Mako 928

I am replacing the pad on MY 85 chain tensioner, It is the one on the piston/spring section and is black and has 2 screws attaching directly on top of the flat area of the piston/spring. It is rectangular in shape. The replacement pad is also rectangular but has an opening on the sides and looks to slide on to the piston area, it is white and does not have any holes as does the black/original pad. I have done a search (this subject will put the fear of god in you) and did not see how or if the new pad can/will be compatable for replacement on MY 85/86. I have photos but keep getting failed when trying to up load I know this would help to clarify Right now I am stalled in getting the engine put back together due to this so any help would be greatly appreciated.

michaelathome

Having just gone thru this on my '88 there are 2 pads, one has screws one does not have screws. Once you remove the tensioner the pad w/out screws just slides on/off.

The one with screws is available as a 944 part #. I did not replace the one with screws. There is a recent thread that explains the replacement of both I will try to post it.


Here ya go:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...=tensioner+pad


Michael

RyanPerrella

the pad that can be replaced goes on the spring end and it NOT held in with the two screws. To remove the pad you pull the damper spring deal out of the housing and then you can slide the pad out from one direction. Slide the new one in, put the damper back into the tensioner block and reinstall.

Pretty simple

The other pad (cant say lower or upper as they are reversed from head to head) is NLA and if you want to replace that you have to buy the entire tensioner assembly at this point.

AO

Wrong. There is a pad replacement set available, but it is a bit spendy (~$110) per side IIRC. Also, I think it pays to check the side with the screws. When I did mine I found one of the lower pads had cracked. It might have lasted anouther 10 years, but I felt better knowing it was replaced.

Mako 928

Michael, Thanks for the link
Ryan, This is what I am thinking of doing. The black/original pad has 2 screws holding the pad in place (this is not the yellow pad that is riveted to the bottom of the assembly on the other side) by using the white replacement pads I am not sure they will stay in place since they are differnt in design.
Andrew, Yeah this is also my concern is that the single pad I now have will be the same as the expensive 2 pad set and will it work on MY 85/86 any way.

RyanPerrella

If its $110 per set then your paying over $95 for the smaller screw in pad

The replaceable pad costs $13 or so.

Mako 928

Yep that seems to be the current price. The replacement pad 928 105 509 01 is about $15.00 per side. It seems the "yellow" pad is NLA separately. It is only avalible as a set.

AO

Yep, but that's the only way to get it.

ROG100

The set is $105.45 per side and the top only is $14.75.
The price for the set is day light robbery but beggers can't be choosers 8>)
As Ryan said - not long ago the only alternative was to buy the whole assembly for $600.

RyanPerrella

Yeah it beats having to buy the whole assembly.

But if you need it, its an option and thats a good thing.

Mako 928

So my question is will the replacement pad now offered work for MY 85/86 even though the pad is a different design? I.E. MY 85/86 pad has 2 screws straight down the center attaching it to the tensioner and the replacement pad slides on sideways with out screws.

Mako 928

UPDATE:
I just removed the black pad from the piston. The 2 screws are taps as in tap and die, the pad is solid except in the center where it has a recess for the center of the piston. The piston has a flat surface at the top where the pad sets but protrudes in the center aprox. 1/8 inch. The pad it self is aprox. 3/8 of an inch thick compared to the replacement pad of aprox 1/8 of an inch. thick. The replacement pad will NOT slide onto piston/shelf due to the piston protruding 1/8 of an inch past the shelf.

RyanPerrella

FYI

The replacement pads i know of are for S4's but i would think they work for early 32V cars as well. But if you see differences then obviously they wont work.

You may try and find used S4 tensioners and try that. But i am surprised that the 85 tensioners are different.

Mako 928

Yeah I thought they would be the same but are not. The S4 pad wont even begin to fit onto the piston/shelf and since my pad is 3 times as thick with little wear I will just put it back in. Unless I can find a piston/shelf for cheap and see if it will fit W/ the rest of the tensioner.

michaelathome

You really need to post pictures, I have recently seen an '85, or so I thought, was told, engine and it looked exactly the same as my '88. I didn't notice any screws on the "tensioning pad"

Michael