Hi All,
Just a quick review on Raven6t9's (from GolfMK5) billet noise-pipe plug that I installed earlier this week.
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Background
The noise pipe plug plugs the branch of the throttle-body pipe that feeds the noise pipe with air/boost. The theory behind this is that you're "wasting" boost since some of your boost, however minimal, is still lost to feeding the noise pipe to generate more "vroom vroom" sound in the cabin. Claimed gains of the plug include: improved throttle response and a quieter cabin.
A ton of info, DIY guide, and pics of these plugs can be found here: http://golfmk5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44094
Interesting point: apparently the "noise-pipe" is only found in North American cars and not in their European counterparts...anyone across the pond care to confirm?
Price
I paid $45 for the Billet Noise Plug + 4 knurled-end screws shipped to Canada. I believe he sells them for $40 shipped anywhere in the US.
People have also used other types of plugs that they've found in Autozone, Home Depot etc. with varying success. Long story short -- although these plugs are a lot cheaper (~$3?) a lot of these Autozone/Home Depot-type plugs have popped out under hard-driving/heavy boost, some even leaving dents in the hood at the force they've been shot out at. Read the thread above if you want all the gory details.
Installation
BE VERY CAREFUL AS ANYTHING DROPPED DOWN THE TB-PIPE CAN MAKE IT'S WAY INTO YOUR ENGINE! There's basically 2 ways you can install the plug:
1. Remove the entire noise pipe assembly and install the plug at the TB-pipe.
2. "Stealth Install" -- install the plug at the TB-pipe and reinstall the noise-pipe hose over the TB-pipe to hide the plug.
I chose to do the Stealth Install to avoid any potential service/warranty hassles down the road. The Stealth Install also protects the rest of your engine just in case the plug actually does pop out -- it'll pop into the hose which has been securely re-fastened around the TB pipe instead of shooting at your hood and ricocheting around your engine bay...A couple points from my experience if you're planning to DIY:
1. If you've removed the stock airbox (for an aftermarket intake, for example) this install will be much easier as you'll have much more room to work with in accessing and removing hose clamps.
2. If you're planning to go with the stealth install you literally only have to loosen the hose-clamp identified in #3 and remove the torx screw circled in red in the pics below.
Once done, you can slowly but strongly start pulling the hose off the TB-pipe, and once released it will swing out of the way (I rested it on the rad cover) to give you more room to access the TB-pipe. I was originally told to remove the clamp at #2 also, but I found that to be unnecessary...which made my life a lot easier.
3. Once the TB-pipe opening is exposed, your nightmares can begin. There is a fk'n POS metal sleeve :mad0259: in the TB-pipe that needs to be removed before you can install the plug. Why, you ask? Because people who have installed an earlier version of this plug in the TSI engine without removing that metal sleeve have had their plugs pop out under hard-driving/heavy boost. I think this only happened to one person, but the maker of these plugs chose the safer road and redesigned the TSI-plugs to fit only when you remove that metal sleeve, so that (a) he could have a thicker rubber seal with the plugs, and (b) the knurled screws that comes with the plug can get a secure grip against the plastic of the TB pipe (the grip they get against the metal sleeve is not as secure). The FSI engines DO NOT have this metal sleeve.
Getting this metal sleeve out is difficult to say the least. There's a number of methods that you could try, and they're discussed in the GolfMK5 thread I've referenced, but to summarize:
* some type of thin hooked tool to catch the edge of where the metal sleeve meets the rest of the TB pipe and pull (good luck),
* Squeeze the outside of the TB-pipe where the metal sleeve is using a C-clamp, pliers etc. to hopefully compress the metal sleeve enough to give needle nose pliers something to grab, and pull (runs the risk of cracking your TB-pipe),
* use a 1.5" expanding plug (can be bought at Autozone, Home Depot), insert it in the TB pipe where the metal sleeve is, start expanding it until it's tight and PULL HARD hopefully popping the metal sleeve out with it (people have had the most success with this method)
...or you could do what I did: try different varieties of the methods above for 2.5 hours, swear a lot, smoke a lot, drink a bit, and finally go to your shop, explain and show what you're trying to do, watch them pull the metal sleeve out in 2 mins using essentially a "reverse-plier" type tool (as they squeeze, the teeth/ends expand out).
4. Before installing the plug in the exposed TB-pipe, pre-seat the 4 screws. Don't overtighten the screws against the TB-pipe as they could expand the pipe causing leaks.
Impressions
Do I find the cabin quieter? Yes, although not by a lot and this is not the primary reason I did this mod.
Is throttle response improved? Yes, I did feel a noticeable response improvement. The car feels more immediate under acceleration and generally "pulls stronger". I stress the word FEEL here because this mod should not net you any HP/TQ gains -- you're just more efficiently using what you already have/make. Some folks who have boost gauges with this mod have noticed an increase in their peak boost by 1-2 PSI, others have noticed their boost climb quicker. I can't comment on either of these observations as I do not have a boost gauge -- yet. But I personally did notice an improvement to throttle response.
Conclusion
Worth it for $40/$45? Yes, as long as you have a plan for getting that metal sleeve out!
*****************************
Anyone else running the noise-pipe plug that can add their experiences/impressions? As always, comments, feedback, questions etc. welcome and greatly appreciated!
Hope this helps others out there!
Just a quick review on Raven6t9's (from GolfMK5) billet noise-pipe plug that I installed earlier this week.
*****************************
Background
The noise pipe plug plugs the branch of the throttle-body pipe that feeds the noise pipe with air/boost. The theory behind this is that you're "wasting" boost since some of your boost, however minimal, is still lost to feeding the noise pipe to generate more "vroom vroom" sound in the cabin. Claimed gains of the plug include: improved throttle response and a quieter cabin.
A ton of info, DIY guide, and pics of these plugs can be found here: http://golfmk5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44094
Interesting point: apparently the "noise-pipe" is only found in North American cars and not in their European counterparts...anyone across the pond care to confirm?
Price
I paid $45 for the Billet Noise Plug + 4 knurled-end screws shipped to Canada. I believe he sells them for $40 shipped anywhere in the US.
People have also used other types of plugs that they've found in Autozone, Home Depot etc. with varying success. Long story short -- although these plugs are a lot cheaper (~$3?) a lot of these Autozone/Home Depot-type plugs have popped out under hard-driving/heavy boost, some even leaving dents in the hood at the force they've been shot out at. Read the thread above if you want all the gory details.
Installation
BE VERY CAREFUL AS ANYTHING DROPPED DOWN THE TB-PIPE CAN MAKE IT'S WAY INTO YOUR ENGINE! There's basically 2 ways you can install the plug:
1. Remove the entire noise pipe assembly and install the plug at the TB-pipe.
2. "Stealth Install" -- install the plug at the TB-pipe and reinstall the noise-pipe hose over the TB-pipe to hide the plug.
I chose to do the Stealth Install to avoid any potential service/warranty hassles down the road. The Stealth Install also protects the rest of your engine just in case the plug actually does pop out -- it'll pop into the hose which has been securely re-fastened around the TB pipe instead of shooting at your hood and ricocheting around your engine bay...A couple points from my experience if you're planning to DIY:
1. If you've removed the stock airbox (for an aftermarket intake, for example) this install will be much easier as you'll have much more room to work with in accessing and removing hose clamps.
2. If you're planning to go with the stealth install you literally only have to loosen the hose-clamp identified in #3 and remove the torx screw circled in red in the pics below.
Once done, you can slowly but strongly start pulling the hose off the TB-pipe, and once released it will swing out of the way (I rested it on the rad cover) to give you more room to access the TB-pipe. I was originally told to remove the clamp at #2 also, but I found that to be unnecessary...which made my life a lot easier.
3. Once the TB-pipe opening is exposed, your nightmares can begin. There is a fk'n POS metal sleeve :mad0259: in the TB-pipe that needs to be removed before you can install the plug. Why, you ask? Because people who have installed an earlier version of this plug in the TSI engine without removing that metal sleeve have had their plugs pop out under hard-driving/heavy boost. I think this only happened to one person, but the maker of these plugs chose the safer road and redesigned the TSI-plugs to fit only when you remove that metal sleeve, so that (a) he could have a thicker rubber seal with the plugs, and (b) the knurled screws that comes with the plug can get a secure grip against the plastic of the TB pipe (the grip they get against the metal sleeve is not as secure). The FSI engines DO NOT have this metal sleeve.
Getting this metal sleeve out is difficult to say the least. There's a number of methods that you could try, and they're discussed in the GolfMK5 thread I've referenced, but to summarize:
* some type of thin hooked tool to catch the edge of where the metal sleeve meets the rest of the TB pipe and pull (good luck),
* Squeeze the outside of the TB-pipe where the metal sleeve is using a C-clamp, pliers etc. to hopefully compress the metal sleeve enough to give needle nose pliers something to grab, and pull (runs the risk of cracking your TB-pipe),
* use a 1.5" expanding plug (can be bought at Autozone, Home Depot), insert it in the TB pipe where the metal sleeve is, start expanding it until it's tight and PULL HARD hopefully popping the metal sleeve out with it (people have had the most success with this method)
...or you could do what I did: try different varieties of the methods above for 2.5 hours, swear a lot, smoke a lot, drink a bit, and finally go to your shop, explain and show what you're trying to do, watch them pull the metal sleeve out in 2 mins using essentially a "reverse-plier" type tool (as they squeeze, the teeth/ends expand out).
4. Before installing the plug in the exposed TB-pipe, pre-seat the 4 screws. Don't overtighten the screws against the TB-pipe as they could expand the pipe causing leaks.
Impressions
Do I find the cabin quieter? Yes, although not by a lot and this is not the primary reason I did this mod.
Is throttle response improved? Yes, I did feel a noticeable response improvement. The car feels more immediate under acceleration and generally "pulls stronger". I stress the word FEEL here because this mod should not net you any HP/TQ gains -- you're just more efficiently using what you already have/make. Some folks who have boost gauges with this mod have noticed an increase in their peak boost by 1-2 PSI, others have noticed their boost climb quicker. I can't comment on either of these observations as I do not have a boost gauge -- yet. But I personally did notice an improvement to throttle response.
Conclusion
Worth it for $40/$45? Yes, as long as you have a plan for getting that metal sleeve out!
*****************************
Anyone else running the noise-pipe plug that can add their experiences/impressions? As always, comments, feedback, questions etc. welcome and greatly appreciated!
Hope this helps others out there!
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