Cam follower question

[TheBALDpuma]

Just booked my car in for a service and for the can follower to be replaced (106,000 miles now and I don't think it's been done before, definitely not in the 57k I've put on it)

Just to be totally clear... Is it the follower on the fuel pump that is the item to replace? Yeah I don't know what I'm doing! Haha.

[bobby_fodge]

yes, it fits over the piston of the high pressure fuel pump which is in the engine bay.

[TheBALDpuma]

Sweet. When I went in and asked the garage to replace my cam follower they told me I have many and it's a big job, unless I mean the one on the pump. Because I hadn't specifically heard the fuel pump mentioned before I just wanted to check!

They're a VAG specialist and they said they haven't had this be a common problem, but the forum has scared me into it enough to get it replaced. Part plus an hour's labour feels fine for peace of mind!

[bobby_fodge]

Ask to see your current cam follower once swapped. You should see some difference between it and the new one.

[coolhandluke]

Post a picture of it up if you can, be interested in seeing it.

[TheBALDpuma]

Ah yeah that'll be interesting, I'll ask them to hold onto it!

[pudding]

Sweet. When I went in and asked the garage to replace my cam follower they told me I have many and it's a big job, unless I mean the one on the pump. Because I hadn't specifically heard the fuel pump mentioned before I just wanted to check!

They're a VAG specialist and they said they haven't had this be a common problem, but the forum has scared me into it enough to get it replaced. Part plus an hour's labour feels fine for peace of mind!

He's talking about the intake and exhaust camshaft followers, which is indeed a big job.  Make sure you say it's just the fuel pump follower you want doing or you'll get a huge bill 

The horror stories surrounding the follower are down to negligence and/or ignorance, so it's not something to worry about if you're diligent with cars.

[TheBALDpuma]

Sweet. When I went in and asked the garage to replace my cam follower they told me I have many and it's a big job, unless I mean the one on the pump. Because I hadn't specifically heard the fuel pump mentioned before I just wanted to check!

They're a VAG specialist and they said they haven't had this be a common problem, but the forum has scared me into it enough to get it replaced. Part plus an hour's labour feels fine for peace of mind!

He's talking about the intake and exhaust camshaft followers, which is indeed a big job.  Make sure you say it's just the fuel pump follower you want doing or you'll get a huge bill 

The horror stories surrounding the follower are down to negligence and/or ignorance, so it's not something to worry about if you're diligent with cars.

So you don't think it worth doing as a preventative measure?

[pudding]

Sweet. When I went in and asked the garage to replace my cam follower they told me I have many and it's a big job, unless I mean the one on the pump. Because I hadn't specifically heard the fuel pump mentioned before I just wanted to check!

They're a VAG specialist and they said they haven't had this be a common problem, but the forum has scared me into it enough to get it replaced. Part plus an hour's labour feels fine for peace of mind!

He's talking about the intake and exhaust camshaft followers, which is indeed a big job.  Make sure you say it's just the fuel pump follower you want doing or you'll get a huge bill 

The horror stories surrounding the follower are down to negligence and/or ignorance, so it's not something to worry about if you're diligent with cars.

So you don't think it worth doing as a preventative measure?

Sorry, ignorance can be misconstrued as an offensive word sometimes.....but it's not intended so.  Absolutely replace it if you're not sure it's been done in the last 106K miles.

[TheBALDpuma]

No offence taken at all, I am ignorant to anything much more complicated than an oil change 

[TheBALDpuma]

Cam follower replaced today.  It pretty much like brand new, haha. That's at 106k. Just slight scorings on the shaft bit.

[coolhandluke]

Cam follower replaced today.  It pretty much like brand new, haha. That's at 106k. Just slight scorings on the shaft bit.

Thanks for the update. Good to know 👍

[pudding]

Cam follower replaced today.  It pretty much like brand new, haha. That's at 106k. Just slight scorings on the shaft bit.

I reckon someone's replaced it before and not documented it    It's very unusual for a follower to last that long!

[TheBALDpuma]

Cam follower replaced today.  It pretty much like brand new, haha. That's at 106k. Just slight scorings on the shaft bit.

I reckon someone's replaced it before and not documented it    It's very unusual for a follower to last that long!

Maybe, but I've had the car since 49k miles, so I know it hasn't been replaced in 57k.

[pudding]

Cam follower replaced today.  It pretty much like brand new, haha. That's at 106k. Just slight scorings on the shaft bit.

I reckon someone's replaced it before and not documented it    It's very unusual for a follower to last that long!

Maybe, but I've had the car since 49k miles, so I know it hasn't been replaced in 57k.

Wow, that is very impressive in that case!  There's no reason why a follower can't last that long with regular oil changes and some mechanical sympathy, but it's rare!

Remaps and/or uprated pumps is what kills them off quickly though.