Member Braces for Audi A5 B8

Member braces stiffen the suspension members, the front and rear subframes that carry the arms, by tying their mounting points together or to the body. The category covers front, mid and rear member braces with two to five mounting points, plus steel reinforcement plates welded to subframe mounts.

Many subframes are bolted to the shell through rubber mounts that keep road noise out of the cabin. Under power, braking and cornering, those mounts let the subframe shift slightly, and the wheels it carries steer with it. A member brace limits that movement, so toe and camber change less with load and the car answers the same way each time.

The body around the mounts takes the full load, and on some shells the metal there tears or cracks after repeated hard use. Welded reinforcement plates thicken that metal and spread the load over a wider area. That is why they are often fitted before any damage appears.

Use the titles to compare:

• Position: front, mid and rear member braces, front lower member bars and a rear subframe brace. Start at the axle you want to steady.
• Point count: 2-, 4- and 5-point braces, and pairs of 3-point braces. Multi-point designs tie more mounts together and resist movement in more directions.
• Bolt-on or welded: braces bolt to existing points, while the steel plate set is welded in, which usually means dropping the subframe. The plates suit cars that see sustained track use.
• Vehicle: titles name the model, and most add the chassis code or years. Subframe layouts change between generations, so match the title exactly.

Where a brace shares bolts with the subframe, mark the subframe’s position first so it goes back exactly where it was. Renew any single-use bolts, torque everything to the vehicle maker’s figure, and check the alignment if the subframe moved.

Welding plates is a workshop job. Fuel and brake lines, the tank and wiring near the mounts must be removed or shielded from heat, and the finished welds need primer, paint and cavity protection. On a track car, check the mounts and plates for cracks at each service.