Installed KLA brace and new rear axles today
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The brace.. what can I say. GREAT workmanship, exact fit, and a nice addition to my 83. Took 15 minutes to install..how could you go wrong? Thanks for the excellent part at a really great price.
The rear axels.. not too bad at all to do. I had the clunking CV noise and decided to replace both rear axles as preventative maintenace. I got the axles for $165 each complete, and the 24 new bolts for $24 at a VW dealer. I also tracked down the special 8mm 12 point star tool previous to today.
The axle job took 1.5 hours but I certainly wasn't rushing. Just took my time and everything came out and went back in perfectly. What a nice difference to drive the car hard again after babying it for the last 2 weeks for fear of the CV failing..
Next up is the rear hatch seal and sunroof seal. (I checked the drains today and they are fine) Then it will be time for a stereo upgrade and a seat upgrade.. For some reason I just don't mind spending money on this car..it always puts a smile on my face when I'm driving it
The rear axels.. not too bad at all to do. I had the clunking CV noise and decided to replace both rear axles as preventative maintenace. I got the axles for $165 each complete, and the 24 new bolts for $24 at a VW dealer. I also tracked down the special 8mm 12 point star tool previous to today.
The axle job took 1.5 hours but I certainly wasn't rushing. Just took my time and everything came out and went back in perfectly. What a nice difference to drive the car hard again after babying it for the last 2 weeks for fear of the CV failing..
Next up is the rear hatch seal and sunroof seal. (I checked the drains today and they are fine) Then it will be time for a stereo upgrade and a seat upgrade.. For some reason I just don't mind spending money on this car..it always puts a smile on my face when I'm driving it
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I just installed mine too. I had to shave 1/8" off the bracket to clear the AC line on the driver side. Other than that installation was easy. I noticed the diference right away as soon as I pulled out of the driveway . I used to feel a flex as soon as I'm on the driveway ramp. I don't feel that anymore. I'll try to post pics. I haven't figured that out yet.
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[quote]Originally posted by turbokev:
<strong>I also tracked down the special 8mm 12 point star tool previous to today.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Where'd you find it at? I've been looking for these for a while, but have never found em.
<strong>I also tracked down the special 8mm 12 point star tool previous to today.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Where'd you find it at? I've been looking for these for a while, but have never found em.
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The 8mm 12 point is actually a funny story..
I called all over the place looking for one and most people had no idea what I was talking about, others just said "we don't carry specialty tools".
I work on a fairly busy road (Route 1 in NH) and decided to drive up and down in either direction looking for a foriegn auto parts kind of place.
I hadn't even gone a mile when I saw a guy in a Dunkin Donuts parking lot who was just getting into his large tool truck.. like a Snap-On truck only Craftco or something like that..I'd never even heard of them before. I made a u-turn, went back there and knocked on his door. He had a puzzled look when he asked me if he could help me. I told him what I was looking for and he said "Sure, I've got those in a set of 4 and loose..Come on in". So, $3.95 later I had the tool I needed. It worked perfectly
I called all over the place looking for one and most people had no idea what I was talking about, others just said "we don't carry specialty tools".
I work on a fairly busy road (Route 1 in NH) and decided to drive up and down in either direction looking for a foriegn auto parts kind of place.
I hadn't even gone a mile when I saw a guy in a Dunkin Donuts parking lot who was just getting into his large tool truck.. like a Snap-On truck only Craftco or something like that..I'd never even heard of them before. I made a u-turn, went back there and knocked on his door. He had a puzzled look when he asked me if he could help me. I told him what I was looking for and he said "Sure, I've got those in a set of 4 and loose..Come on in". So, $3.95 later I had the tool I needed. It worked perfectly
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I got my Lisle cheesehead/12pt/triple square tools at Pep Boys. List price $13.95 for all four, which cover all cheeseheads found on the 944.
<a href="http://www.lislecorp.com/tools/catalog/fasteners/fast1.htm#60750" target="_blank">Lisle 60750</a>
<a href="http://www.lislecorp.com/tools/catalog/fasteners/fast1.htm#60750" target="_blank">Lisle 60750</a>
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With the lame 12 pt bolts I don't trust anything other than snap-on because I don't want to strip the bolts (cv bolts, clutch, cam gear, etc). Its expensive ($25 socket type each), but if it saves me from having to deal with one stripped bolt while I am down under the hood or car its worth the money. Lisle tools from pep boys are ok tools, but they get rounded faster and once they do they tend to strip bolts.
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K-D Tools part #2304 8MM serrated wrench is what I bought. I got it at Carquest for $6.80. They stocked it for older VW use. It's heat treated alloy steel, made in Lancaster, PA by Danaher Tool Group. I haven't used it yet, but I've had good luck with other K-D tools.
Arne.
Arne.
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8mm tri square or 8mm dual hex?
Was looking thru my Snap-On catalog the other day
and run accross an interesting question. They
have sets of tri-square bits, and also show only
one dual-hex bit. It is in 8mm, hmmmm wonder what
that is for. Think about it a minute, tri-square
will have 90 degree points on it while dual-hex
will have 60 degree points. So my question is
which exactly is the right bit for the CV joints?
Incedently I bought the tri-square bit cause that
is what my dealer said all the VW mechs get for
the CV joints.
Just something to ponder.
Bill
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Was looking thru my Snap-On catalog the other day
and run accross an interesting question. They
have sets of tri-square bits, and also show only
one dual-hex bit. It is in 8mm, hmmmm wonder what
that is for. Think about it a minute, tri-square
will have 90 degree points on it while dual-hex
will have 60 degree points. So my question is
which exactly is the right bit for the CV joints?
Incedently I bought the tri-square bit cause that
is what my dealer said all the VW mechs get for
the CV joints.
Just something to ponder.
Bill
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">