What did you do to your MKIV today?

Zak99b5

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2021
Location
Albany NY
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
If I’d spent the mo on Raxles, I’d be replacing the torn boots on them ASAP. Wouldn’t want dirt and all getting in that joint. How long have they been on the car?
 

ghohouston

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Location
Lewisville, Texas
TDI
2001 Jetta Sedan TDI 5 Speed
Yeah I was kind of shocked/ a bit upset. Especially with that meaning I have to tear the front end back apart, again, and will now probably have to get two alignments. Can't have the car down.
 

03TDICommuter

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2016
Location
So. Cal
TDI
01' NB, 5spd
Yeah I was kind of shocked/ a bit upset. Especially with that meaning I have to tear the front end back apart, again, and will now probably have to get two alignments. Can't have the car down.
Pop the tapered part of the ball joint out of the knuckle, and the tie rod end off the knuckle. Then you can pull the knuckle towards you to clear the axle stub. Reassemble and you won't have to get it realigned.
 

jmodge

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Location
Greenville, MI
TDI
2001 alh Jetta, RC2 w/.205's 5speed daily summer commuter and 2000 alh Jetta 5spd swap, 2" lift, hitch, stage 3 TDtuning w/.216's winter cruiser, 1996 Tacoma ALh
The boots on Raxles are warrantied for life along with the axles themselves. I don’t know how shipping is figured though.
 

PakProtector

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Location
AnnArbor, MI
TDI
Mk.4's and the Cummins
The boots on Raxles are warrantied for life along with the axles themselves. I don’t know how shipping is figured though.
I get stuff like that cause I bet they don't like to pay the warranty...but a pair of boots is small beer. It is the work to get at it that makes it expensive. Is why I would have no issue paying $70 for a timing belt if it had that much more engineering/material/life in it vs say a Dayco Isoran.

If they don't offer up the replacement, I'd drive 'em til they click and *THEN get new ones.
cheers,
Douglas
 

ghohouston

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Location
Lewisville, Texas
TDI
2001 Jetta Sedan TDI 5 Speed
Yeah, I don't have a spare set of axles to go in the car though. I'm going to call them tomorrow and see if they will just send me the boots. A drive to Florida would be just a bit unrealistic from North Texas too lol. If they won't send me new boots, I may just buy oem boots. They're about $64 per side, but if they last longer than 115k, I'm all about that. I also need the car to be reliable/ not be down. The old lady drives it to and from work, and it gets used to pick my son up when I have him, and that's a 120 mile 1 way commute. I've currently got my 97 F350 torn apart, as I'm in the middle of swapping a 2005 suspension under it, so this is our only transportation at the moment, other than my company service truck.
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2003 Jetta Ute, 2 x 2002 Golf, 2000 Golf
Yes, "Beef on a budget" is a set of all 4 springs that i.d. parts sells, and they are Moog brand. I know most everyone on here says these springs don't really wear out, but mine were SOFT. Car looks alot better now. Today I replaced the front springs, front struts/ strut bearings/ mounts, lca bushings, and inner and outer tie rods. And of course when I took it apart, I find BOTH of my Raxles have torn outer boots, and have slung grease everywhere. So I get to sort of redo this job in the very near future. On a positive note, the car feels 100 times better even without an alignment, no more crazy noises, etc. Don't really want to get an alignment before I re boot the Raxles, but don't want to ruin my tires either.
How long did you have the raxles for? I have a weird noise at higher RPMs, and I'm not 100% but thinking it's my passenger side axle. When ID Parts gets stock back, I'm gonna order one and replace it (pretty sure I already replaced the driver's side). I learned my lesson in the past - don't dick around with junkyard axles, and rebuilding yourself is a recipe for failure.

I agree with you on springs wearing out. I like the springs on my Jetta Sportwagen, but I feel like they're a lot softer than when they were new. They're only sport springs, so less lowering than racing springs, but they're pretty low. To the point where if I swap out for towing springs on the rear, my car looks like one of those small paratransit minivans in the rear!

Oh, and you HAVE to get an alignment now. I've only once ever seen someone get an alignment done right by hand, but that was on my 1995 F-450, which already has lower tolerances anyways. I did inner and outer tierods on both ALH Golfs, and HAD to do an alignment right afterwards. I just put on my crappiest tires and took it to Firestone (which was about 50 miles away). And put my normal alloy rims with my Continentals afterwards.
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2003 Jetta Ute, 2 x 2002 Golf, 2000 Golf
.230s. I'll probably do a writeup one I'm done, just for fun. I'll be happy if she starts like normal. There was a lot of work done that one time so you always wonder if it's going to be okay...
You'll be happy. I have .230 on my car. I've debated on toying with my IQ some. The car could use a bit more oomph, but I've always been getting 42-45mpg, which is great in my hilly part of the country. I do miss my car sounding and feeling like my BEW when I'd lay on that throttle, though. I want to say my IQ is somewhere around 4.0-4.2.
 

ghohouston

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Location
Lewisville, Texas
TDI
2001 Jetta Sedan TDI 5 Speed
How long did you have the raxles for? I have a weird noise at higher RPMs, and I'm not 100% but thinking it's my passenger side axle. When ID Parts gets stock back, I'm gonna order one and replace it (pretty sure I already replaced the driver's side). I learned my lesson in the past - don't dick around with junkyard axles, and rebuilding yourself is a recipe for failure.

I agree with you on springs wearing out. I like the springs on my Jetta Sportwagen, but I feel like they're a lot softer than when they were new. They're only sport springs, so less lowering than racing springs, but they're pretty low. To the point where if I swap out for towing springs on the rear, my car looks like one of those small paratransit minivans in the rear!

Oh, and you HAVE to get an alignment now. I've only once ever seen someone get an alignment done right by hand, but that was on my 1995 F-450, which already has lower tolerances anyways. I did inner and outer tierods on both ALH Golfs, and HAD to do an alignment right afterwards. I just put on my crappiest tires and took it to Firestone (which was about 50 miles away). And put my normal alloy rims with my Continentals afterwards.
Just over 3 years, and about 115k miles. This is the first and only issue I've had with them. I'm still liking the new suspension alot, although I've not put many miles on it at all yet. LOL those vans look so funny. I know all too well about the have to get an alignment. Last time I replaced my tie rods (by the way, I'll never buy an aftermarket tie rod again, wore out one set in 20k miles), I had measured the old length, and set the new ones to that length, but something wasn't close enough, and I ruined two perfectly good tires very quickly, because I kept putting off getting an alignment.

95 F450 huh, You mean an F Superduty?
 

Diesel Fumes

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Location
Creston, bc
TDI
2003 alh tdi 5 speed
Changed the oil cooler gasket today. Only the top one because that's all I has. Mine was looking ok with no leaks then suddenly started dropping oil out real quick after a cold start. Seems to be good now.

Not something you want to wait to fail before changing. Grab your oil cooler and lightly try to turn it, if you can do that I think you should change the gaskets. That's what mine was like before I changed it and the 32mm bolt was already tight.
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2003 Jetta Ute, 2 x 2002 Golf, 2000 Golf
Just over 3 years, and about 115k miles. This is the first and only issue I've had with them. I'm still liking the new suspension alot, although I've not put many miles on it at all yet. LOL those vans look so funny. I know all too well about the have to get an alignment. Last time I replaced my tie rods (by the way, I'll never buy an aftermarket tie rod again, wore out one set in 20k miles), I had measured the old length, and set the new ones to that length, but something wasn't close enough, and I ruined two perfectly good tires very quickly, because I kept putting off getting an alignment.
Ha, I ruined tires driving to the alignment shop. I'm out in Bandera County, and the nearest Firestone (because I opted for the lifetime alignment deal) is about 50-ish miles away. Thankfully, they were tires from the stealership that I could care less about (those tires they brag about being new, but they're the $40 Walmart Chineseium specials). I'm pretty sure my tie rods were GKN, supplied by IDparts. I'd like to think they're holding up good, as I've probably put on about 22-24K-ish miles on them (got this Golf in April and already racked up 26K for 2021).

95 F450 huh, You mean an F Superduty?
[/QUOTE]
Yup, the F-Superduty. But everyone else, including my Texas title, refers to it as an F-450. Same thing for the most part, since it's a 1.5 ton truck.
 

ghohouston

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Location
Lewisville, Texas
TDI
2001 Jetta Sedan TDI 5 Speed
I'm almost certain that's where I got my last set, but they didn't last for crap. I bought Vw brand this time in hopes of them actually lasting. Those miles add up quickly don't they? It's funny to me they didn't just call those trucks F450's from the factory. Alot of people get confused and think of the 99+ super duty trucks when you say F Superduty. Makes sense about the title though.
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2003 Jetta Ute, 2 x 2002 Golf, 2000 Golf
i drove mine.. I have three. I drive them all over the place. Drives Kalifornia comrades crazy.
You have me beat. I only have two. It's weird - I love my 2013 JSW. Love how it's more modern, faster, 6 speed, etc. But all in all, my mk4 is my daily driver. :) Who would've thunk...
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2003 Jetta Ute, 2 x 2002 Golf, 2000 Golf
I'm almost certain that's where I got my last set, but they didn't last for crap. I bought Vw brand this time in hopes of them actually lasting. Those miles add up quickly don't they? It's funny to me they didn't just call those trucks F450's from the factory. Alot of people get confused and think of the 99+ super duty trucks when you say F Superduty. Makes sense about the title though.
They did eventually, but yeah, makes you wonder why they didn't from the start. The whole naming thing is weird anyways. F-150 or 1500 - what the hell is it supposed to mean? It's obviously not a ton and a half truck, because that's what the F-Super Duty is. I guess F-150 sounds better than like F-50.

I always cringe when I see any 99+ truck that says Superduty. I keep thinking "yeah, there's no way you could use an F-250 with a service bed, a crane,hydraulic crap, and the higher duty cycles you'd expect out of an F-450 or F-550."
 

Judson

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2001
Location
Cheyenne, WY
TDI
2001 Jetta
Would advancing the IP timing to the top of the graph help my car get off the line with the a/c on without bogging down? Just curious.

Quick car update: Found while getting the ecodes ready for sale, that I had a euro headlight switch that was much, MUCH nicer than the one I had. Swapped it out. I can't figure out when I bought it or why but this one feels great to turn on. Just another nice little surprise upgrade.

Note to self: I should really update my decades-old post about my car and take a bunch of pics....
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Would advancing the IP timing to the top of the graph help my car get off the line with the a/c on without bogging down? Just curious.
Probably not. It really shouldn't do that. I'd look at fueling just off idle, perhaps an adjust to the tune is needed.
 

Rrusse11

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Location
PA Deutsch Country
TDI
2002 Golf, 5spd; 05 Jeep CRD
My take is that advanced timing may be good for high rev horsepower, but at the sacrifice of low end torque.
Like IBW says, a little more early fuelling should help with quicker spooling, but then it's that low rev torque
that can bend rods. No free lunch, just turn off the AC, and bring your timing down. These cars really ain't
dragsters IMO, roadsters, yes.
 

PakProtector

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Location
AnnArbor, MI
TDI
Mk.4's and the Cummins
I might just do that Rich. Am at the top line with 11mm pump and manual stix and 2-3000 is about like stock. Above 3k, it most certainly scoots...but with a BEW I have developed the habit of not exceeding 3000 by much...LOL

I have not driven enough to do any meaningful FE check.
cheers,
Douglas
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2003 Jetta Ute, 2 x 2002 Golf, 2000 Golf
Would advancing the IP timing to the top of the graph help my car get off the line with the a/c on without bogging down? Just curious.

Quick car update: Found while getting the ecodes ready for sale, that I had a euro headlight switch that was much, MUCH nicer than the one I had. Swapped it out. I can't figure out when I bought it or why but this one feels great to turn on. Just another nice little surprise upgrade.

Note to self: I should really update my decades-old post about my car and take a bunch of pics....
I personally have mine set just below the middle of normal timing and advanced timing. So I have both power and fuel economy.
 

Diesel Fumes

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Location
Creston, bc
TDI
2003 alh tdi 5 speed
They did eventually, but yeah, makes you wonder why they didn't from the start. The whole naming thing is weird anyways. F-150 or 1500 - what the hell is it supposed to mean? It's obviously not a ton and a half truck, because that's what the F-Super Duty is. I guess F-150 sounds better than like F-50.

I always cringe when I see any 99+ truck that says Superduty. I keep thinking "yeah, there's no way you could use an F-250 with a service bed, a crane,hydraulic crap, and the higher duty cycles you'd expect out of an F-450 or F-550."
Semantics I know. But an f250 is much more useful than an f150. My f150 has a payload capacity of like 1050 pounds. And I think an f250 has a payload capacity of like 3500 pounds. Modern half tons are designed to haul groceries
 

jmodge

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Location
Greenville, MI
TDI
2001 alh Jetta, RC2 w/.205's 5speed daily summer commuter and 2000 alh Jetta 5spd swap, 2" lift, hitch, stage 3 TDtuning w/.216's winter cruiser, 1996 Tacoma ALh
I believe Changing static timing only has an affect at cranking speeds. Once the engine starts timing is controlled by the ecu
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
I believe Changing static timing only has an affect at cranking speeds. Once the engine starts timing is controlled by the ecu
Yes, that's true as far as it goes. Dialing it in with VCDS is fine tuning the static timing. To change dynamic timing you would use Adaptation. Never messed with that myself. I remember seeing some old posts recommending static right in the middle, then adapting it to slightly advanced..
 

jmodge

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Location
Greenville, MI
TDI
2001 alh Jetta, RC2 w/.205's 5speed daily summer commuter and 2000 alh Jetta 5spd swap, 2" lift, hitch, stage 3 TDtuning w/.216's winter cruiser, 1996 Tacoma ALh
Yes, that's true as far as it goes. Dialing it in with VCDS is fine tuning the static timing. To change dynamic timing you would use Adaptation. Never messed with that myself. I remember seeing some old posts recommending static right in the middle, then adapting it to slightly advanced..
That I didn’t know, going to have to look into that
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
Yea, we get way into the weeds on these things. For me, other things seem more pertinent, my 1st TDI got 45-50 mpg, my current beater gets a solid 39 (odd it doesn't increase with all freeway), not happy, but I drive so little don't want to spend the money.
Interesting reading here-
Proper value for vag timing adaptation
 

KrashDH

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 22, 2013
Location
Washington
TDI
2002 Golf
Hammer-modded my rebuilt 11mm pump back down from about 10 down to about 4.6 and reset the value to nominal. Starts really fast now, quicker then my car ever has really. I think that's a good sign I've got no leaks in my IP. Literally 1 crank and I have to get off the key.

Now the fun comes...
 
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