Re: Timing belt replacement

["Ron Gault" <Ron_Gault@qmailgw.bmd.trw.com>]

 Reply to:     RE>Timing belt replacement
But where did you get the special tool?  The local Audi dealer quoted me around
$200 and a couple of weeks to get it!  

----------------------------
Date: 01-06-95  2:43 PM
To: Gault, Ron
From: quattro@swiss.ans.net

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Date: Fri, 6 Jan 95 14:18:45 EST
From: erict@cta.com (Eric Thorstenson)
Message-Id: <9501061918.AA08014@fester.cta.com>
To: quattro@swiss.ans.net
Subject: Timing belt replacement
Sender: quattro-owner@swiss.ans.net
Reply-To: quattro@swiss.ans.net


PDQSHIP says:
----
suggestion on the belt, the upper removal is easy but there is a special
Harmonic Balancer tool required for the lower, so certainly either have a
dealer or a Audi Specialist do this work!  Remember the belt is cheap, the
----

Ah, I have to disagree. This is precisely the type of job where
the competent individual can save big $$$. Prices I was quoted
for this job ranged from $300 at an independent, to $550 at the
dealer. This for a job that took me 3 hours, in leisure mode
(i.e., wrench in one hand, beer in the other, with lunch on the
roll-a-way). While the belt is off, this is also an opportune
time to remove the cam and inspect the valve gear if you want.

Regarding the special tool, there are actually two. The one you
need is the one that locks the balancer in place while you 
loosen/tighted the crank bolt. The other is a bar with a socket
at one end, and is optional - don't buy it unless you plan to
do this every day. Personally, I wish every car had a provision
like the Audis for locking the crank while turning that nut.
How many times have you had to pull the crank pulley bolt and
struggled to find some way to lock the crank while doing so?
Well, OK, maybe I do this more often than other, more sane
folks, but I will say the Audi approach to this problem is a
damn nice solution. (BTW, an air wrench is fine for removing,
but doesn't cut it when you need to torque the thing going
back on.)

Eric T.
'86 5000 S
#000#