Cam Follower Awareness hasn't gone far enough

[GrayMK5GTI]

I'll probably regret saying this, but I decided against doing mine seeing as it's a 2008 (improved surface coating) and I'm below 50k.

Presumably service history and quality/frequency of oil topup could accelerate wear on said follower? 

See reply 58 - that guy has the same camshaft as you and his black coating had worn off at around 58k miles.

If I were you I wouldn't leave it too long 

[GrayMK5GTI]

Hi guys,

Just got an 05 GTI with 75k on. Full service history from new with book all stamped, but I'm guessing this hasn't been done. Should I be looking to do this ASAP? Not in the slightest a mechanical person so it could be a garage job.

Thanks,
Mark.

No it won't have been done before as it's not recognised as a service item. Have a look at the how-to guide linked near the start of this thread and decide whether you want to do it yourself.

I'd deco end doing it as for the sake of £25 it's a lot cheaper than £1500 for a new camshaft etc.

[bojann.]

when I put mine out, I lost a ("small") part of it 
But I was very lucky, everything else was fine. But you never know, maybe just in a few miles, or days, or weeks evryting might ........ 

[bojann.]

Actually cam follower was together ("in one part"), but when I put it out this part which is missing crumbled away. It did not went in to "engine". Otherwise I do not have any idea what could happen. 
I do not know if I have right information about it, but I heard that engine has something like magnet at the bottom.

[Richie_101]

Actually cam follower was together ("in one part"), but when I put it out this part which is missing crumbled away. It did not went in to "engine". Otherwise I do not have any idea what could happen. 
I do not know if I have right information about it, but I heard that engine has something like magnet at the bottom.

Yikes! Can I ask how old your car is, and what mileage?


Rich.

[olufsen]

Sorry mate, but I don't think the cam follower could get to that state and not have done some damage to the cam.

[daz05]

Inspected ours today, not too bad after 60k. Does this need changing guys?

[olufsen]

afaik the black stuff is the hardened coating, that has gone on yours, so I would be replacing that personally.

[Meallbhan]

I never knew about this until I read this thread so I'm going to do mine as its a 2005 witk 73k.

I've read a few how-to guides and watched some videos, do you really need to put the engine to TDC before you start, as some people do? Surely the new cam follower will just sit in the exact same place that the old one did.

[Tortaruga]

You don't need to set tdc. You may have to push the pump a bit against the spring depending on the resting position of the cam lobe.

[bigeyd]

You don't need to set tdc. You may have to push the pump a bit against the spring depending on the resting position of the cam lobe.

This needs to be highlighted in the how to guide as it reads like you need to know TDC or not continue,I have a DSG and have obvious problems with leaving the engine in gear to find Top Dead Centre.
Just a thought

[olufsen]

I read somewhere that you can rock the car slightly to get it into a favourable position if you have trouble getting the follower in.

[Meallbhan]

So I'm assuming that if the engine isnt at TDC, when you pull the fuel pump off, it may pop off a little because of the spring, if the cam lobe wasnt in its minimum position? Then when you reinstall the pump you may need to push against the spring depending on the cam lobe position?

[daz05]

afaik the black stuff is the hardened coating, that has gone on yours, so I would be replacing that personally.

Cheers worth doing for peace of mind I guess. Nice and easy as mine didn't have the banjo bolt.  

[chigmuss]

So I'm assuming that if the engine isnt at TDC, when you pull the fuel pump off, it may pop off a little because of the spring, if the cam lobe wasnt in its minimum position? Then when you reinstall the pump you may need to push against the spring depending on the cam lobe position?

Yep, it might need a bit of a push to help getting it back in, but once you locate the three bolts back into the housing you can then re-apply pressure to tighten the bolts back up 'hands free' (7.5nm think is the torque setting). This really is a quick job, 20 mins or so, for peace of mind.