Anyone have any experience with 034's dogbone upper and lower puck replacements? I know the forum has an exhaustive amount of threads pertaining to all the inserts and "no subframe drop" solutions for our platform but I'd like to hear folks responses on full dog bone replacements. So far I've found
-034 Street Density Dogbone Mount Pair (upper and lower)
-Racingline/VWR dogbone and pendulum
and of course the complete engine/transmission/dogbone kit from Superpro that's no longer being made
I recently ordered some cpe engine and transmission 55a duro mounts and I wanted to pair them up with a rubber dogbone replacement. Also thinking of upgrading the front sway bar, so while the subframe is down, I figure it would be a good time to get rid of the oem jello dogbone.
I wouldn't use any 034 products, too many people have had negative experiences with them and those pucks look like garbage.
Superpro's pucks look EXACTLY like OEM... voids and all. That also seems like a huge waste of money.
Racingline/VWR's solution was what I was initially going to go with. Seemed to be a solid choice (and only choice) at first. However, it turns out a few people have had some serious issues with them not holding up. Enough to make a very reputable shop stop selling them/installing them. Perhaps still worth considering.
Where does that leave us? With no real options.
I'm running a weirdly modified version of ECE's RS3/TTRS billet & polyurethane mount - it's honestly the best option for a complete replacement solution. How do you install it the correct way? You need to replace your subframe with an A3/S3 aluminum subframe and contact ECE/purchase their S3 mount variant. They don't/won't make an MK7 version, I asked. As it turns out, MK7 owners are cheap and not many manufactures care to make real subframe bushing solutions for our car because there is no market for them. As you found out by browsing these forums, it's all inserts or ways to "improve" the OEM bushings without dropping your subframe. This is also why most MK7 owners have only upgraded their RSB. Hint: They don't all auto cross their cars (rules state one bar can be replaced, RSB is hands down the best choice if only one bar can be replaced for the type of driving you're subjected to in auto cross), they just think a larger RSB/stock FSB is the best solution for their daily driver. Turns out they also avoid dropping their subframes with this way of thinking... winning.
If swapping your subframe isn't an option, I'd honestly run a Powerflex lower/stock upper. While it's not a complete replacement, it's likely your best option in the steel subframe.
Also... If you're going to drop your subframe for any reason, you should install Tyrolsport's deadset kit.