The best below-$50 mod I've ever purchased

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura) 10/24/2015 at 12:14 • Filed to: None

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It’s the 034 Motorsport Dogbone Mount Insert. The Dogbone, or Pendulum Mount, limits the rocking of the engine during acceleration.

There are a lot of companies that make the actual Dogbone Mounts, of varying densities to hold everything in place differently, but there an issue with those. They often translate heavy NVH into the cabin as enhancing the whole mount’s stiffness means there’s nothing to take the vibration. The genius of the insert is that it’s cut to fit into the stock mount with its less stiff material. Long story short, it minimizes additional NVH because it’s not a harder material the whole way through. You’ve essentially added a skeleton to the system.

So Long story short is that the engine and transmission finally feel in sync as they should be. And the best part is that the intrusion into cabin is not bad at all. Imperceptable at idle even. I would say I’ve traded an extra 5-10% of NVH under heavy acceleration for an extra 35% drivetrain cohesion all of the time.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/24/2015 at 12:21

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Amazing how a little thing can change the feel (and enjoyment) so much.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > NotUnlessRoundIsFunny 10/24/2015 at 12:24

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On their website it looked so grand. And in person it’s kind of small and nondescript. Needless to say I had doubts once I held it in my hands, but the first pull after install told me my original instinct was right. Its amazing.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/24/2015 at 12:26

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That's the happiest Jalop story I've heard today!

Tareim - V8 powered > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/24/2015 at 12:28

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I remember putting a powerflex bushing into the dogbone on a mk4 tdi golf, the NVH was horrendous on idle though it didn’t bother me, what did bother me was every single passenger mentioning it every time they were in the car.

not done it since

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Tareim - V8 powered 10/24/2015 at 12:37

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Stories like yours are the whole reason I didn’t get an actual bushing. Ive driven others with BFI and 034 Mounts and it’s no fun. But the insert thankfully has given me almost all of the same control, and almost none of the harshness in daily driving.

liquid_popcorn > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/24/2015 at 12:41

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Nice! I have the Black Forest stage 2 poly insert; it’s settled considerably after 10k miles, but I’ll be pulling it soon since Revo is giving me a full set of mounts. The 034 is my backup though, as I’ve heard excellent things in the mk7 forum.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > liquid_popcorn 10/24/2015 at 12:50

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How did you get Revo to give you parts? We can’t even do that! Lol

liquid_popcorn > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/24/2015 at 13:24

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hahaha I know people. ;)

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > liquid_popcorn 10/24/2015 at 13:29

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Have your people call my people haha

JGrabowMSt > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/24/2015 at 15:35

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Being pretty familiar with these mounts, that mod will probably also increase its lifespan, because now it cant move and tear itself, which is super common.

In my old Neon, I had to replace motor mounts more than once because theyre so cheaply made. The other mod you could look at (if the car is a manual, I forget), is solid shift bushings. The Neon has these floppy as hell bushings and shifting felt “normal,” but after I put in solid bushings? It was as if the car was a whole new animal. Shifts felt crisp, it felt exact, and it always felt like it was where it belonged. I think every manual car should have solid shifter bushings because of just how improved it felt, even on a little econobox like the Neon (base SXT model).

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > JGrabowMSt 10/24/2015 at 22:47

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I’ll have to check into these. I’m always looking for ways to improve my shifter without going full short shifter.

JGrabowMSt > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/24/2015 at 22:56

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The kit I had was called “Booger Bushings.” They’re not completely universal, but you may be able to email the guy and ask if he makes any that fit your car, or are close enough, or can make some for you. He started making them just for Neons, and they’re called Booger Bushings because they were originally a booger green color, but now they’re offered in a ton of colors. I had plain black ones because it didn’t make any difference to me, but regardless, they’re amazing.

http://boogerbushings.com/

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > JGrabowMSt 10/24/2015 at 23:04

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http://store.034motorsport.com/034motorsport-…

JGrabowMSt > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/24/2015 at 23:08

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Are there any poly bushing alternatives? That looks like an awesome kit, but it will probably vibrate like crazy, or transfer a significant amount of vibration of the trans.

I would definitely look for reviews of that before commiting, but it does look like a really awesome kit, and it will absolutely make a huge difference in shifting, like night vs day.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > JGrabowMSt 10/24/2015 at 23:16

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Oh there’s plenty of kits available. There’s no shortage of modifications for my trans. It was in everything with a 6 speed starting 7 years ago or so.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/24/2015 at 23:53

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For me it was this little number. Its an H brace for the sheet metal box where the rear control arms bolt to in my SHO. I couldn’t get over how much it tightened up the rear end of the car. Probably should have made one myself instead of shelling out $60, but hey. I know its not $50 but its the cheapest thing for these cars that’s actually worth buying.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 10/24/2015 at 23:58

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Nice! You know, I’m down for anything that adds cohesion and handling ability without adding (too much) harshness.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 10/25/2015 at 04:05

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Now, once I ditch the sagged out springs and struts it’ll be even better. The rear struts have two spring helpers in them. On each side.