I was wondering if its possible to replace the viscous fan/clutch without dropping the front end into the service position? I read the following post on the alternator replacement

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/152782-alternator-replacement/

I know its tight down there, but reading that it seems possible. Mr Haynes says otherwise though.

Looking at the state of the alternator belt, I’ll replace it as well. However I would have to remove the compressor belt first. Is that right? Alternator belt is doable without the ‘service position’, but the compressor belt looks a different kettle of fish. How difficult is that to get back on? Any advice?

Cheers

I was wondering if its possible to replace the viscous fan/clutch without dropping the front end into the service position? I read the following post on the alternator replacement

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/152782-alternator-replacement/

I know its tight down there, but reading that it seems possible. Mr Haynes says otherwise though.

Looking at the state of the alternator belt, I’ll replace it as well. However I would have to remove the compressor belt first. Is that right? Alternator belt is doable without the ‘service position’, but the compressor belt looks a different kettle of fish. How difficult is that to get back on? Any advice?

Cheers

IMHO gettind the front end into service position is a lot easier than people think (maybe I've done it too many times!!) Once you have it out it makes access very very easy to belts, fan, alternator etc. Have another look at the manual and a few threads on here. It looks hard to start with as VAG tended to use so many different size and type of fixings and hidden them all over the place.

I would agree. The "service position" is a real pain on these cars - made necessary by VAG getting the fundamental layout of the car wrong which left them with insufficient longitudinal space for the power unit. Once you've done it, the rest is easy. Make sure you have somewhere safe to put the bumper and get help when pulling it off - it's big and floppy.

If you need to take the fan spindle out of its bearing (8AF hex key in the back, RH thread) you need a means of holding the fan drive drum. There are 2 holes in the wheel web to take a VAG holding tool - or you can improvise...

659.

Reading some posts and the haynes manual it looks a bit daunting and instructions don’t seem clear at first to get into the service position. I'm sure I'll be ok once when I get stuck in.

I'm quite happy to do it myself on my own car but the reason I'm asking if I can take off the fan and clutch without going into the service position is, I'm getting the opportunity to take a few bits off another ex taxi superb. It’s destined for the scrapheap but would prefer not to dismantle as I'll probably only have the afternoon to get that and a few other bits, hopefully it won’t be raining!

The fan is rock solid when stationary and is missing a couple of blades, a was wondering how the hell it would get damaged behind the radiator. Until I read one of your posts explaining what happens when the alternator pulley decides to disintegrate!

What about the compressor belt?

The compressor belt is absolutely straightforward and has a manually adjusted tensioner wheel accessible from underneath (remove the dreaded undertray). You need a 6AF hex key to loosen the tensioner bolts and the wheel assembly pivots to tension the belt and is locked by one of the screws. It's absolutely straightforward and obvious when you look at it. There is a hex cast into the tensioner bracket so you can set its position with a spanner - can't remember the size.

It's worth finding out how to put a B5.5 into the "service position" because you'll have to do it at some stage and certainly to change the cambelt. It's tedious rather than difficult as there are lots of fasteners - all different sizes and heads (thanks, VAG). The access is good once you get there.

One thing you must have are bolts to hang the front on when you have released it. Go to B&Q and buy a couple of M8 x 5" steel setbolts. They work a treat.

rotodiesel.

Thanks for the info. Thankfully the tb has 50k left on it and I don't even do 10k a year.