Who hasn't had problems with their cam follower?

[multiphrenic]

So I spent the past hour reading every post about cam followers. Obviously, I've become very paranoid and will be checking mine this weekend. I'm picking up my car on Saturday and so have another 2-years worth of warranty service..

Since that thread is all about people who are having problems, wondering if there are people who have checked theirs repeatedly and haven't seen any issues? How many miles/kms?

[dbens]

70,000 km and no issues to date! have checked a few times since i took ownership at 55,000

[r1de]

Could be lighting a flare in a petroleum refinery on this subject, but...

IMO it's a proven design defect, but whether or not you do anything about it depends on how long you plan to keep the car. If you plan to keep it forever, then you might consider replacing the follower every 10k miles or so. Otherwise, I'd probably suggest not worrying too much about it...

I had mine replaced along with the cam at about 45k miles, and got the dealer to cover it even though there was no CEL or driving problem, based on photographs I took of the follower and cam lobe, and a letter I wrote. That ended up resulting in more trouble than it's worth, since the cam replacement wasn't done correctly and since then I've been battling oil leaks and engine damage, most recently leading to another cam replacement + HPFP, rocker arm, valves, etc - car's in the shop right now as I write this.

So basically if you plan to replace it, replace it often so you don't have to deal with a cam/HPFP replacement as well. Or, just drive the crap out of the car and don't worry about it, and if you have a real problem with it, have the dealer replace whatever blew up when it happens, if that happens before you sell the car.

[wrxmyers]

I changed mine at 104k with minimal wearing away of the black coating. All depends on how you drive the car.

[Ed Gein]

This was mine at 46k miles on the dot, 2008. If you are bone stock they will replace your cam, follower, hpfp under warranty but if you have mods they may deny you. I paid 80 bucks with labor to get mine replaced, they are 50 if you want to do it yourself and my shop said I should be good for another 40k sooo.. Not a huge deal imo, do it or get it done so you dont need to worry about it.

[Jay-Bee]

~105K kms (65k miles) on my 2007

I checked with Audi of Canada and i'm covered for the cam/follower/hpfp if it were to fail to ~190k kms or so, so my next question is... i obviously have the "A" cam in there if they extended the warranty right?

[TFSI]

105000 miles and ive replaced twice in the past.
Haven't had any big issues yet like a shot cam, but recently i had problems with lpfp.
All are well again... Dunno when its going to pop up again.

[Satummoo]

I had 75k on mine and I was thinking I would have a hole.

It came out with minimal wear on the follower and the cam looked perfect.

Hpfpupgrade is coming out with a permenant solution to the follower

[jerseybrian]

I changed mine out at ~60k miles when I put my Autotech HPFP in and didn't have a hole. I'll probably change it out every 30k miles now.

[mixtery]

This was mine at 46k miles on the dot, 2008. If you are bone stock they will replace your cam, follower, hpfp under warranty but if you have mods they may deny you. I paid 80 bucks with labor to get mine replaced, they are 50 if you want to do it yourself and my shop said I should be good for another 40k sooo.. Not a huge deal imo, do it or get it done so you dont need to worry about it.

Exactly my experience. I did it myself at 40k miles. 2008, I wouldn't worry much. Will do mine again at 80k.

[multiphrenic]

I changed mine at 104k with minimal wearing away of the black coating. All depends on how you drive the car.

104k? amazing..so there is hope. manual or tip?

[co_pa]

this was mine at 50K straight up. was APR stage II for about 20K miles.
[IMG][/IMG]

one year and 12K later i'm going to put in a fresh one and upgrade the hpfp.
i'll continue to change it every year from here on out.

[Inked]

I'm no mechanic, but it takes 45min to replace and 50 bucks out of your pocket. For 45min and $50 I will take the peace of mind every 10k miles....

[Ed Gein]

^^ That one was probably ready to bust, once the black coating wears off they wear super fast.

104k? amazing..so there is hope. manual or tip?

Some have failed as early on as 50k, everyones story is different so don't feel safe until you check yours.

[fordyoz]

85,000 miles. started modding around 75k miles. had the cam follower checked twice since modded and it was fine

[MisterQuattro]

At almost 60k havent seen mine yet but car seems to be running well. Ill be changing mine by 65k. If it aint broke dont fix it imo i know its a defect but the car rides great and ill replace it just for peace of mind in a short while. Knowing how I drive ill replace it in a month ha



- Rizzo
- Sent From Tapatalk

[DRAKLORE]

Replaced mine Around 75,000 miles
Had been at least stage two since 55,000 miles
And as you can ^see it developed a crack down the middle, prob about ready to wear completely through!
No damage to the cam

[viziers]

i obviously have the "A" cam in there if they extended the warranty right?

Incorrect! I have an 05.5 and I have a revision "B" cam since new.


Just like I have the same style Wossner piston dome where as some have a flat top domed piston, so who knows whats really inside your motor as far as internals go until you open her up!


vizi

[bmc333]

So glad I never have to worry about my follower again - replaced cam with spec B version earlier this year and fully covered under Audi's warranty for the parts and labor (over $1200).

[multiphrenic]

I didn't think the spec B version meant you never had to worry about it..only that you didn't have to worry about it as quickly?

Another question, I know the main thing people are looking for is the cam follower itself, but I've also seen pics of other parts, including the fuel pump, e.g




What signs are people looking for on these parts?

[Tanner]

I'd look at the cam follower itself for odd wear (whatever that may be) or if a cam follower at 10,000 has significant amount of wear, then the lobe is probably all messed up.

My first one looked pretty decent for 93,500 km on and changed it anyways. Had it changed again with 138,000 km on the odometer just because the car was in for other repairs and it was easy enough to get at the HPFP to change out the cam follower, wear on that one was pretty low.

Initially, I was a bit paranoid after reading all about the wear on the cam follower, but after a while, just do a check every so often and it's not that much of an issue at the end of the day.

Old British cars has the same problem, and they were able to determine that it was the lack of ZDDP in the motor oil that allowed the cams to wear out. Google it.

[Lazze]

Here´s mine at 92000km:

[viziers]

So glad I never have to worry about my follower again - replaced cam with spec B version earlier this year and fully covered under Audi's warranty for the parts and labor (over $1200).

So naive to think you never have to worry about it!



vizi

[chrislane31]

I replaced mine at 100k and it was fine and replaced it again at 160k and it was also fine.

[multiphrenic]

thanks everyone.. i think we need more threads like this every now and then just to help me sleep better at night. :)

[Tanner]

So naive to think you never have to worry about it!

LOL, maybe worry a little then :)

[naiku]

So naive to think you never have to worry about it!

Agreed, the parts might be updated, but they are still essentially the same parts doing the same thing. I wish it were true that the Rev B meant the issue was solved, at least it is not all that hard of a DIY to check. Which reminds me I need to check mine soon, been about 15,000 miles since I had it replaced.

[scottns]

I also got paranoid reading all this and replaced mine at about 42000. The black was worn off but it was fine. Replaced it. Almost at 70000 now. Not getting crazy about it. I'll probably check it at 80000. Car is stock.

[Solarsuplex]

So im thinking ill need to change mine? Coming up at 60k miles on an 08 Car was way over driven before i got it.

[multiphrenic]

For 80 bucks and peace of mind, change it. Beats a 3k repair bill..Spoke with a couple guys at the shop while getting a chip done. They recommended I change it at 50,000km/30,000 miles.

They had just changed one that morning where the metal was so thin you could press through it with a finger. Another guy there would religiously change his, and even then, it still failed and cost him three grand in repairs..

[usedtobefast]

I replaced mine at 34,000 miles for safety, but it was in perfect condition.

[hpfpupgrade]

We are working on a solution for you guys, this should be a thing of the past when we release the new cam follower.

I have intentions of writing a thread about this and what causes the OEM follower to wear out. We have done extensive testing on this and we have a very good idea how to address it and make it so our new follower will last 100k miles on any car.

Thanks,

John

[Audi_509]

^ subscribed and a future customer.

[m4ttt0]

I havent checked it but from reading all the treads im assuming that when theres a hole in it then there will be around 3k damage thats gonna need repairs?

[Ed Gein]

I havent checked it but from reading all the treads im assuming that when theres a hole in it then there will be around 3k damage thats gonna need repairs?

Yeah, it will destroy the cam, hpfp and obviously the follower, plus all the labor. If you are stock they will replace everything under warranty though.

[A4A4A4]

No cam follower problems here. 2008 but I'm still at <30000 miles.

[m4ttt0]

Yeah, it will destroy the cam, hpfp and obviously the follower, plus all the labor. If you are stock they will replace everything under warranty though.

i guess ill check that out next week when i do the carbon cleaning.

[viziers]

John, can't wait until these go on sale....



vizi

[naiku]

We are working on a solution for you guys, this should be a thing of the past when we release the new cam follower.

I have intentions of writing a thread about this and what causes the OEM follower to wear out. We have done extensive testing on this and we have a very good idea how to address it and make it so our new follower will last 100k miles on any car.

Looking forward to this, especially as I am planning to keep my car for at least another 2 or more years. I will definitely be buying if a good solution comes along.

[miSZukk]

About to hit 90k and still no problem with it. Plan to do some maintenance just to be safe when I hit 90k