Timing chain? Should i bite the bullett and get it changed?

[vr6max 0]

I'm the proud owner of a 92 vr6 which i got for a bargain due to the milege! Its done 140K and i've been told that after 100K this needs changing. There is no noise from the tensioners so should i just wait for the noise to come? ?!

[ingham 5]

if it ant broke dont fix it

[nickbee 1]

LOL

Don't wait 'til the timing chain breaks or you'll be fixing a lot more than that!!!

[ingham 5]

timing chain : to replace £ 1000

second hand engine £ 700

chians dont break that easy! unless you know differant?

[nickbee 1]

They can break, but it's not happened to me! £1000? Seriously? I know people that have changed their own, although I couldn't.

[jcorallo 0]

Hi

Although the timing chains can stretch very slightly (knocks the cam timing off a little) the actual chains are normally reliable and last until the sun explodes.

The tensioner blade on the other hand, is known to wear down by 100k miles, sometimes less, and you dont always get a rattle to indicate its wearing.

If you are proficient with a spanner, within a few hours you can inspect the blade - you just have to remove the inlet manifold and cam cover.

Unfortunately, as you prob know, its a gearbox off task to replace the blade if its badly worn...

Cheers,

Jules

[ingham 5]

thanks i did not know that, might check mine this winter

[VR6Andy 0]

Ref the chain, i've heard similar that the sun will fall from the sky before it breaks.

[warwickA2VR 0]

my cylinder head is coming off soon to do the gasket so I can inspect the chain now. what does a worn tensioner blade look like? is it difficult to get the gearbox off to fit a new tensioner or is that a step to far for a learner vr6 mechanic?

[ Edited Thu Mar 18 2004, 06:03PM ]

[acf8181 0]

do you mean the back runner thingy...mines worn...but i ain't takin off the gearbox to change it..may be able to without tho, am lookin into it now!

i'm leaving the chains till i get a new 'box and doin both at the same time.

[VR6Steve 0]

The box is an absolute pig to get out and requires persuasion. As for the tensioner basically wears thin or ends up with a big grooved wear line through the middle.

[acf8181 0]

The box is an absolute pig to get out and requires persuasion. As for the tensioner basically wears thin or ends up with a big grooved wear line through the middle.

not really gonna do much is it?

[VR6Steve 0]

My mate did a set on a Corrado (he's done about 3 sets now) and there was almost nothing left of the top one. If it gave way, i don't think I would have wanted to see the results.

[FishWick 21]

Any tried the solid polymer upper blade with sring loaded/hyrdaulic tensioner bolt as replacements?

I know they're from the very late 12V VRs the Americans got in their MK4s, but the basic dimensions seem to be the same.

I bought a new upper blade the other day, and to be honest, looking at it....I don't want to put it in. Doesn't look like it'll last 5 minutes....but it will, just looks like it won't!. I notice VW have changed the bakelite coloured plethyronic (sp?) coating with some new grey stuff....not sure if it's any better tho.

K

[ Edited Mon Mar 22 2004, 12:46PM ]