In the process of getting my LSD (along with DC stage 3 clutch) and steel shift forks installed into the 02Q for my MK7 Golf, and this thread has been read over many times in preparation to this project. I tend to take my time when doing anything on my cars, and this being the first time I've ever been into a transmission I really took it easy. I could not get the case halves separated, and wound up with a permanent reminder how NOT to get them apart. So, after some thought I came up with a super easy method!
The seal broke almost immediately and then I began going to town on the input shaft bearing with the dead blow to get the halves all the way apart.
Once apart I was very happy with what I found inside. ZERO brass shift forks on any gears, and what looks like updated sliders. In all of my reading about these 02Qs, I've yet to come across any without at least one set of brass forks inside. Here is a side by side of the steel forks I got in case I did have brass ones for the 1-4th gears next to the ones in this particular 02Q.
In my VW service manuals, they reference a "Reinforced" version of this gearbox. This can be my only assumption as to why there are different shift forks here.
Also, at least on this "high-torque" version of Peloquin, there are only ARP bolts..no nuts. The diff had four extra bolts included that are used to pull the ring gear down, then install the remaining bolts with connecting plates.