Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Pistons and Connecting Rods, Component Overview



Pistons and connecting rods, component overview





1 - Connecting rod bolt, 30 Nm + 90 degrees (1/4 turn) further

^ Replace
^ Lubricate threads and contact surface
^ To measure radial clearance, tighten to 30 Nm but not further

2 - Connecting rod bearing cap

^ Mark cylinder allocation -B-
^ Installed position: Markings -A- must be on same side

3 - Bearing shells

^ Installed position: retaining tabs of both bearing shells lie on same side of connecting rod
^ Do not interchange used bearing shells (mark)
^ Retaining tabs on bearing shells must fit tightly in recesses
^ Axial clearance, New: 0.05... 0.31 mm; Wear limit: 0.40 mm
^ Measure radial clearance with Plastigage
^ Do not rotate crankshaft when measuring radial clearance
^ Radial clearance, New: 0.02... 0.07 mm; Wear limit: 0.10 mm
^ Replacement parts are color coded "yellow" for lower and "red" for upper

4 - Connecting rod

^ With hole for piston pin lubrication
^ Only replace as a set
^ Mark cylinder allocation -B-
^ Installed position: Mark -A- faces toward shallow side of piston (shallow side of piston crown faces cylinder block center)

5 - Circlip

6 - Piston pin

^ If difficult to move, heat piston to 60 degrees C
^ Remove and install using drift VW 222 A

7 - Piston

^ Mark installed position to connecting rod and cylinder allocation
^ Shallow side of piston crown faces center of cylinder block
^ Piston and cylinder dimensions
^ Install using T10147

8 - Piston rings

^ Compression rings
^ Offset gaps by 120 degrees
^ Remove and install using piston ring pliers
^ "TOP" must face toward piston crown
^ Checking ring gap
^ Checking ring to groove clearance

9 - Piston ring

^ Oil scraping ring
^ 3-part
^ Install upper steel ring so gap is offset by 120 degrees to neighboring compression ring
^ Offset all gaps of oil scraping ring components to each other

Checking piston ring gap





- Insert ring at right angle to cylinder wall from above and push down into lower cylinder opening approx. 15 mm from bottom of cylinder. To do so, use a piston without rings.
- Use a feeler gauge to measure.








Checking ring to groove clearance

- Clean groove in piston before checking clearance.
- Use a feeler gauge to measure.





Checking piston





- Measure approx. 6 mm from lower edge, perpendicular to piston pin axis. Use an external micrometer, 75... 100 mm, to measure.

^ Max. deviation from nominal dimension: 0.04 mm

Checking cylinder bore





- Make measurements at three positions diagonally in transverse direction -A- and in longitudinal direction -B-. Use a cylinder gauge, 50... 100 mm, to measure.

^ Max. deviation from nominal dimension: 0.08 mm

Installing piston with tool T10147

Note:
If a new installing tool (funnel) is used to install the pistons, first pass a piston (with oiled piston rings) twice through the tool and remove any resulting metal debris. Only then install the piston with the piston rings.





- Lubricate tool and push piston in by hand.

^ Flat side of piston crown must face projection on installing tool (arrow).

- Hold tool (with piston inserted) on upper edge and press piston in with both thumbs.
- Push piston in until it protrudes approx. 15 mm from lower edge of installing tool.
- Place piston in appropriate cylinder bore.

^ Projection on installing tool (arrow) must face center of cylinder block.

- Hold installing tool firmly against cylinder block and push in piston.