Make a donation

Author Topic: Tunnel braces  (Read 1408 times)

Offline MattC

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 0
  • -Receive: 2
  • Posts: 67
Tunnel braces
« on: October 04, 2020, 10:26:33 pm »
Noticed my car is missing the rear tunnel brace and the front one is very rusty.

Can't seem to find any new ones online.
What do these actually do?

(Ignore the red arrows, not my picture)



Part Numbers: 1K0804421B, 1K0802128C (I think)

Offline bacillus

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 4
  • -Receive: 451
  • Posts: 6330
Re: Tunnel braces
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2020, 11:16:01 pm »
Without traction power is nothing!

Offline RedSwede

  • Taking part
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 0
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 33
Re: Tunnel braces
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2020, 12:35:28 pm »
(Ignore the red arrows, not my picture)

Ah! Didn't see that at first. I was going to be seriously impressed at the underside condition if that was a recent photo of a UK MK5!!

Offline pudding

  • Global Moderator
  • Just look at my post count
  • *
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 2
  • -Receive: 690
  • Posts: 8354
Re: Tunnel braces
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2020, 08:27:09 pm »
They're not braces.  They are flimsy as f'ck.  They are there to catch the exhaust if it fails, instead of it dragging on the ground, or worse, digging into it.


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline Octoparrot

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 8
  • -Receive: 102
  • Posts: 1004
    • Email
Re: Tunnel braces
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2020, 08:30:12 pm »
They're not braces.  They are flimsy as f'ck.  They are there to catch the exhaust if it fails, instead of it dragging on the ground, or worse, digging into it.

I'd never thought of that but it makes total sense.  :congrats:

Offline pudding

  • Global Moderator
  • Just look at my post count
  • *
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 2
  • -Receive: 690
  • Posts: 8354
Re: Tunnel braces
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2020, 08:42:41 pm »
If the exhaust falls off the engine and digs into the ground at speed, it rips off and flies into the car behind, with predictable consequences!  That's why all cars since the early 2000s have bars across the trans tunnel to keep the exhaust off the floor should it fail  :happy2:


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D