[Vwdiesel] [Audi-VW-Diesels] Head Bolts and more

[Val Christian]

> I think the only question I have with this is, is there any reason besides =
> "it might not be necessary" to consider *NOT* replacing the bearings?  =

Yes, I once had a replacement journal bearing fail about 500 hours after
replacement.  It was a case where it was not necessary, based upon
the wear pattern, etc.  My mentors admonished me, saying that these
things happen, and I should not just going replacing things that are 
working on an otherwise good engine.

Lesson learned.

The reality is that I rebearinged two VW diesel engines.  neither needed
it, and I just thought I was buying mroe time and doing the job right.
Later, after doing post-mortems on every high time VW engines I had
owned since "0" time, I found that many of the things I had spent money
and time on were pointless.

Bearings - with acceptable wear pattern and good plastigage readings,
I will not as a matter of routine replace any more.  

Imtermediate shaft bearings - I think should be replaced when opportunity 
presents itself.

I'm sure the group could create a list of these things, and we could 
argue over where on the list any particular item belonged.  

Then again, I've stopped changing clutches, until they start slipping.
In all my VW diesel driving, I have yet to wear one out...even with
a car with 400 k miles, and one with 350k miles.  And even with my 
wife and kids driving them.  I teach them to let the clutch out, then
accelerate.  Someday, one will wear out.  I did do one clutch...on 
a used Rabbit that I bought, where the PO or someone, had dumped a
quart of ATF into the timing hole.  It was a mess, but I got the 
car cheap...