ROG100

I have the top and bottom pads 944 105 949 00 for $105.45 per side.

fraggle

I haven't seen this thing, but isn't it just a chunk of plastic with some holes in it? I don't have my PET handy. Why is it $105 each? That's $400 to replace them all in one of our cars, and sounds like it might be a good preventative maintenance item now that the oldest 32V cars are getting to be 20+ years old.

Even with the porsche premium that's pretty extreme.

John Veninger

Time for someone to start making an after market replacement.

ROG100

Not $400 just $210 as the kit comes with top & bottom pad.

fraggle

Better, I suppose, than $400, but still a little nuts to me!

Though, after reading this thread, I'm paranoid as heck about those pads breaking up in there.

Mike B

I'm thinking that will be on my list Roger. I'll add that to the spreadsheet you sent me.

AO

Bringing this thread back up to the top.

I just replaced my tensioner pads and let me tell you... It's a damn good thing I did too. I forget if it was the driver or passenger side, but on one of them, the lower pad which has two nipples that sit in a recess of the tensioner bracket... one of them was sheared. I think it could have easly broken off and caused all kinds of trouble for me.

So my tip is don't just replace the upper pads. Do both!

928autobahndreamer

I wish I would have come across this thread earlier. This summer I had my passenger cam cover off and replaced as many WYIT items I could think of because I did not want to have to take off the cover again any time soon.

Now I wish I didn't see this at all because I have a new potentail failure to worry about. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

BC

I think the price for the entire tensioner unit has recently gone down. Is that not true?

AO

It's about $110 (+/-) for a pad set from Roger. That's 1 upper and 1 lower. See post #16.

ROG100

Pads are $105.45 a side and the complete tensioner is $280 per side.

BC

I meant the entire assembly, metal and plastic - as Roger states the price above.

AO

Ok, but $280 why would you replace the metal bit sif they're still okay? $210 < $560.

BC

On my 75k mile heads, I looked at the tensioners, and took them apart. There were scratches on the shaft that moves up and down, and the spring had some pitting on it (the internal spring). There is also a bent-type cap on the piece (I don't have a picture) that was somehow loose.

So, with the planned purchase of new chains, and the fact that I spent 1800 dollars rebuilding the heads, and another 400 or so repairing them after Fed Ex screwed them up, and another 600 spend customizing the S3 cams, I just think another 560 is not very much, for security. Especially since they seem to be so important.

fraggle

OK, it is official.

I Am Spooked.

I'll be replacing these bits as soon as possible. My '87 w/ 115k can't be any better, and is probably worse, than Andrew's 91!!!