JXB Performance Driveshaft Carrier - Audi C4 - Track Bushings - C4001A0-T
The stock center support bearing carrier holds the driveshaft in place with
a layer of thin rubber. While that’s great for making sure no NVH makes it
to the cabin, it doesn’t keep the bearing centered well under load, allows
the bearing to sag and ruin driveshaft alignment over time, and creates
slop in the driveline during shifts and throttle application.
Over time the OEM bushing becomes brittle, eventually dry rotting and
cracking. Even on the best-kept cars, the stock bushing can start to form
cracks in as little as 5-10 years.
When the bushing wears and sags, it changes the alignment of the
driveshaft, putting more stress on the joints. During rapid loading of the
driveshaft (launches, shifts, and quick application of the throttle), the
bearing is allowed to travel off-center, introducing slack in the
driveline, which results in laggy and unpredictable driveline response.
Our upgraded driveshaft carriers keep the driveshaft firmly in place at all
times. The more solid bushings ensure the bearing cannot move from center,
maintaining torque delivery and driveshaft alignment at all times,
resulting in more direct driveline response under all conditions.
Benefits as described by our customers include:
More direct throttle response
Firmer, more direct shifts
More instantaneous launches
Reduction in vibration due to driveshaft misalignment and/or rubber
deterioration
Smoother low-speed on/off throttle behavior (1st gear in parking lots)
The videos below show how OEM driveshaft carriers react to driveshaft loads
and the improvement with our carriers.
Installation doesn’t require removal of the driveshaft. The 2-part design
clamps around the OEM bearing. The old carrier must be removed, so a
cutting tool is required.
The video below is from the B5, but the C4 follows the same order of
operations. Remove forward tunnel brace, lower exhaust, remove heat shield,
remove rear tunnel brace, cut away OEM carrier, trim rubber around bearing,
install new carrier (do not reuse the spacers between OEM carrier and
body), put it all back together.
C4 A6/UrS4/UrS6
Street and Track refer to the durometer (stiffness) of the bushings. Track
are roughly twice the durometer of the street bushings. Both track and
street are many times stiffer than stock and will hold up to whatever abuse
are thrown at them, but the street bushings are better at soaking up
drivetrain noise and vibration. Usually both street and track are
completely silent and vibration-free, but in cases where there is an
underlying drivetrain issue causing the driveshaft to vibrate badly, the
track bushings may not be able to soak it all up, where the street bushings
can.
We generally recommend street bushings for any car that's not purpose-built
for track or overland use, since the street bushings have a much lower
chance of transmitting drivetrain NVH to the cabin at high speeds or under
heavy throttle loads.
If you’re not sure which to go with, the “Give me Both!” option will give
you a full set of each of the street and track bushings. You can use all
street, all track, or even mix and match them to find the perfect balance
of performance and NVH-absorption.
Street - C4001A0-S
Track - C4001A0-T
Both - C4001A0-B
Street - BSH04A0
Track - BSH04A1
SHS01A1
