Having a go at my stem seals!!!!

[16v Matt]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of having a go at the stem seals on my valver I'm no mechanic but i have done simple stuff like brakes,oil, plugs etc. Obviously this is going to be alot more difficult than a quick oil change, but do you lot think its posible to do with limited experience a few days of work & a haynes bible

Looks like I'm gonna need some extra tools to do the job. Can anyone tell me what I'm gonna need to do it, anything I should be looking out for. Any pointers or tips would be very useful.

Thanks in advance.
Matt

[vwsystems]

valve compressor tool to compress the valves once the heads off........

new head bolts.......

long nose pliers of some sort........ to get the seals out.

[frankerooney]

The haynes manual says something about a special tool for putting the seals back on. Let us know if you find one that does it and how much it is! I'd like to have a go at the same job as my golf's seals are a bit iffy.

[mk1]

I use a socket to fit the seals, find one that the seal spring part fits inside and the body of the socket is pushing on the metal lip of the seal (if you know what i mean ). Press the seal onto the valve guide until it is home, i use a small hammer to tap them on.
Steve.

[frankerooney]

Is the haynes manual bit about the "plastic sleeve" a bit of a red herring then? It says something like If you put on the seal without the sleeve, horrible damage will occur, or lots of smoke of something.

[kniterider]

ouch!!!! why you removing the head!!!!there is a tool, listed by 'richandhazel' a few weeks back you no need to remove your head, get this adaptor from 'machinemart' it think, it fits in your spark plug hole, (once youve removed your cams) hook it up to a compressor, then bingo, your valves are fully held shut by 100psi of air, then use a special valve spring compressor (which machinmart also sell) that hooks on either your inlet or exhaust manifold to allow you to press down and relieve spring pressure so you can remove collets!!) replace stem seals (using long nose pliers to remove then a socket to fit new) then compress spring and refit collets then job done, re peat on all for valves on each cylinders, then job done make sure crank in a central postion, then refit cams, time up (MAKING SURE YOU HAVE NO VALVE/PISTON CONTACT) then its easy matey

ill have a word with rich, im sure the spark plug adaptor was about ?7 and the spring compressor was about ?16, worth while when you consider a head gasket is around ?40 and then new stretch bolts another ?26-30!!!!!

ill try and find a link....

Gaz

doing mine atfter gti fest, but im fitting new cambelt and tensioner before i go though!! (can live with burning a tad of oil but not smashing it up like my mk4!!!)
 

[richandhazel]

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040211463&r=2205&g=107

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040211452&r=2205&g=107

[kniterider]

thanks rich!!!! i couldnt find the old thread with em in any where!!

Gaz

[richandhazel]

No worries Gaz. Hi had the links to hand as I haven't got around to buying them myself yet.
Will need to soon as Hazels Audi is getting quite smokey.