Full DIY guide 1.8t forged connecting rods upgrade for Audi TT Mk1 8N & 1.8t Maxpeeding rods review

Next steps on the Desert Green Pearl Audi TT Mk1 restoration is the detailed step by step guide to removing the cylinder head and OEM rods to upgrade Maxspeeding forged conrods. I give tips and tricks throughout to ensure you have a smooth install. Remember: T45 TORX for that bloody oil pump sprocket bolt!!!
0:29 First is unboxing the Maxpeeding Rods and & ACL Race bearings.
They appear to be packaged well and of decent enough quality. You can see they’re machined nicely without and visible imperfections. Many people on the S3, TT and A4 B5 forums run these rods. A quick review on the Maxpeeding rods for 1.8t are that they seem pretty solid and only a good proper run will tell if they hold up well or not. So far - they look, feel and fit really nicely.
3:31 Removing 1.8t head bolts.
This is done in a specific pattern which is displayed as a screenshot from Elsawin. Loosening the bolts in this order ensures an even removal of the cylinder head. Make sure you’re using the proper tool for this (not a torx bit) which is a 10mm PolyDrive or M10 ribe extended bit.
www.tetools.co...
5:35 Before removing 1.8t timing belt it’s good practice to mark it up at the timing notches. I’ll transfer these marks over to the replacement belt.
6:24 Removing the cylinder head.
Once all bolts and timing belt is removed is pretty easy. Just make sure your path to where you’re going to rest the head is clear as it’s quite heavy and you don’t want to risk dropping it.
7:16 Removing 1.8t conrods and pistons.
This is the good bit! Finally the block is stripped down enough to access the connecting rod / piston assembly. First on the list is a quick clean up before removal. I like to use a plastic handled tool (can be wood too) to help push the hardware out of the cylinder. They won’t automatically fall out when the block is upside down because the piston rings keep them in place.
9:32 Upgrading Audi TT conrods to Maxpeeding forged rods - trying to be as detailed and possible and giving you some nice close ups of the hardware.
11:55 1.8t big end bearing tang direction.
It's important to note - make sure you install the rods the right way. The tangs on the 1.8t should always face toward the inlet manifold side (the side where the piston has the flat section).
13:16 Piston wire lock installation tips and tricks.
I give some tips and tricks for installing the1.8t wrist pin circlip / wire locks. This can be tricky! Take your time to make sure you don’t lose any of the wire locks.
15:37 Clocking 1.8t piston rings
16:08 Woohoo! Installing the Maxpeeding conrods into 1.8t BAM engine.
The ring compressor tool I’m using isn’t the best one but when used carefully it works quite well. Just make sure to be careful on tightening the tool around the piston rings and ensure you tap the sides down first before attempting to push the piston back into the bore.
20:00 Removing 1.8t oil pump gives you easy access to cylinder 1.
25:07 Maxpeeding rods ARP2000 bolt torque spec is 50ft/lb
26:00 1.8t Oil pump torque spec is 15Nm
Now all I have to do is wait for the head gasket kit to arrive before building the engine back up again!
Looking forward to the next update and thanks for watching.
- Ian
/ auditt3.6

[@ianpgonzaga]

Anyone else running MaXpeeding rods and for how long? Some people really poo poo them but I guess I'll find out soon!

[@A-DUBCLUB]

A buddy of mine does. On a fully built 1.8t quattro. Big turbo.. supertech valve train n retainers head work. All bolt ons, exhaust, fmic, intake, hfc, 550cc injectors, upgraded fuel pump with b5 fuel return system. Probably making 400 plus hp. Been couple yrs. Rips golf r.. gti's.. rs4.. s3.. m3, ford focus st, yeh has claimed quite a few scalps on the road

[@ianpgonzaga]

@@A-DUBCLUB hahaha love this! So far mine has also been holding up well! Loving it 😍

[@aaronhogan2371]

I decided to do a set of rings while mine was apart. This let me open up the gaps slightly (knowing that I was going to be increasing boost). Solid walk through of the job!

[@ianpgonzaga]

Yeah I was being a bit tight I guess... 😅

[@millll111lllI]

What did you set your ring gap to for bigger boost?

[@Sanch3Zzz]

Yeeeees, joining Luke and I with the maxspeedingrods parts 😂. We both running the k04-001z

[@Alex-hn4we]

Funny for my vr6 turbo build it's basically full max speeding rods spec xD

[@ianpgonzaga]

@@Alex-hn4we @TS are you guys running your engines yet? I'm looking forward to this personally ;)

[@Alex-hn4we]

@@ianpgonzaga I'm going with only a headspacer for decompression so basically stock block. Waiting on my turbo manifold to arrive

[@ianpgonzaga]

@@Alex-hn4we Ah ok. So still a few weeks off. Sames! Haha Hopefully will have an update soon that shows these guys have lasted a while 🤞

[@Sanch3Zzz]

@@ianpgonzaga yeah I’m in the mkiv group btw 😂, had the car running so good, sold it and the new owner is having a ball. I’m impressive with maxpeedingrods tbh.

[@nickcorr7244]

More great content Ian, great stuff. As always the detail is what counts. Hope to see this engine purrr soon.

[@ianpgonzaga]

Thanks Nick! Me too my friend. Me too 🤞🤞🤞

[@AdrianHawke]

Hey Ian, I think impact driving the Torx bolts is a bad idea, I've had similar happen. Great series of vids BTW, good for when I start stripping my 1.8T for rebuild.

[@ianpgonzaga]

Even for removal ? Thanks mate!

[@stuartwinstanley4949]

enjoying your content on the 1.8t engine and the tt 😁

[@ianpgonzaga]

Thanks Stuart appreciate you coming along !

[@lincolnbothang7258]

love the content on the 1.8t bro, subscribed

[@ianpgonzaga]

Thanks Lincoln!

[@ajrveedub]

Great update!

[@ianpgonzaga]

Thanks Mathew!

[@peterdwest967]

Are the the right why round one you was working on was different to the others

[@ianpgonzaga]

Oh was it?! Haha crap. At what point did you notice ?

[@renedewael9703]

Great vid, very instructive 👍

[@ianpgonzaga]

Thanks Rene glad you found it helpful 🙂

[@renedewael9703]

@@ianpgonzaga Oh yes, and btw your vid about changing the half moon and the other gasket under the rocker cover arrive at the perfect time to me, since I have ordered theses parts with the special tool. Actually, I have changed the main gasket 2 years ago ( oil leak behind the engine ), and get oil leak now on the right side. Just because I did’nt know that I had to change the half moon too. Glad this will be fix soon. Thanx again ;)

[@ianpgonzaga]

@@renedewael9703 sounds like your Audi TT will be good as gold afterwards! 👌

[@connarish]

Great content!

[@ianpgonzaga]

Thanks!!!

[@polocarrillo5831]

Anyone else notice later in the video it flashed up that you torque arp 5/16" rod bolts to 50ft lbs? Sir that is incorrect. Now how many maxpeeding rods have gotten destroyed because of the incorrect info?

[@ianpgonzaga]

Good point. The ones I got stated they are the 3/8" spec bolts so I think they're alright. So far so good though.

[@thestuster1]

Why did you not need to plastigauge the crank/bearings? Is that because there was no damage pre stripdown?

[@ianpgonzaga]

Yeah the replacement engines internals were all good.

[@kwashington2181]

Can you explain a little better about the tang direction?

[@Sweettoothb6]

How are this rod holding up ? Im shopping for rod and the maxspeed come out all the time

[@ianpgonzaga]

So far no problems. Have done a few track days with them and all 👌👌

[@austinzimmerman4021]

With various cuts in editing it is hard to determine and I also didn't hear you mention anything but was the crank and everything else balanced or did you just drop these in? If not how is the car running now after a few months? I know IE has "Drop In" Rods... but I am very curious as no one on various forums really talks about it.

[@ianpgonzaga]

Good question and you're right Austin - I just dropped them in. I didn't mention anything testing the crank / balancing because 1/ the engine I installed these into was a good running engine 2/ the rods themselves are meant to be balanced within a small tolerance of weights with each other. A few months later - with a track day thrown in for food measure. All is good 😊 I think if you you the IE ones they should also be balanced not only as a total but also small end to big end (I'd double check with IE though) so you'd have even more confidence that dropping those in will result in long lasting performance.

[@marcooconnor]

Hey Ian. I noticed you can get these rods either with a tapered small end or without. Not sure what ones i need for 2001 BAM engine. Cheers

[@ianpgonzaga]

I got the regular, no taper ones, for BAM. Didn't realise there were taper ones.

[@aleksanderfeja488]

Hi can upgrading a 225 hp engine apx in audi tt 180hp auq engine only the block engine can running in ko3s turbo and the parts from 180hp auq engine are same all parts please reply

[@ianpgonzaga]

Hi - that should work if you'r ejust using the APC block with all the right K03 parts bolted on

[@darrenfrost8582]

Hi Ian, did you reuse the bearings off the OEM con rods? Or buy new ones?

[@ianpgonzaga]

New ones for sure! Calico Race bearings for the win!

[@MK5Cole]

i’m doing this same exact process, except in my MK5 gti and using IE rods. is this motor still running well for you?

[@ianpgonzaga]

Hey Cole. Yep. Going strong. Have done a track day and no issues afterward - only issues were the crappy pedestrian tyres and brakes giving out halfway through. Engine was perfect 😁

[@richiec9077]

Quick question when fitting uprated rods do you need specific shells to match the rods you decided to go with or do any shells for that engine work with different rods?

[@ianpgonzaga]

Good question. I went with race shells, supposedly they have a coating to make them more slippery or something but yes, any shells that fit will work too.

[@richiec9077]

@@ianpgonzaga brilliant thanks , I currently have the head off my S3 and am deciding whether to fit a set of rods bearings and rings while it's apart

[@ianpgonzaga]

@@richiec9077 might as well while you're there hey.

[@javidgunraj1500]

Do they make these in rifle drilled?

[@ianpgonzaga]

Not this brand but look into other brands. They'll just be more expensive.

[@Jpuds95]

Whats the torque spec for those rod bolts? Great vid btw

[@ianpgonzaga]

Thanks JPuds. I'm pretty sure I added rod bolt torque specs in the description 😊

[@Jpuds95]

Thanks! dont know why I didn’t chek lol 😅

[@ianpgonzaga]

@@Jpuds95 hehehehe all good! Good luck with your build!

[@georgecollins2347]

Can you change the rods while engine is in the car? Thanks

[@ianpgonzaga]

Hi George. Yep you sure can! Just remove the head (this means actually disconnecting a whole bunch of stuff before being able to finally remove the head) and oil pan parts to get access to the rods

[@JNAMOTORSPORTS]

These things are fucken expensive for being shitty rods. Why even bother over 50-100 bucks? People amaze me every time. I wouldn’t have wasted the time Or money.

[@ianpgonzaga]

Interesting to read your perspective - what's your experience with them?