Con rod debate

[jimk04]

So in the 1.8T 20v circles it seems that the con rods are changed fairly readily - even the 'BAM/APX' forged jobs from the later 225hp engines. I personally know of quite a few whom have bent rods or ejected them through the side of the block.

But the mk5 setup doesnt seem to bother....yet I think the mk5 GTI only has 19mm wrist pins....smaller than a 225 1.8t.

I know a lot is down to the torque delivery and driving style, but it seems surprising that I have heard of no major failures of bottom ends - despite quite a few high power cars.

Are the TFSI rods still 144mm? Just stroked to 2litre with the crank?

[jimk04]

Interesting so far!

[vRSAlex]

GTi has 20mm wrist pins and the ED30 has 21mm pins.

Visually between the two standard rods they are the same.

I have seen a few failures.  Usually just bent rods but a couple of rods out the side failures too.

The rods are indeed 144mm and the 2 litre is obtained through a larger bore of 82.5 and a different stroked crank.

[jimk04]

I have some spare 225tt mk1 forged conrods as I put Integrated Engineering in. Are these interchangeable with the TFSI? I know there was a change on the later 1.8Ts  due to the intermediate shaft change..

[vRSAlex]

I have some spare 225tt mk1 forged conrods as I put Integrated Engineering in. Are these interchangeable with the TFSI? I know there was a change on the later 1.8Ts  due to the intermediate shaft change..

Standard bam rods? They are different to the standard GTi rods at the little ends. The GTi's little end tapers to allow it to fit into the piston.

[jimk04]

Yes I have some BAM rods and wondered if they would be an upgrade for an AXX.