What have you done to your mk4 (golf/bora) today?

[dainese]

After putting up with stuttery braking and a weird on and off screach from the front brake discs/rotors for quite a while now, I found some cheap brand new rotors and put them in today. Sooooo much better now. There is a screach every now and then from the left side when braking, but I assume that will wear in and go away soon.

While I had the car up on the hoist, I also wound the front coilovers back up a few mm as they had settled a bit low over the last couple of months and rubbed a little on one side at full lock.

Downside, while I had the car up, I noticed a drip or 2 of green fluid on the belt side of the engine at the bottom of the sump. So I guess that means the water pump is going/gone? My friend said we'd have to take off a bunch of stuff to even be able to see what's wrong down there, so might as well throw a new timing belt on and a new water pump. Sound reasonable?

That sucks dude. When I did the water pump it cost me $400ish in labour and about $200ish for the part. Not a nice job to do but if ya change the water pump then you should probably do the timing belt and the tensioner while it's all open.
What coolant do you use?
Should only use the vw g12+ stuff (it's red)
I've heard mixing the g12 with normal coolant is a very very bad idea as it sludges up (what I've read - not personal experience)
Check everything else under there before tackling that job though!
Good luck.

yeah mixing is bad...

G12 is more pink than red, isn't it?
timing and tensioner is ideal at the same time.

[kendog]

Hmm, yeah, not happy about that. I was just looking for a head gasket kit from ebay uk (only place I could find 1.6L gaskets cheap so far), so I could do the rocker cover gasket (needed) and a few others that come in the kit (not the head gasket), and now I find out this major money spinner needs doing. Not happy, as I was going to do the rocker cover gasket and a few other small things (paint scatches etc), then look at selling, to maybe get a GTI. You REALLY don't want to spend money on something you're not keeping!

---------- Post added at 11:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 PM ----------

also, with the coolant, I've only owned it since Oct '11, so I have no idea what the previous owner put in it...

---------- Post added at 11:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------

Forgive my ignorance, but if the car currently has 136,000km's on it, and it had the timing belt done at say 110,000km's, is there a real need to re-do the timing belt etc at another 20,000km's? Or is it just worth doing if you have it all apart? Just asking.

Same with the water pump I guess, is it basically a given that I should replace it? And therefore order it (and the other parts) in before we even undo everything?

Also, I was reading on this forum somewhere that a vw mechanic should do it as a 'special tool' is needed?? Something to do with the tensioner or something?? Is this true? My friend would be doing the work who is not a vw mechanic, which will save me many, many valuable dollars. But does he need this 'special tool'??

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/forums/f14/mkiv-golf-2l-water-pump-67907.html

[Back Door Shenanigans.]

Got these "today" (well only saw them today came last week). Now my car can stop looking like its wearing odd socks.

[kendog]

Hmm, yeah, not happy about that. I was just looking for a head gasket kit from ebay uk (only place I could find 1.6L gaskets cheap so far), so I could do the rocker cover gasket (needed) and a few others that come in the kit (not the head gasket), and now I find out this major money spinner needs doing. Not happy, as I was going to do the rocker cover gasket and a few other small things (paint scatches etc), then look at selling, to maybe get a GTI. You REALLY don't want to spend money on something you're not keeping!

---------- Post added at 11:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 PM ----------

also, with the coolant, I've only owned it since Oct '11, so I have no idea what the previous owner put in it...

---------- Post added at 11:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------

Forgive my ignorance, but if the car currently has 136,000km's on it, and it had the timing belt done at say 110,000km's, is there a real need to re-do the timing belt etc at another 20,000km's? Or is it just worth doing if you have it all apart? Just asking.

Same with the water pump I guess, is it basically a given that I should replace it? And therefore order it (and the other parts) in before we even undo everything?

Also, I was reading on this forum somewhere that a vw mechanic should do it as a 'special tool' is needed?? Something to do with the tensioner or something?? Is this true? My friend would be doing the work who is not a vw mechanic, which will save me many, many valuable dollars. But does he need this 'special tool'??

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...ump-67907.html

OK, I've looked up ECS Tuning, but they don't have anything for 1.6L engines. Where is a good place to buy 1.6L parts from? I'm assuming UK? I currently need a water pump, timing belt (kit), rocker cover gasket (kit), for Engine code: AKL.

Please help, I REALLY don't want to have to pay dealer$hip prices!

[Big_M]

Mate if you know what you are chasing try these guys in the UK GSF | Cheap Discount Car Parts | Euro German Japanese | VW BMW Audi Ford Peugeot
I know they ship to Aus. Couple mates have got stuff from them, great prices and fast delivery.

[kendog]

Awesome, will look them up right now!

---------- Post added at 05:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:55 PM ----------

I cant create an account with them, it says: "Usernames and passwords may only contain letters and numbers. Please check and try again".

Tried many times, my username and password are both lowercase letters only. Sent an email to them.

Any other good UK parts suppliers out there for engine parts?

[Njay]

recieved my LSD, engine mounts my car is finally on the home stretch after 3 months

[theOctopus]

Awesome, will look them up right now!

---------- Post added at 05:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:55 PM ----------

I cant create an account with them, it says: "Usernames and passwords may only contain letters and numbers. Please check and try again".

Tried many times, my username and password are both lowercase letters only. Sent an email to them.

Any other good UK parts suppliers out there for engine parts?

Try a mix of both letters and numbers it might let you create the a count, some sites do it as a requirement some even ask for letters upper and lower case and numbers.

[kendog]

Thanks Octo, tried that too. Now I'll wait to see what they say from my email, i guess they're not up over there yet.

Just got home to a $353 red light camera fine! Ouch! Really not happy with that one! Not my week with the car! I'll keep looking for another UK parts supplier for the other problems..

[Dyldo]

Second set of Gruvenparts Lower Control Arms failed from heat-warped threads.... not very happy at all.

Here's a pic of the first failure


not fun, and "just" enough camber to get me by, but definitely will need to replace within 10K kms cause thats when they tyres will be ruined from the dodgy LCAs....

[Big_M]

wow thats not good mate, what you going to replace them with ?

[Dyldo]

likely neuspeed i guess?

Neuspeed Europe> Main Section > VW Golf Mk4 > R32 > Suspension > Adjustable Rear Lower Control Arms - Audi TT Quattro and VW R32 MkIV

[quozl]

I used Forge Motorsport adjustable control arms in my R32 and never had an issue with them through numerous tarmac rallies and track events, the new owner is still using them. One of the reasons I went with them was they use a modified OEM VW arm

While they may be a bit dearer they certainly never failed. Might be worth checking them out as well.

Forge Motorsport Adjustable Rear Control Arms for MK IV Volkswagen R32 and MK I Audi TT 225, Control Arms, Suspension, Forge Motorsport Products & Other Performance Aftermarket Auto Parts - North American Motorsports



Cheers Q

[Speed]

Received my LCA superpro bushes today!
Now all I need is my new coil over and and then a wheel alignment.

[Neroo]

absoloutely nothing car is just sitting around waiting on a new clutch and front end to be purchased but unfortunately im broke atm so the waiting game continues why did both the slave clutch cylinder and my crash all have to happen at once