Bolt head sizes

[Peter Orban]

Well, VW Mexico started "downsizing" the bolt heads a lot earlier. We are working on my son's '91 Golf, made in Mexico, and it has all sorts of weird head sizes. For good measure, and I kid you not, there is even a 1/2" head thrown in, for the fine threaded M8 bolt that secures the knock sensor to the engine block (and it is not a rusted 12mm head)!

Peter

Message: 5
Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:08:54 -0400
From: John Cody Forbes <cody at 5000tq.com>
Subject: Re: Could someone do a quick ETKA check for me? audi audi
    audi full    of audi content fcol
To: rob <rob3 at hod3.fsnet.co.uk>
Cc: "quattro at audifans.com" <quattro at audifans.com>
Message-ID: <A6FA923B-A2C4-4F46-8A62-B312102EADB8 at 5000tq.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8

I can tell, Huw, that your experience on these cars stops about 1996 or so at the latest ;-). VAG decided they could save $0.00001 per bolt or something and moved down one head size on the larger bolts. You'll find 12, 16, and 18mm bolts on the newer cars and very few 17's and 19's. There's even been a 21mm here and there!

-Cody (mobile)