Listen guys. I think people need to relax a little.I never had a moments trouble in the three years i have owned the car up until now. If you are running a stock car or even a mapped car then tbh i dont think you have much to worry about. I am sailing very close to the wind at the moment with the mods i am running. I know this. As said its only a matter of time before rods let go i presume. I am thinking while sump is off shall i just bite the bullet and stump up for rods and pistons while im fafing around later, rather than take another blow later on.
Up until now i haven't heard of a cam follower go on a stock hpfp. I dont know if any of the tuners have heard anything or seen anything though.
I think you've hit the nail on the head there mate!
This isn't a new problem and people/VAG have been aware of this for a long while now. It is obviously an oversight by VAG whilst designing the engine hence the reason they released a Technical Service Bulletin detailing the problem and what/how to change (even though most dealers won't have a clue about it!)
That being so, it is still a bit of a PITA and so quite rightly people like us are concerned about it. I've changed my follower every 5k miles after I first heard about this problem and every time there has been literally no wear on it. The first follower was changed at 20k and that only had very minimal wear too after 15k of Stg 1 REVO. It really is a simple job and even for a retard like me it only takes 20 minutes (including a brew!)
To the OP, I am truly gutted to see that this has happened to you. I do think that your making the sensible decision of doing the Rods etc whilst the sump is off (however expensive it is) as you sound like your running some serious power!???
Best of luck to you and I hope you get it all sorted as soon as possible!