[Vwdiesel] Strange speedo problem and a quick steering thrust bearing fix

[dieseltdi at verizon.net]

Well two weeks ago my speedo quite keeping the mileage, no odometer movement or trip odometer movement (turns out the shaft that the number wheels are on, has slid completely out, not fixable).  I picked up a used ecodiesel cluster and then a NOS later model speedo head, more on that one later.  I put the ecodiesel cluster in the car (by the way it was a motometer manufactured cluster not vdo).  I immediately realized that I had wasted all my time in the install.  The odometer seemed to work OK but the speedo needle bounced everywhere and it failed the GPS test badly.  So I put in the “NOS” speedo which turned into a mess, the trip odometer button was broken and would not reset properly because another piece of plastic that the reset rod rides against was also broken (I got all my money back from the deal BTW).  Well after some finagling and some customization, I got the speedo in the car (10-140 mph, with correct 1540 code).  I took it out for a GPS test and got some interesting results.  First, I get a lot of needle bounce and flutter up to 40 mph which the GPS says is only 38 mph, at 50 mph it says I am going 44 and by the time I get to 60, the gps says I am only doing 50.  This holds steady up to the top speed I tried today of 70 mph that the GPS says in only 60 (BTW I tested the speeds using 2 different GPS devices, first my Garmin and then using my iPhone with a neat Speedo app.  Any one have any suggestions or thoughts?

Secondly, today I tackled the up and down and back and forth movement of my steering wheel. It is obviously missing the upper steering thrust bearing.  I cut a piece of a soft drink cup from the QT that was just big enough to make a full circle and about ½” wide.  I keep a very small part of the shoulder of the cup.  I pushed this into the gap between the steering shaft and the bearing then installed the long plastic spacer on top pushing it firmly against the bearing.  Reinstalled everything and VIOLA so play in the steering wheel.  Easy fix, I will let you all know how it holds up.  Hayden


“There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.” 
“I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run."
“I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every new theory as a danger, every innovation as a toilsome trouble, every social advance as a first step toward revolution, and that they may absolutely refuse to move at all.”  Alexis de Tocqueville

Proud owner of:
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel
1968 Beetle, Still in progress
1982 VW Jetta Coupe GTD "FrankenJetta"
And many, many, many VWs; from a 1947 Beetle (13 Beetles total), to Vans (5 - 3 splitties  2 bay window (both were campers), 1 Vanagon Westy, Rabbits (3), Karmen Ghia (1), Jettas (11), Passats (2), Dasher (1), New Beetle (1), Rabbit Convertible (1) and Rabbit Pickups (3) most now gone but not forgotten.