A8 Intake Actuator Arms
 

Haven't see a thread on this (did find an old one in the D2 forum) but found one of my intake actuator arms was broken. The only reason I went looking was a tip on another forum to "check them routinely" as they are prone to break. When broken you can experience a loss of power and maybe even a stumble at off idle acceleration.

Well sure enough, one is broken. Here is the option, Audi $700-800 for a "Kit" to repair/replace them, or:

http://gruvenparts.com/website/cart/...category_id=60

I ordered a pair of them for $79 and they should be here next week.

Here is more info from the VW website (Phaeton)

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...ngine-TOC-done

Thank you for the information. Actually it was recently covered here and here.

I obviously didn't look very hard!

No harm done. We can't have too many information. :)

Gruven product is good. Just need to keep an eye on the shaft operation once installed.

Reason being is that the links are the weak point if failure of the shafts or butterflies occurs. But, sometimes the links just age and become brittle then fail, like in my case.

Before you fit the links, manually rotate each of the arms to check of the shafts 'stick' or click or are very hard to move. If so, DO NOT INSTALL THE NEW LINKS. Rip the intake off and refurbish / clean out the intake and check why the shafts are not moving freely. Repair then fit the links.

Cheers

Thanks for all the tips guys. I checked mine today too, meant to do it when the most recent thread came up that mishear posted but forgot. Both shafts on my 2004 are broken. I ordered the gruvenparts shafts today.

Question, is there a trick to getting the plastic shafts off, or they just pop right off with enough pressure?

Thanks.

:-) The first thing I did was make sure the shafts where not binding or stuck, both move just fine.

I think I am good, just a victim of the plastic failing.

Don't have mine yet but here are pictures from the VW thread...looks like needle nose pliers and/or channel lock/vise grips will do

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...e/P1010329.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...e/P1010350.jpg

I used a flat head screw driver to pop off the original ones and then used short nosed pliers (with two pieces of thin plastic on either side to prevent damage to the surface of the gruven link.

What size did you guys order? Going to check mines later but want order them now. Had mines for almost 5 years and I'm pretty sure one or both might be broken.