Stupid Timing Chain Tensioner Pads

tartar · 04-06-2012, 10:54 AM

I finally got around to changing the half moon seal and cam chain tensioner gasket on my 2000 A6 yesterday. It was a PITA trying to replace them using just a cam chain tensioner tool and without completely dismantling the front of my engine but, by far, it was still easier than the latter.

Everything was going fine until a bolt broke off while I was tightening the valve cover (7 ft/lbs) on the passenger side. No biggie. It was still a pleasant experience up to that point.

Then midway through the driver side I find out that the cam chain tensioner pad is cracked and missing some pieces. What a POS! It wasn't what I needed after putting in a few hours of back breaking work! I'm not sure how much of the missing pieces are still in the chamber, but I tried to fish them out as much as I could. It was a disaster just waiting to happen. This might explain some of the ticking noise that I've been hearing. I hope that my timing is not affected by my replacing this tensioner pad. Any ideas from you Audiworld gurus on this subject?

Anyway, I found an auto parts place on Amazon who sells the pads only for $22.95 (plus $32.06 FedEx Overnight). The shipping costs more than the part. LOL!

Local auto parts stores and the dealership only sell the cam chain tensioner as a whole unit.

Here's the culprit:

Here's the cam chain resting on the tensioner without the pad:

I'd appreciate any helpful hints from you Audiworld gurus! Thanks!

jcman · 04-06-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tartar

I finally got around to changing the half moon seal and cam chain tensioner gasket on my 2000 A6 yesterday. It was a PITA trying to replace them using just a cam chain tensioner tool and without completely dismantling the front of my engine but, by far, it was still easier than the latter.

Everything was going fine until a bolt broke off while I was tightening the valve cover (7 ft/lbs) on the passenger side. No biggie. It was still a pleasant experience up to that point.

Then midway through the driver side I find out that the cam chain tensioner pad is cracked and missing some pieces. What a POS! It wasn't what I needed after putting in a few hours of back breaking work! I'm not sure how much of the missing pieces are still in the chamber, but I tried to fish them out as much as I could. It was a disaster just waiting to happen. This might explain some of the ticking noise that I've been hearing. I hope that my timing is not affected by my replacing this tensioner pad. Any ideas from you Audiworld gurus on this subject?

Anyway, I found an auto parts place on Amazon who sells the pads only for $22.95 (plus $32.06 FedEx Overnight). The shipping costs more than the part. LOL!

Local auto parts stores and the dealership only sell the cam chain tensioner as a whole unit.

Here's the culprit:

Here's the cam chain resting on the tensioner without the pad:

I'd appreciate any helpful hints from you Audiworld gurus! Thanks!

That gives me shivers just looking at it, and the thought of the wear.
Are you asking for the replacement procedure?

tartar · 04-06-2012, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcman

That gives me shivers just looking at it, and the thought of the wear.
Are you asking for the replacement procedure?

I'm hoping that it wouldn't be much of anything as far as inserting the new pad between the timing chain and the cam chain tensioner. This video on Youtube really helped me a lot.

http://youtu.be/DEOC8zFOHcQ

jcman · 04-06-2012, 07:35 PM

If you can get under the chain without removing it from the sprockets your gold, your timing would not know the difference. Yes?

tartar · 04-06-2012, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcman

If you can get under the chain without removing it from the sprockets your gold, your timing would not know the difference. Yes?

I'm hoping that this will be the case. I'll find out Monday when FedEx delivers the cam chain tensioner pads. BTW, I got the pads from here if anyone is interested.

http://www.amazon.com/97-06-Timing-C.../dp/B002S65MGG

jcman · 04-06-2012, 08:27 PM

If your chain is not off the sprockets it's not a problem, it's just tension
that your working with and the tool will compress the pad to do the repair.

Thats all.

SloopJohnB@mac.com · 04-07-2012, 09:10 AM

Haven't done this but from what I've read and can infer it looks like you need to remove the tensioner assembly to replace both pads (two on each tensioner). That probably involves removing the cam bearing caps and lifting the cam/sprocket out to remove the tensioner, replacing the pads, and reinstalling the tensioner.

STFA...the procedure is there. Main thing is to get the cam chain sprocket back in exactly the same place...mark the chain/sprocket with magic marker or scribe.

tartar · 04-07-2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SloopJohnB@mac.com

Haven't done this but from what I've read and can infer it looks like you need to remove the tensioner assembly to replace both pads (two on each tensioner). That probably involves removing the cam bearing caps and lifting the cam/sprocket out to remove the tensioner, replacing the pads, and reinstalling the tensioner.

STFA...the procedure is there. Main thing is to get the cam chain sprocket back in exactly the same place...mark the chain/sprocket with magic marker or scribe.

It's only the top pad that broke off as far as I can see. I'm hoping that I won't have to replace the bottom pad. I'm crossing my fingers that it'll be a simple "lift the chain and slide in place" procedure. I pray to the Audi gods to have pity on me. ;-)

SloopJohnB@mac.com · 04-08-2012, 12:03 PM

That may work, for awhile. The issue is the plastic has hardened/cracked on one...the other three aren't far behind if they haven't already cracked.

If you just want to flip the car you could put just the top pad in...but you won't be doing yourself any favors in a couple thousand miles when/if the other three pads go.

In the time honored fashion of DFWAB, the broken pad is symptomatic....

jseklund · 04-09-2012, 05:10 PM

I have to agree with Sloop on this. Especially on the unit that already failed - if it failed on the top, the chain wasn't traveling over the tenstioner as designed and could be damaging the bottom pretty easily.

I would pull the cams and replace them both on that side at least. It sucks - you will have to take the timing belt off to do this. This is why it's good to do this service when you do the timing belt. There's always something that goes wrong that could make you have to do the other half....

04-06-2012, 07:35 PM	#4
jcman AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,180	So far the fact is... If you can get under the chain without removing it from the sprockets your gold, your timing would not know the difference. Yes? __________________ They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast, you've got to ride it well.

04-06-2012, 08:27 PM	#6
jcman AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,180	It's not hope, it's a fact If your chain is not off the sprockets it's not a problem, it's just tension that your working with and the tool will compress the pad to do the repair. Thats all. __________________ They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast, you've got to ride it well.

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04-07-2012, 09:10 AM	#7
SloopJohnB@mac.com AudiWorld Super User 2002 Audi S6 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,125	Haven't done this but from what I've read and can infer it looks like you need to remove the tensioner assembly to replace both pads (two on each tensioner). That probably involves removing the cam bearing caps and lifting the cam/sprocket out to remove the tensioner, replacing the pads, and reinstalling the tensioner. STFA...the procedure is there. Main thing is to get the cam chain sprocket back in exactly the same place...mark the chain/sprocket with magic marker or scribe.

04-08-2012, 12:03 PM	#9
SloopJohnB@mac.com AudiWorld Super User 2002 Audi S6 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,125	That may work, for awhile. The issue is the plastic has hardened/cracked on one...the other three aren't far behind if they haven't already cracked. If you just want to flip the car you could put just the top pad in...but you won't be doing yourself any favors in a couple thousand miles when/if the other three pads go. In the time honored fashion of DFWAB, the broken pad is symptomatic....

04-09-2012, 05:10 PM	#10
jseklund AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 776	I have to agree with Sloop on this. Especially on the unit that already failed - if it failed on the top, the chain wasn't traveling over the tenstioner as designed and could be damaging the bottom pretty easily. I would pull the cams and replace them both on that side at least. It sucks - you will have to take the timing belt off to do this. This is why it's good to do this service when you do the timing belt. There's always something that goes wrong that could make you have to do the other half....