swapping cams / cam tensioner

[EOD-5]

first off im about to swap cams....anyone feel free to offer tips to help out...

i have the valve cover gaskets and silicone, and cams...do i need anything else?

i know i need the cam tensioner, but any other small things or large things i might be missing?

thanks!

ps, anyone have a cam tensioner i can "borrow" or buy off you?

[dougyfresh]

You'll need the cam tensioner tool to compress the tensioner to make life easier to remove/install the cams. Torx bit for the cam bearing caps and a torque wrench are also required.

I don't really go into details but there's a lot of pictures here: http://audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229219

[djwimbo]

You'll need the cam tensioner tool to compress the tensioner to make life easier to remove/install the cams. Torx bit for the cam bearing caps and a torque wrench are also required.

Cam caps should be a TX30, and yes you need a torque wrench.

The new tensioner should come with that tensioner tool as it should be shipped compressed.

I hope you have the half moon and tensioner gasket as well.

[EOD-5]

for gaskets i bought: http://www.blauparts.com/audi/audi_v...sket_kit.shtml

Our 1.8L Audi valve cover gasket kit includes:
All high quality German mfg components.
- Neoprene perimeter Audi valve cover gaskets - qty 1
- Neoprene center Audi valve cover gaskets - qty 1
- Improved Audi cam tensioner gaskets - qty 1
- Improved camshaft valley seals - qty 1
- Improved 'Viton' camshaft seals - qty 2


i have not yet gotten the tensioner tool....do i need to get a new tensioner as well? you mentioned that it coming with the tool...?

[djwimbo]

you're good to go on seals then.

Now you need the torx, torque wrench and the special tool.

[EOD-5]

well i have a full garage with lifts, compressor tools, etc etc etc.

so guess i just need the special tool

any other tips / tricks

[djwimbo]

It's pretty straight forward. Obviously you need to get the T-Belt off the pulley.
Then release tension on the timing chain with said special tool.

From there on out it's just removing bolts and making sure you mark or identify (and keep track of) what cam caps go where.
I pull the both of the cams out at the same time, and just pull the tensioner out as I lift them up off the head.

The only thing that was a bitch for me (or the customer's car I was working on) was that one of the bolts tried to strip the TX30 head. I had to use an Impact driver (not an impact gun/wrench) to bust it loose without stripping it.