Author Topic: HELP! ENGINES DROPPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE  (Read 2956 times)

Offline xxChrisxx

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Re: HELP! ENGINES DROPPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE
« Reply #10 on: 28 July 2013, 19:16 »
I have never in my life heard of something like that happening. it really makes you question vags ability to do anything right lately. their reputation for good quality is really taking a tumble.

To be fair its not really VAGs fault. When the garage replaced the bolts after a belt change they probably didn't torque the bolts up properly.

It was a bolt fatigue failure, so its probably the same thing.

Offline xxChrisxx

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Re: HELP! ENGINES DROPPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE
« Reply #11 on: 28 July 2013, 19:19 »
Sorted. Kinda.. got 2 bolts in as the actual bits snapped off the block for the 3rd.. BUT sumps cracked where it hit the floor... ideally needs alloy welding but will chemical metal do for now?

Don't run the mount with only 2 bolts, doing that is just asking for another failure. Also check the hoses to the brake lines, the cambelt and the driveshafts.

No idea about the sump.


Were you driving at the time?
« Last Edit: 28 July 2013, 19:21 by xxChrisxx »

Offline gazareth

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Re: HELP! ENGINES DROPPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE
« Reply #12 on: 28 July 2013, 19:38 »
I have never in my life heard of something like that happening. it really makes you question vags ability to do anything right lately. their reputation for good quality is really taking a tumble.

To be fair its not really VAGs fault. When the garage replaced the bolts after a belt change they probably didn't torque the bolts up properly.

It was a bolt fatigue failure, so its probably the same thing.
yeah I guess so. but on some cars your meant to replace the mounting bolts when you've had it off. which in my opinion is just another way to get more money out of car owner. the bolts are obviously not strong enough for the job.

Offline xxChrisxx

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Re: HELP! ENGINES DROPPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE
« Reply #13 on: 28 July 2013, 20:39 »
Quote from: gazareth link=topic=257437.msg2363334#msg2363334
yeah I guess so. but on some cars your meant to replace the mounting bolts when you've had it off. which in my opinion is just another way to get more money out of car owner. the bolts are obviously not strong enough for the job.

You only need to replace stretch bolts, or those that have been torqued to yield.

The engine mount bolts are grade 10.9, which is an extremely high strength bolt.

When you create a joint with a bolt, the bolt actually carries very little of the load if its torqued correctly. Its the joint that carries the load.

What happens when you don't torque a bolt correctly is that the joint clamping force is poor and you get separation, the bolt is constantly loaded and unloaded. This leads to a failure due to fatigue.

So the moral of the story is always make sure bolts are done to the correct torque.
« Last Edit: 28 July 2013, 20:42 by xxChrisxx »

Offline harlemex

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Re: HELP! ENGINES DROPPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE
« Reply #14 on: 29 July 2013, 10:05 »
the four bolts that go down through the engine mount should be renewed after removal.  :nerd: