Crankshaft Pulley failure

[snakeawesome]

Wanted to find out if anyone else has had this happen or if anyone knows if there's a TSB for this?

The rubber piece on the crankshaft pulley delaminated (came unglued) & caused it to wobble. The end result is a $1700+ bill a shredded belt, a blown gasket, a broken crankshaft & idler pulley, etc. 2010 with less then 60k miles.

[Lamprey]

Hasn't happened to me yet, but it has happened to several people on here.

Here is a replacement pulley thread that talks about it some:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/657537

[Jake@JHM]

This pulley failure is actually happening quite often among the different 3.0T chassis. Our pulley linked above (thanks!) will prevent that from happening again in the future!




Click Here for more information!

[ENV²]

This is worrysome.

[Jake@JHM]

This is worrysome.

It is. Depend what RPM your engine is at when the failure happens, that OEM pulley can take out several things in the engine bay!

[infinkc]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ghlight=Pulley

Mine went out. Glad JHM has a solution for the crappy stock part now.

[snakeawesome]

It is. Depend what RPM your engine is at when the failure happens, that OEM pulley can take out several things in the engine bay!

For me it was at around 65 - 70 mph on the highway when it happened. Luckily I was able to pull off & get to a gas station without too much trouble.

[Jake@JHM]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ghlight=Pulley

Mine went out. Glad JHM has a solution for the crappy stock part now.

Yup! Too pad yours failed before we released ours =[

For me it was at around 65 - 70 mph on the highway when it happened. Luckily I was able to pull off & get to a gas station without too much trouble.

Imagine being close to redline when it blows apart!

[jlaudio]

makes me wonder: is this something that should be replaced in a proactive way?

[Jake@JHM]

makes me wonder: is this something that should be replaced in a proactive way?

It ends up being cheaper that way, because typically when the pulley fails, it takes out other components as well

[infinkc]

makes me wonder: is this something that should be replaced in a proactive way?

Knowing that the factory design is crap, i would highly recommend anyone doing a stage 2 pulley do do this one at the same time as your car is already in the service position and 1 belt removed already. I was out 1 week waiting for the factory audi part to become available.

Replace the factory serpentine belt also at the same time.

[mcoomer]

Is this a problem for pre and post-facelift cars or just the earlier B8's?

Mike

[jimrobbington]

This pulley failure is actually happening quite often among the different 3.0T chassis. Our pulley linked above (thanks!) will prevent that from happening again in the future!




Click Here for more information!

This is kinda scary. It's like having a timing belt with no clue when it is supposed to be replaced. Or like having a 2.0t and never checking the cam follower.

Is there a way to check this pulley for wear or signs of failure?

[Jake@JHM]

This is kinda scary. It's like having a timing belt with no clue when it is supposed to be replaced. Or like having a 2.0t and never checking the cam follower.

Is there a way to check this pulley for wear or signs of failure?

You should be able to see if the rubber is getting fragile. But it is hard to say for sure. Upgrading to a smaller pulley for the blower definitely adds to the wear and tear of the stock pulley.

[jimrobbington]

You should be able to see if the rubber is getting fragile. But it is hard to say for sure. Upgrading to a smaller pulley for the blower definitely adds to the wear and tear of the stock pulley.

Oh for sure. I will totally be replacing this when i do a pulley, just wondering how worried i should be the way i drive lol. I'm only at 29k, but you know me, I'm a fairly aggressive driver and the tach meets redline daily. Lol.

[Jake@JHM]

Oh for sure. I will totally be replacing this when i do a pulley, just wondering how worried i should be the way i drive lol. I'm only at 29k, but you know me, I'm a fairly aggressive driver and the tach meets redline daily. Lol.

Haha it's something to keep in mind, but most failures the customer also had the smaller pulley. It does happen stock, just seems to be more rare.

[raudiace4]

FUCK

[Laurent21]

That's why MRC does its stage 2 by replacing this pulley and not the supercharger's one.. As well as a new reinforced belt. That's what I did. (In Europe at least.. Not sure in the U.S.)

[pcardenas]

SCARY!

[B44]

if this pulley is the issue jhm can set up group buy deal so everyone can benefit.

[Jake@JHM]

if this pulley is the issue jhm can set up group buy deal so everyone can benefit.

It's on an intro sale! Everyone can benefit

[chaos2984]

Ive had that happen to me before on my old ford probe. Luckly I was in a parking lot when it happened. But I make all kinds of racket and I saw it flying down the parking lot after it spit out of the engine bay lol.

Usually you can see the rubber coming out of the pulley. Sticking out past flush. Or if the rubber and pulley are walking you can get a slight belt chirp with it as well. Both as possible signs that its starting to go.

[B44]

It's on an intro sale! Everyone can benefit

well this might be the a worthwhile upgrade for everyone.

[Jake@JHM]

well this might be the a worthwhile upgrade for everyone.

It's a great preventative maintenance item. Additionally, it is another piece to the big puzzle of optimal performance. Reducing weight always help!

[saxon]

It's a great preventative maintenance item. Additionally, it is another piece to the big puzzle of optimal performance. Reducing weight always help!

why not create one that will work as a "stage 2" pulley so no need for one on the charger itself?

[Jake@JHM]

why not create one that will work as a "stage 2" pulley so no need for one on the charger itself?

Way ahead of you. This pulley has been made, and is still in R&D/Testing phase. More info soon.

[jayts]

My crankshaft pulley went on Tuesday, just placed my order today, I only drove about 50 feet after I felt the power steering go out so no other damage.

I got quoted 5 hours labor from my indy shop, it would be really nice if someone new how to do this faster

Or if JHM could put up a DIY

[Jake@JHM]

My crankshaft pulley went on Tuesday, just placed my order today, I only drove about 50 feet after I felt the power steering go out so no other damage.

I got quoted 5 hours labor from my indy shop, it would be really nice if someone new how to do this faster

Or if JHM could put up a DIY

We only charge 2 hours labor, but we are very familiar with these vehicles. It really depends on the shops experience.

I can look into doing a DIY. Thanks for the order!

[infinkc]

My crankshaft pulley went on Tuesday, just placed my order today, I only drove about 50 feet after I felt the power steering go out so no other damage.

I got quoted 5 hours labor from my indy shop, it would be really nice if someone new how to do this faster

Or if JHM could put up a DIY

I can post a brief DIY:

You want to do everything in the APR supercharger pulley install minus taking off the super charger pulley. http://www.goapr.com/support/install...ley_30tfsi.pdf

APR has you install some longer bolts into the core support to help support it outward, i found you get even more room with them left out.

Remove the supercharger belt (16mm wrench).

Note: there is a white line on the stock pulley indicating i believe TDC, if you can, rotate till that is on top before proceeding.

Before removing the main serp belt you want to loosen the 8 crank pulley bolts (i did not fully remove them at this point). Mine were 10mm tripple squares not allen or torx, so make sure you have a few tools at your disposal just incase. You have to loosen them blindly as you cannot see into the pulley as the core support is in the way. I used a similar tool like this with a gear wrench because of the clearance.


There is a separate tensioner for the main serpentine belt, i used a 17mm wrench to release the belt.


Once the belt is off, remove the 8 pulley bolts.

The pulley will now come right off.

Reinstall in the opposite order.

Hope this helps any that want to DIY this.

[Jake@JHM]

I can post a brief DIY:

You want to do everything in the APR supercharger pulley install minus taking off the super charger pulley. http://www.goapr.com/support/install...ley_30tfsi.pdf

APR has you install some longer bolts into the core support to help support it outward, i found you get even more room with them left out.

Remove the supercharger belt (16mm wrench).

Note: there is a white line on the stock pulley indicating i believe TDC, if you can, rotate till that is on top before proceeding.

Before removing the main serp belt you want to loosen the 8 crank pulley bolts (i did not fully remove them at this point). Mine were 10mm tripple squares not allen or torx, so make sure you have a few tools at your disposal just incase. You have to loosen them blindly as you cannot see into the pulley as the core support is in the way. I used a similar tool like this with a gear wrench because of the clearance.


There is a separate tensioner for the main serpentine belt, i used a 17mm wrench to release the belt.


Once the belt is off, remove the 8 pulley bolts.

The pulley will now come right off.

Reinstall in the opposite order.

Hope this helps any that want to DIY this.

Thanks!

Yeah it is a very straight forward installation.

Also torque those 8 crank bolts to 20 ft-lbs in a star pattern. We also recommend using Loctite.

[audistealth]

You should be able to see if the rubber is getting fragile. But it is hard to say for sure. Upgrading to a smaller pulley for the blower definitely adds to the wear and tear of the stock pulley.

How can you tell specifically?

It's on an intro sale! Everyone can benefit

For how long? I might buy it anyway. So much for saving money...

[Jake@JHM]

How can you tell specifically?

If you can see the rubber and it is brittle and rough looking it would be a good idea to replace it.

For how long? I might buy it anyway. So much for saving money...

Not sure, we are already half way through our first batch. I would suggest ordering sooner than later if the sale price is what you are after.

[Brother Owl]

why not create one that will work as a "stage 2" pulley so no need for one on the charger itself?

Way ahead of you. This pulley has been made, and is still in R&D/Testing phase. More info soon.

Sooo I'm the farthest thing from an engineer, but if stage 2 applications make most of their power with a smaller diameter supercharger pulley, and JHM is planning a smaller crankshaft pulley stage 2 instead of the common supercharger pulley, wouldn't :

smaller charger pulley + smaller crank pulley = Even Moar Stage 2 Powah?

[Jake@JHM]

Sooo I'm the farthest thing from an engineer, but if stage 2 applications make most of their power with a smaller diameter supercharger pulley, and JHM is planning a smaller crankshaft pulley stage 2 instead of the common supercharger pulley, wouldn't :

smaller charger pulley + smaller crank pulley = Even Moar Stage 2 Powah?

You would want a LARGER pulley for the crank.

If you add a smaller blower pulley and an overdrive crank pulley you will likely be over-spinning the blower, and the bypass valve will make it so you don't see any benefit. You would need custom tuning etc.. Doubling up with the blower + overdrive pulleys is not recommend.

[Black S]

Great another thing to add... FFS Audi!

I'm stage 2 GIAC S5, I guess I'll be blowin my crank pulley soon... F sakes...

[Jake@JHM]

Great another thing to add... FFS Audi!

I'm stage 2 GIAC S5, I guess I'll be blowin my crank pulley soon... F sakes...

Just be glad you were made aware prior to the issue

[Black S]

Just be glad you were made aware prior to the issue

I think we all need a visual on what to be looking for, I would like to check my pulley for wear. Anyone have a proper produce to checking this? Pictures of the pulley?

[Jake@JHM]

I think we all need a visual on what to be looking for, I would like to check my pulley for wear. Anyone have a proper produce to checking this? Pictures of the pulley?

It's a lot of work to just check the pulley, as you will need to take it off. Even then it will be hard to fully tell.

Here is what a failed pulley looks like:

[Brother Owl]

why not create one that will work as a "stage 2" pulley so no need for one on the charger itself?

Way ahead of you. This pulley has been made, and is still in R&D/Testing phase. More info soon.

You would want a LARGER pulley for the crank.

If you add a smaller blower pulley and an overdrive crank pulley you will likely be over-spinning the blower, and the bypass valve will make it so you don't see any benefit. You would need custom tuning etc.. Doubling up with the blower + overdrive pulleys is not recommend.

Thanks - great info from the pros

[jimrobbington]

Thanks - great info from the pros

I think you were a little confused. JHM's is LIGHTER but not smaller.