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Wed May 23, 2012 9:34 am

Hello! I'm in the middle of putting the engine back together after a rebuild, and discovered that there was supposed to be 2 thrust washers with the distributor. I'm about 80% sure that when I pulled apart the engine there weren't any in there. How necessary are they? I can't find them at any of the typical vw sites I get my parts from. If you think I need them, does anyone have an idea where to pick them up?

Wed May 23, 2012 10:49 am

They are necessary, without them the lash between pinion gear and crankshaft worm gear will be too tight resulting in chewing up the brass worm. Use two shims. Not one, not three. GWAutoparts, VC, and other vendors have these.

And now you know to go in with a magnet and fish out those shims whenever you pull out a diz pinion. Once bitten....

Sat Jul 24, 2021 12:57 pm

Since the subject fits, I will save creating a new thread.

On my 1983 air cooled 2.0, I see only one thrust washer after removing the distributor drive shaft carefully with a magnet. The one thrust washer does not sit flat, as I think a shim would, rather it has three little bumps or waves in it.

As I look at the Bentley, on page 13.6, the diagram indicates Thrust Washer (singular), and only shows one washer. On page 13.34, the diagram for the 1.9l water boxer, the diagram indicates Thrust Washers (plural), and shows two washers.

My question is simply, how many thrust washers should an air cooled Vanagon 2.0l have, one or two?

Sat Jul 24, 2021 3:27 pm

Don't know about Vanagons but Type 1 has 2 and Type 3 has 1.

Update... I checked the ETKA microfiche and it shows only 1 thrust washer under the driveshaft.

Sat Jul 24, 2021 3:44 pm

From the Distributor Man himself! Thank you, Glenn, for the lookup and reply.

Sat Jul 24, 2021 3:48 pm

GreenMachineVW wrote: From the Distributor Man himself! Thank you, Glenn, for the lookup and reply.
Actually, i've never worked on a Vanagon engine or distributor, but I have the ETKA software so you peaked my curiosity.

Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:34 pm

For those that don't know ETKA is available online. https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/usa/