Cam follower DIY in PDF form

[CorneliusRox]

Just replaced my cam follower and yeah PITA with that hose(no banjo). It was said earlier about leaving it on and just move the HPFP out to get at your follower. I totally disagree, atleast on my car it was not possible....just fyi for anyone in the future I suppose!

Other than that, great pdf write up it really helped!!

Well, I did mine eight days ago for the first time, and I just moved it out of the way and it took my about 15min and was super easy. Maybe you didnt disconnect the straps for the fuel lines under the manifold, or the coolant line on top of the manifold?
Also, I think this way only works if you dont have a banjo bolt (could work with the banjo) because the banjo has a steel line straight to the pump and mine has a rubber line for the last bit of it.

[sumyungguy]

This will be helpful, doing mine soon. Thanks OP

[Nick]

Well, I did mine eight days ago for the first time, and I just moved it out of the way and it took my about 15min and was super easy. Maybe you didnt disconnect the straps for the fuel lines under the manifold, or the coolant line on top of the manifold?
Also, I think this way only works if you dont have a banjo bolt (could work with the banjo) because the banjo has a steel line straight to the pump and mine has a rubber line for the last bit of it.

I just did mine with the rubber hose as well (no banjo) and I was able to leave it connected and just move the HPFP out of the way. You need to make sure the high pressure fuel line is completely disengaged from it's normal location. The line is strong enough to make the HPFP feel like it is still stuck in there. I had to hit the line pretty hard with a flat head to get it out of the way.
That being said my HPFP had some damage on the shaft and I still needed to completeley remove my HPFP to polish/smooth it out. After fumbling for like an hour trying to remove the non banjo rubber hose clamps I took off the N80 valve there to the right and that opened up enough space to get the lower clamp off. I replaced the rubber hose with some new 100psi fuel line and screw on type clamps for next time.
If you have the rubber hose connection instead of the banjo and need to completely romove your HPFP, save yourself some time by removing the N80 valve.

[jrtrainor]

Just did mine. By the way for the OP there is a part missing on the pdf. Put the fuel pressure relief valve back on but im sure most people will remember to do so.

52k old one was very thin (flexed with little force from my finger and fracturing from one of the four holes. New one went in no problems.

[millertime82]

Just did mine, 08 A4 first time since I had the car. Miles at 73800 and been Stage II since 35000.
Looks pretty good to me. Didn't seem weak or anything. I upgraded to the KMD Tuning Cam Follower. Happy that I finally checked it and peace of mind now.





New KMD Tuning Cam Follower



Side By Side

[peb]

So I'm a newb that wants/needs to do this (45k 08 a4) and learn about my car in general. I have the tools and the parts and am all set to go, but have what is probably a newb question....

The PDF and various cam follower DIYs state,
"it is suggested that the cam follower sits at the lowest position on the cam lobe; if necessary, rotate the cam shaft to accommodate"

How does one rotate the cam shaft?

[marklar182]

So I'm a newb that wants/needs to do this (45k 08 a4) and learn about my car in general. I have the tools and the parts and am all set to go, but have what is probably a newb question....

The PDF and various cam follower DIYs state,
"it is suggested that the cam follower sits at the lowest position on the cam lobe; if necessary, rotate the cam shaft to accommodate"

How does one rotate the cam shaft?

Put a wrench on the crankshaft bolt and turn until the cam lobe is at the lowest position.

I believe this is mainly referencing the re-install of the HPFP, as it would be hard to see the orientation of the cam with the HPFP installed.

[Huck]

Thanks for this write up, my wife's car has 42,000 miles on it, so it may be a good time to check this with the next oil change. Excellent write up and pics. I'll rep you once I get home and on my 'puter.


Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff

[Huck]

Thanks for this write up, my wife's car has 42,000 miles on it, so it may be a good time to check this with the next oil change. Excellent write up and pics. I'll rep you once I get home and on my 'puter.


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[a4audi4fun]

My 2008 A4 Avant is not covered by the extended warranty for the 2.0T cam followers, so I just replaced it for piece of mind. This is a montage of it's state. Happy to send the larger originals of the photos to anyone who wants them.

No dip in the top surface and doesn't seem worn to me at all, so I don't plan on inspecting/replacing on an ongoing basis.

[mec]

Just did mine, 08 A4 first time since I had the car. Miles at 73800 and been Stage II since 35000.
Looks pretty good to me. Didn't seem weak or anything. I upgraded to the KMD Tuning Cam Follower. Happy that I finally checked it and peace of mind now.





New KMD Tuning Cam Follower



Side By Side

omigosh check it before it destroys your cam!

[CLEANA3]

Nice info here .

[jamezz23]

Well shit, I was planning on changing my cam follower this weekend and didn't realize that I needed to buy an o-ring for the fuel pump and I wont be able to make it in to the dealership to buy it before they close -____-

Has anyone here changed the follower but not the o-ring without and leaks? Cause I really want to get this done this weekend but this o-ring would hold me up until Monday and I am half tempted to skip it.

[mjd628]

nice dyi

[eyesolution]

Has anyone here changed the follower but not the o-ring without and leaks? Cause I really want to get this done this weekend but this o-ring would hold me up until Monday and I am half tempted to skip it.

i would highly recomend replacing the gasket, when i replace my follower the gasket on the fuel pump was dry and flattened. it broke in pieces when i tried taking it off in one piece. when you buy the new gasket you'll notice that its nice and round and once it squeezed flat it'll create a good seal. you should go ahead and wait until monday to have piece of mind.

[jamezz23]

i would highly recomend replacing the gasket, when i replace my follower the gasket on the fuel pump was dry and flattened. it broke in pieces when i tried taking it off in one piece. when you buy the new gasket you'll notice that its nice and round and once it squeezed flat it'll create a good seal. you should go ahead and wait until monday to have piece of mind.

I wanted to get it done this weekend soo bad

[boarderx100]

It depends on the condition of the gasket. I didn't realize that it needed to be changed either so i didn't have one handy. Its been nearly 10k miles since it was changed and no leaks whatsoever. I am planning on checking the CF again at my next oil change and will switch it then to be safe. The gasket is a few bucks at the stealership...

[eyesolution]

It depends on the condition of the gasket.....

True, mine was in terrible condition.

[hpfpupgrade]

Well shit, I was planning on changing my cam follower this weekend and didn't realize that I needed to buy an o-ring for the fuel pump and I wont be able to make it in to the dealership to buy it before they close -____-

Has anyone here changed the follower but not the o-ring without and leaks? Cause I really want to get this done this weekend but this o-ring would hold me up until Monday and I am half tempted to skip it.

If the o-ring is rubbery to the touch and not brittle, just use it again. I almost never have to replace that o-ring unless the car has high miles.

Great write up, just in time for our new cam follower.

Thanks,

John

[Scout]

I decided to finally do this DIY, and am now kicking myself for not doing it earlier. My follower was completly gone (now just a hollow tube), and the HPFP rod and spring were ground down as well. Car is a 2005.5 with 75K.

I'll be taking it to Audi for repair; hopefully they'll honor the exended warranty. I was prepared to install the new follower that I had purchased, but after seeing the damage, I wasn't sure what to do to get the car back together and get it to Audi. I went ahead and installed the new follower (and o-ring). When I started the car, it sounded noticeably quieter at idle. However, it seems to now be in limp mode. No power, and hard to go above 40 mph.

I really don't understand how the pump was working in the first place. The HPFP spring was no longer retained/connected to the HPFP shaft. I'm thinking this could be why my car has no power now (nothing to push the HPFP rod back against the cam), but how would it have worked before? I had never experienced any power loss before I put the new follower in. Any ideas?

[JPT]

I decided to finally do this DIY, and am now kicking myself for not doing it earlier. My follower was completly gone (now just a hollow tube), and the HPFP rod and spring were ground down as well. Car is a 2005.5 with 75K.

I'll be taking it to Audi for repair; hopefully they'll honor the exended warranty. I was prepared to install the new follower that I had purchased, but after seeing the damage, I wasn't sure what to do to get the car back together and get it to Audi. I went ahead and installed the new follower (and o-ring). When I started the car, it sounded noticeably quieter at idle. However, it seems to now be in limp mode. No power, and hard to go above 40 mph.

I really don't understand how the pump was working in the first place. The HPFP spring was no longer retained/connected to the HPFP shaft. I'm thinking this could be why my car has no power now (nothing to push the HPFP rod back against the cam), but how would it have worked before? I had never experienced any power loss before I put the new follower in. Any ideas?

Why not put the bad follower back in?

[Scout]

Thanks for the suggestion. I may stick the old, blown out follower in and see what happens. I'm guessing I'll have the same power issues. However, there might be fewer warranty questions if I just button up everything the way it was.

Still puzzeled on how things were working before. The retaining washer that I see on pictures of normal HPFPs was completely worn away.

[Paddymcgarvey]

AWESOME gonna be checking mine here shortly since I just purchased a used 2006 Avant. But first think I'm going to ask the dealership if they did it or not because I know they were messing around with the high pressure fuel pump and other gadgets in there so hopefully they did. BUT I doubt it. Thanks !

[audi08232]

Ok instead of creating a new thread about the cam follower issue i will ask in this thread if anyone can be extremely nice and enlighten me into the whole process on what i should do to get audi dealer to fix my 2005.5 a4 6spd fwd 107500 mile car that i was totally un aware of how bad this vam follower isssue is . My car was bought 2 yrs ago with exactly 80k at an auction the car has never given me any priblems till 3 weeks ago when it started idling from 800 to 1500 up and do. Prior to that the check eng light was on cause of some purge valve or solenoid something like that and a evap problem so autozone code reader said. I have read and read many post about this but the more i read the more terrified i get and confused. Can someone help me or contact me with any advise i dont want the dealer to take advantage of me i read sone stories were they have wanted to charge up to $3500 +

[illegitimus]

Glad to see the PDF write-up serving its purpose all this time. I am going to be swapping the cam follower on my car today.

[austin white]

Hello everyone, I swapped my cam follower a few hundred miles ago and i found that it was completely worn through, this obviously cause some problems with my HPFP and i have decided to take it to an Audi dealership to have it checked under warranty. If the dealership finds that the cam follower is worn completely they will replace all damaged parts, but the problem is that i did not realize this when i threw out my worn cam follower and put in a new one, so if anyone is in possession of a completely worn follower i will gladly purchase it.

Skeeter

[Jhad]

Skeeter- post that in the karma thread. I am sure someone has it for you, and you might have views there. Good luck getting it fixed

[austin white]

thank you very much

[kdotwright]

Glad to see the PDF write-up serving its purpose all this time. I am going to be swapping the cam follower on my car today.

im installing a new follower this week, i couldnt find the EXACT tools needed in your diy think you could shoot me a list illegitimus?
or anyone for that matter

[robocodman]

Thanks for this DIY. Gave me the confidence to have a go myself (On my 2005 B7 A4 2.0 TFSI).
I had attempt No 1 last weekend but didn't have the correct extensions to get the banjo bolt out so put it all back together & ordered the necessary tool.
Successfully completed the task this afternoon - It's fairly straight forward just follow the instructions (Although I didn't bother removing the screen wash reservoir) and takes 2 hrs max if your slow like me. My car has just short of 71k miles but I don't know if it has been replaced previously (I only bought the car 2 months ago with 70k miles on it). Wear on the follower didn't seem too bad, the black coating had worn off the middle but no other damage and the cam itself looked fine. Next job to do... Thermostat.

[Cnelson952]

Did mine today, what do you guys think about that fuel pump? Useable, or is it a major concern?


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[swaggerwagon]

From that angle I can't see much, but if the tip of the plunger is worn excessively or too much in one direction where you can tell it made direct contact with the cam, then yes.

[Cnelson952]

It is worn, but just barely, definetly not as bad as some of the others I have seen


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[Cnelson952]

Alright guys, I have another question. Since I did the cam follower on my own B7, i decided to go ahead and do it on my girlfriends B7 (just hit 100k). But now I have a problem.
As I was taking the fuel pressure relief valve off out (the one that blocks access to the third torx bolt) I stripped it completely....Not only did I strip it, but slightly mangled it trying to get it out.
I could not break it free whatsoever, so I ended up taking the top of the fuel pump off (the top piece which has the electrical connector on the front, relief valve on the back). This way I was able to
access that last bolt. I then replaced the cam follower just fine.
My question is about the integrity of that valve. Being that the top is slightly mangled, the plastic cap does not screw on at all. I plan on replacing the entire top portion, but I need some time to find just that piece.
First, does anyone know where I can get that, and second, is the car safe to drive in the mean time?

Thanks

[xander3zero]

Alright guys, I have another question. Since I did the cam follower on my own B7, i decided to go ahead and do it on my girlfriends B7 (just hit 100k). But now I have a problem.
As I was taking the fuel pressure relief valve off out (the one that blocks access to the third torx bolt) I stripped it completely....Not only did I strip it, but slightly mangled it trying to get it out.
I could not break it free whatsoever, so I ended up taking the top of the fuel pump off (the top piece which has the electrical connector on the front, relief valve on the back). This way I was able to
access that last bolt. I then replaced the cam follower just fine.
My question is about the integrity of that valve. Being that the top is slightly mangled, the plastic cap does not screw on at all. I plan on replacing the entire top portion, but I need some time to find just that piece.
First, does anyone know where I can get that, and second, is the car safe to drive in the mean time?

Thanks

I doubt you will be able to buy just the fuel relieve (likely have to buy it with a new pump) valve but depending on how badly you destroyed it, it should be save to drive. Give it a check to see if it is leaking fuel or not and you'll be okay

Don't know how ppl strip that thing so often did you not have the correct wrench?

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[Cnelson952]

Sounds good, I checked it after a quick drive and it's not leaking, the valve seems to function properly (the middle prong still moves when pressed) I used the proper 13mm wrench and it just destroyed the bolt, granted it had been taken off before by another person, so it had some previous wear...I'll just have to be more careful with it


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[rcamacho]

Just replaced the follower in my 2008 A4 this week. The procedure and some videos on youtube were very helpful. I also took the opportunity to add fuel pump studs since this seems like a good maintenance activity every 20K or so. @44K replacement the anti-friction coating was worn but no excessive wear on the follower otherwise.

[JPT]

Just replaced the follower in my 2008 A4 this week. The procedure and some videos on youtube were very helpful. I also took the opportunity to add fuel pump studs since this seems like a good maintenance activity every 20K or so. @44K replacement the anti-friction coating was worn but no excessive wear on the follower otherwise.

Did you have to extend the rubber fuel line? I want to do this, but it seems like the hose will not be long enough to get it off the studs.

[Seanyjonny]

Took my 2006 a4 quattro in to the dealer to see if these parts were worn enough to be replaced under the warranty - told me It would cost $400 in labor to do so but if they were worn enough for the warranty to cover them they'd refund me the money. Of course recieved a call saying there was "normal" wear (whatever that means) but not enough for the warranty to warrant a full replacement. So was wondering about how hard this is to do? I dont work on cars and never really have other than my 97 Toyota Camry. -.-

[Copen-cisco]

I have very limited mechanical skills but I can check my cam follower in 15mins with the right tools.

$400 = anal raped w/o lube.