of the R32 forum, some people will like some more vibration from the engine at the expense of reducing "slop", while others won't make that trade-off. If you are looking for a mount to tie you with the car, significantly reduce slop, and are willing to have some vibration, then the VF mount is the lower mount for you.
- Anthony
