I received my AWR engine mount with the 88a bushing last night, installed it last night, and wanted to give my first impressions after installation.
Installation was easy. Theres not much to do here so I'm not really going to go into installation. I torqued the actual bolts that go through the bushings to 50 ft lbs and just snugged the other nuts.
Only tools needed was a 13mm deep socket, ratchet, and torque wrench.
Startup and idle:
-Upon first startup you can definitely feel 'vibrations' now. Not intrusive but its there.
-At IDLE if you're holding the steering wheel you can feel a LITTLE LITTLE bit of vibration.
Taking off and driving/cruising:
-Taking off you feel alot of vibrations. It doesn't rattle anything but it definitely vibrates, You feel it in the seat more then anything else. Granted my car is still newish(4500 miles) but nothing rattles.
-I'd say 90% you feel the vibrations in the seat and 10% is in the wheel.
-Cruising is pretty much normal. I'd say maybe VERY VERY LITTLE vibrations you can feel but you have to look for it.
Performance:
-This is where you'll forget about the vibrations. You feel much more connected to the car, not more slop from the factory motor mount. Shifts are MUCH smoother and rev match downshifts are even more smoother. As one member said, "The engine is using more of its energy propelling the car forward then twisting inside the engine bay." It feels faster which may be placebo and may not be. I haven't experienced it yet but also the additional benefits is better traction and less wheel hop.
Summary:
Do I regret getting the 88a bushing? Hell no. Why? Because in the end, the mount is still brand new. I only put about 30 miles on it that night. I know that it'll break in and 500-1000 miles down the road I'm sure it'll feel a little smoother but is it by any means unbearable? Not at all. My opinion is the same as others which I feel that if I got the 70a bushing it wouldn't be doing much for performance once broken in as the 88a would do. Granted, its all relative, it depends on who you are because I've seen reviews of people with the Cobb mount or the AWR with the 70a bushing and claim it was going to "shake the car apart." Which IMHO is ridiculous, especially for the Cobb. My friend have the Cobb RMM and the vibrations are BARELY noticeable. In a way its kinda cool with the vibrations you get from the seat because it feels like a even more 'rowdier' car now since a little spunk.
I'll give updates once 500 miles sets in and then 1000 miles. I'm about 90% happy and only 10% unnerved. The only reason I'm unnerved is just because I'm not used to taking off from stops and feeling alot of vibrations through the seat. When you're used to feeling nothing and then feeling it all it gets a little weird at first. I'll give it time. IMHO its a win win because if I end up not liking it after break in I can just get the softer bushing!
Installation was easy. Theres not much to do here so I'm not really going to go into installation. I torqued the actual bolts that go through the bushings to 50 ft lbs and just snugged the other nuts.
Only tools needed was a 13mm deep socket, ratchet, and torque wrench.
Startup and idle:
-Upon first startup you can definitely feel 'vibrations' now. Not intrusive but its there.
-At IDLE if you're holding the steering wheel you can feel a LITTLE LITTLE bit of vibration.
Taking off and driving/cruising:
-Taking off you feel alot of vibrations. It doesn't rattle anything but it definitely vibrates, You feel it in the seat more then anything else. Granted my car is still newish(4500 miles) but nothing rattles.
-I'd say 90% you feel the vibrations in the seat and 10% is in the wheel.
-Cruising is pretty much normal. I'd say maybe VERY VERY LITTLE vibrations you can feel but you have to look for it.
Performance:
-This is where you'll forget about the vibrations. You feel much more connected to the car, not more slop from the factory motor mount. Shifts are MUCH smoother and rev match downshifts are even more smoother. As one member said, "The engine is using more of its energy propelling the car forward then twisting inside the engine bay." It feels faster which may be placebo and may not be. I haven't experienced it yet but also the additional benefits is better traction and less wheel hop.
Summary:
Do I regret getting the 88a bushing? Hell no. Why? Because in the end, the mount is still brand new. I only put about 30 miles on it that night. I know that it'll break in and 500-1000 miles down the road I'm sure it'll feel a little smoother but is it by any means unbearable? Not at all. My opinion is the same as others which I feel that if I got the 70a bushing it wouldn't be doing much for performance once broken in as the 88a would do. Granted, its all relative, it depends on who you are because I've seen reviews of people with the Cobb mount or the AWR with the 70a bushing and claim it was going to "shake the car apart." Which IMHO is ridiculous, especially for the Cobb. My friend have the Cobb RMM and the vibrations are BARELY noticeable. In a way its kinda cool with the vibrations you get from the seat because it feels like a even more 'rowdier' car now since a little spunk.
I'll give updates once 500 miles sets in and then 1000 miles. I'm about 90% happy and only 10% unnerved. The only reason I'm unnerved is just because I'm not used to taking off from stops and feeling alot of vibrations through the seat. When you're used to feeling nothing and then feeling it all it gets a little weird at first. I'll give it time. IMHO its a win win because if I end up not liking it after break in I can just get the softer bushing!
