davek9

I think mine are in need of replacement, just need to find some suitable plastic and make up a pair.

Shark_Week

holy crap dave those are totally worn. i feel good about mine now

NIACAL4NIA

Looks like low oil pressure or using low viscosity oil accelerates pad wear but the thickness looks OK for another 100K miles. My 86 32 valve has 188k and the last time I checked, pads were barely worn. I've been using non synthetic Mobil 20w-50. 10w-30 makes the oil pressure low and starts making tapping noises. During 2004 I talked to Devek about the pad wear and I was told they hardly seen failures on 928s but more on 944s. But checking the oil gallery on 87+ cars is worth it.

Landseer

On the other end of the spectrum.... I neglected the rattle for a while on my 85.
Something crashed inside when starting the car yesterday.
It started, I heard something let go, it chugged, then it was over.
Chugged on attempted restart. Not the timing belt.
Fingers crossed that it is repairable; I think I lost a chain.

V2Rocket

bumping this up as it seemed an appropriate thread...
has anyone attempted to rebuild an original tensioner?

seems to me the hard parts should be reusable, so long as any internal o-rings are replaced and the spring is reusable.

also, has anyone tried a "tensioner stop", basically a solid spacer that limits how far the tensioner can collapse and slacken the chain? seen it on some 911 and 944 racing engines, likely more for high-rpm safety to minimize potential damage. not a mechanical/fixed tensioner, but just a travel stop.

Chris Lockhart

Dave did you ever make up a pair? Did you locate a suitable plastic/phenolic to make them from/ I'm thinking of making up a replacement pair for my 89 S4. I forgot now if it's the top or bottom that you have to get the whole assembly but the other side you can get just the pads for $15.00. Makes no sense. I'd rather make a set of replacement pads. I wouldn't think that the material is any type of "unobtanium". Looks like a Teflon based plastic.

davek9

Hi, no I spoke w/ a few people and was even thinking of using the chain guide material from another engine mfg and carving it up.
However given that experimenting could be expensive on such a critical part of a 32v engine, I concluded the best option was to retro fit the S4 parts, they are self contained and do have a stop built in and the plastic was/is still available.

I've done it on three of mine to-date, also down the road it will be easier for service.

Thanks for asking!

Dave

Chris Lockhart

OK cool. Yeah for the 85-86 that makes sense. Thanks for the reply Dave.

V2Rocket

If any S3 folks want to try some good-shape original chain tensioners, I have a pair that look good available.

I am going to S4 style.