Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Don't know how I missed this thread originally... I think I was on vaca. .
Anyway, I had a VW diesel that developed excessive crank end play. I heard a strange loud clunking one day... intermittant.
Didn't like the noise so I stopped driving it and started troubleshooting... .come to find out the crank had over . 090" endplay... yes almost 1/8 inch!!!
Tore the engine down and the noise was the crankshaft counterwieght hitting the block! The thrust bearing was totally worn away, and the crank thrust surface had huge gooves in it from hitting the bearing cap.
Cylinders had worn oval in the axial direction as a result.
Everything was trashed... ... must've been that 16 V clutch... .
Don't let it go too long...
Jay
Anyway, I had a VW diesel that developed excessive crank end play. I heard a strange loud clunking one day... intermittant.
Didn't like the noise so I stopped driving it and started troubleshooting... .come to find out the crank had over . 090" endplay... yes almost 1/8 inch!!!
Tore the engine down and the noise was the crankshaft counterwieght hitting the block! The thrust bearing was totally worn away, and the crank thrust surface had huge gooves in it from hitting the bearing cap.
Cylinders had worn oval in the axial direction as a result.
Everything was trashed... ... must've been that 16 V clutch... .
Don't let it go too long...
Jay
