AudiWorld Forums - PSA: Potential DISASTER on ECS Tuning Stage 2 v1 bracket

for that matter, check for this damage! Further propogation of this crack would have led to the calipers coming off the mount - and who knows what results. The calipers would lock on the rotor, spin around and maybe rip off the brake line. Could get thrown out at the suspension, wheel, engine, timing belt, etc. and would lead to total brake loss once the fluid line is compromised... I have not contacted ECS regarding this failure yet, and am actually in the process of upgrading to Stage 2 v2 which changes this bracket. I was hoping to sell these brackets, but clearly that is not an option now... Thank God my ball joint was worn, that's when I noticed the crack!

This crack is present on BOTH of my brackets.

For information, I got this kit used, but it was not very used (maybe 20% pads worn by previous owner). I mounted the kit with new pads 13,000 miles ago. I have NOT tracked my car, but I do enjoy California canyon runs...

Here's a view from underneath. This is the first sign of trouble I saw when replacing my ball joint:

<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v87/photos/4/435091/4096379/DSCN8033-vi.jpg">

Confirmation that the crack is ALSO present on the TOP side of the bracket:

<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v351/photos/4/435091/4096379/DSCN8036-vi.jpg">

Another view from the top side:

<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v17/photos/4/435091/4096379/DSCN8037-vi.jpg">

After disassembling the bracket, you can see the crack went through the entire block at the two ends. Only the inner 2-2.5" of metal is holding this bracket together:

<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v352/photos/4/435091/4096379/DSCN8043-vi.jpg">

Another view, cracked clean through:

<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v351/photos/4/435091/4096379/DSCN8044-vi.jpg">

It appears to me that the crack starts at the sharp inner corner where the bolts mount the bracket to the hub. This corner should have been made with a radius in the inner surface. A sharp corner creates a stress concentrator, which will allow the material to crack more easily:

<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v350/photos/4/435091/4096379/DSCN8045-vi.jpg">

All previous shots were from the passenger side. Here is the Driver's side - same problem:

<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v17/photos/4/435091/4096379/DSCN8046-vi.jpg">

Another shot of the Driver's side bracket - cracked all the way through as well:

<img src="http://images16.fotki.com/v352/photos/4/435091/4096379/DSCN8047-vi.jpg">