Maxspeeding vs Audi OEM Rods - Balancing - Are the MS Rods balanced out of the box?

In this video I compare Maxspeeding vs Audi OEM connecting rods for my Audi B5 S4 2.7T engine build. I try and address questions such as:
"Should you balance Maxspeeding rods for your build?"
"How well are Maxspeeding Rods balanced out of the box?"
"How well are OEM rods balanced from the factory?"
00:05 Intro
01:10 Basic Balancing Jig and Balancing Target
01:56 Process link: HP Performance Academy
02:14 Initial Maxspeeding Results
02:38 Audi OEM Results
03:05 Big End Weight Discrepancy... what to do?
03:50 Maxspeeding Big End Adjustment
04:24 Modified Maxspeeding Big End Results
04:43 Maxspeeding Total Weight Adjustment
05:10 Modified Maxspeeding Total Weight Results
05:23 Maxspeeding Small End Check vs Audi OEM
05:45 Reciprocating Components
06:27 Rotating Assembly Balancing Costs + Conclusion
06:47 Thanks for watching
More info on my 2001 Audi S4 project:
Audizine build thread:
www.audizine.c...
Audi B5 S4 A4 Rear Control Arm Rebuild - Bushing Removal / Install and Powder Coating
• Audi B5 S4 A4 Rear Con...
Audi B5 S4 A4 Rear Diff Refresh - Powder Coat and Output Seals
• Audi B5 S4 A4 Rear Dif...
Audi B5 S4 Stage 3 K04 $10k+ Parts Haul - PB Garage 2.7T Build-Off Challenge
• Audi B5 S4 Stage 3 K04...
Audi B5 S4 2.7T K04 Engine Assembly
• Audi B5 S4 2.7T K04 En...
B5 2.7T 01E K04 Engine Pull and Build Specs:
• B5 2.7T 01E K04 Engine...
Huge thanks to my brother Brad for the detailed video clips!!

[@sorryofficer7594]

the smaller channels are very under rated and there is not a lot b5 content and people are missing out is all im saying.

[@PBGarage]

Appreciate the kind words my friend!

[@PokeChu0107]

I'm AudiAR01 from Audizine. Your MP rods were a lot closer than mine. Glad you checked yours. But yours were a lot closer.

[@PBGarage]

Hey! Yup, you're the reason for going the extra mile on this engine. While the MS rods weren't too bad out of the box, the weight difference from OE rods was an eye opener. Having the crank balanced at the machine shop, I believe, will have been worth it if anything. I'm being really detailed with the rest of the build so this is an aspect that I'm glad I went back and corrected. Thanks for pointing it out!

[@PokeChu0107]

@@PBGarage no problem at all. I enjoy your videos and thread build on Audizine. And I gotta hand it to you. Your rod balancing platform you built was awesome. Excellent design, application, and use of it. Looking forward to following the rest of the build and seeing it completed. And I also took some info from you on the powder coating. I'm making our old extra oven a powder coating oven. That's such a great idea. I appreciate the information on it, that you gave me. Keep up the great detailed work man. I'm impressed with everything so far.

[@ianpgonzaga]

Awesome video! so much detail taken on this step.

[@PBGarage]

Thank you! Appreciate the comment.

[@PokeChu0107]

Excellent job on balancing them.

[@PBGarage]

Thanks!! Didn't think I'd get those numbers but it worked out well.

[@alexs3216]

Very in depth and interesting! I’m thinking about buying these rods. Just subscribed

[@PBGarage]

They seem to be good value for the money!

[@Beardchanics]

Really interesting video, goes into depth I haven't really considered.

[@PBGarage]

Thanks for the feedback. TBH it wasn't something I planned at the start of this engine build but I think it'll be worth it in the end.

[@Beardchanics]

@@PBGarage Probably does wonder for reliability and durability.

[@PBGarage]

Ya that's what I'm thinking. I'm also doubling the HP from stock so this will be great peace of mind!

[@Beardchanics]

@@PBGarage Yeah what I am planning for my s3. Aim is around 600, double too, but will stop at 500 and then forged before pushing more. Better safe than sorry!

[@shreeshaipod]

Man google really just magic 8 balled you with the answer at 2:16 😂 Nice video btw, always nice to see some progress on the builds!

[@booneylander]

Just proof that you can’t trust the google.

[@PBGarage]

The google never lies!
Thanks for the feedback @Shreesha S!

[@jeffmcdonald5259]

great video really answered some questions I had :} How did the build turn out?

[@PBGarage]

Glad the video helped! The build came out great, check out some of our other videos showing dyno results and my thoughts and impressions.

[@SuitedUp2The9s]

liked and subscribed!

[@PBGarage]

Happy you enjoyed the video!

[@ThorinJames]

Great video series. Thank you.
Question: Did you have any cylinder bore issues to start, therefore having to use oversized/different than factory rings/pistons?

[@PBGarage]

Thanks! I took some measurements and the bores seemed okay. No custom rings or anything. Just as I was assembling the bottom end (after honing / cleaning the block) I found some minor pitting at the bottom of some bores, likely from water sitting while the engine sat before I bought it and did all the work. Had I seen that before I would have oversized / larger pistons etc but I decided to just run it in the end. So far so good but I’ll be doing an engine health check before winter storage this year (compression and possibly leak down).

[@pgf202]

Lots of good info. Did Maxspeeding change their name to Maxpeeding?

[@PBGarage]

I have probably been saying it wrong all this time lol
Looks like it’s Maxpeeding!

[@jakelahue5832]

I personally haven't done too much research into this topic, but what would be the effects of just putting the rods in before the balancing and weight adjustment? For example, if I just slapped those rods into my engine without paying attention to weights and not getting the crank balanced properly like you did

[@PBGarage]

Great question! Essentially the more out-of-balance the crank is the more vibration the rotating assembly will have (think about driving on the highway with a wheel that lost a wheel weight, or two, or three..). The greater the difference in big end rod weight from stock, the greater the imbalance, and therefore the greater the vibration load on the bearings. Whether it's something you will actually feel while driving, I honestly don't know. The impact the imbalance will have on engine longevity (like bearing wear), again, is hard for me to assess given my limited engine building experience.
Check out this link for a quick explanation on the effects of engine vibration:
fluidampr.com/engine-vibration/
For me, having weighed the big ends of both MS and OEM rods and seeing a 43g difference, that would have kept me up at night considering I am also doubling the HP of this engine from stock. My machine shop turned it around in 1 week and at $400CDN, that's a drop in the bucket on this build! : \

[@jakelahue5832]

@@PBGarage Awesome! Thank you for the very indepth response! Definitely will keep this in mind when I end up building my motor. Thank you!

[@PBGarage]

You’re welcome! Always happy to help 🙂

[@GrizzlyWang]

whoa

[@PBGarage]

Thanks!

[@johnperry3918]

Why do old people love Buicks so much? 🤣

[@PBGarage]

Good question, maybe Blake can chime in and explain it!

[@kyleblakely2090]

sean has 10 project cars minimum at all times.

[@PBGarage]

We determined it was close to 40 the other day. Not joking either 😂

[@booneylander]

I was gonna say that seems like a pretty generous under-estimation.