Cracked golf gti mk2 camshaft (8v) - was inaccurately torqued

Feb 17, 2008
523
0
huntingdon
Some of you may have read my thread on fitting a golf gti mk2 camshaft (8v) improved the performamce of my car quite a bit. Anyhoooo, all had been going well untill i came to start it this morning, car started ok but instantly developed a rapidly worsening rattle from the top end. I swiched off and popped the bonnet to have a look. all looked ok from the outside, so I suspected my handywork! took the cam cover off and something didn't quite look right. so I removed the camshaft to inspect it. this is when I saw a hairline crack in the cam!!:-o:-o Doh!!:cry: Having spoken to a couple of garage mechanics it turns out that this can be caused by something as simple as an inacurate torque wrench!! so off i popped to work and stuck my wrench on the torque tester, and sure enough it under read! by around 5-6 Nm! enough to leave the caps a bit too loose!. so luckily all is running well now, but back to the standard cam again!!! and I can really feel the lack of power now! so i'm off down to Not-Escorts in st Neots now to buy another camshaft (no. 3 now!!) and then off to buy a decent torque wrench!!!:p

So if any of you are thinking of putting a golf cam in your ibiza then make sure you have an accurate torque wrench...YE BE WARNED!!!!
 
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lcjay

Full Member
Jul 8, 2006
433
0
London
sounds like you were lucky you didnt do more damage luckily
havent got round to doing mine yet.going to dothe the belt,tensioner and tappets while its all apart
good luck and i hope you get it sorted soon
 
Sep 20, 2006
756
0
Birmingham
Will changing the cam not damage the cat over time? Only ask as i was talking to a local mechanic about it and thats what he said!
 

lcjay

Full Member
Jul 8, 2006
433
0
London
cant see any reason why changing a cam would cause any damage to the cat?
what was his reason for it causing damage?
 
Feb 17, 2008
523
0
huntingdon
incorrectly torqued cap nuts was the main possibility, or i could have put a very small hairline crack when fitting it. apparrently this is all to easy to do! and yet I can put origional back in safe and sound with no problems!! shame i don't have the tools to change a CV joint!