Club 80-90 Forums

I was hoping to try and draw on some of the wealth of knowledge within 80-90 and compile a list of parts that would identify (for novices like meself! ), when buying parts for the van, which ones really need to be a genuine VW part and which ones are ok to replace with cheaper aftermarket parts. I've had a look on the Wiki and can't see this info, but if such a list already exists somewhere please point me in the right direction.

If people contribute information and recommend suppliers of reliable aftermarket alternatives for specific parts, where appropriate, I'll copy it into a list of vehicle systems (including a note of who has made the recommendation, so as not to pass it off as me!) to make it easier to find the relevant info. If parts are specific to particular engines / fuel types it would be useful to include that as well.

Very grateful for any info.

Tony

1. Servicing parts
Some of these bits and bobs are available from Brickwerks http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/

2. Engine
Oil pressure switch; andysimpson and Westy.Cub.Joker recommend VW for these.

3. Cooling and heating system
* Header tank and its 'dalek' cap; VW (several people on 80-90 have reported problems with aftermarket versions of these). VW header tank caps are also available from Brickwerks
* Water pump (DG / petrol engine): no longer available from VW but GSF do one. http://www.gsfcarparts.com/
* Thermostat housing (metal one for the early DG engine); no longer available from VW / anywhere else - try people who sell used parts for one of these at the moment (Feb. 2008)

4. Fuel and exhaust

5. Ignition / charging
Alternator (65 amp); edoh recommends Just Kampers http://shop.justkampers.com/

6. Transmission
Clutch master & slave cylinders; edoh recommends GSF

7. Suspension

8. Steering

9. Brakes
Wheel cylinders; Rozzo recommends VW for these.
Discs & pads; drums & shoes; Camper has done 20,000 miles on the GSF parts and had no problems with them. An ebay seller called tierod69 has also been recommended for these parts.
Brake master cylinder: edoh recommends GSF

10. Electrical
Dash lights; edoh recommends Just Kampers

11. Bodywork
* Several people on 80-90 have recommended Alan Schofield for body panels. http://www.ahschofield.co.uk/
* Stainless fog light brackets (no longer available from VW); VWLewis recommends Brickwerks
* Clear front indicators with side marker bulbs; VWLewis recommends Brickwerks
* Hidden trim panel clips; VWLewis recommends Just Kampers
* Mud flaps; VWLewis recommends Just Kampers

12. Interior
Three-point rear seatbelts for caravelle; VWLewis recommends Just Kampers

i really hope you get a response to this from the seasoned peoples on the forum - my small contribution -

i have changed alternator - from just kamper (65amp) - fine
dash lights from just kamper - fine
master and slave clutch n brake cylinders (from gsf) - fine
various bulbs/anti rust stuff/oil / tools etc - from local motor factors - 3 ton axle stands n trolley jack from alfords - worked out fine -

never brought anything from a vw dealer - when i called my local centre - the whole process sounded like a headache - have to have exactly the right parts number - wont tell you over phone if they stock it/can obtain it - have to turn up in person - with the right cash! - n they will tell you then n there at the counter if thay can get the part - err right.. or - i'll just check in the jk n gsf catalogue n give them a quick call!

edoh wrote:i really hope you get a response to this from the seasoned peoples on the forum - my small contribution -

i have changed alternator - from just kamper (65amp) - fine
dash lights from just kamper - fine
master and slave clutch n brake cylinders (from gsf) - fine

Thanks for the info edoh. Have you had the alternator and master / slave cylinders in your van for very long? Which dash lights are you referring to?

Tony

What would also be really useful would be a list of OEM suppliers.

Now that all our vans are more than 15 years old & that VW are no longer expected to supply parts. How about a list of suppliers that used to supply VW but will now sell direct to us.

My two pennies...............

GKN.....supplied CV's & boots to VW....Have now been known to sell direct to us......Sometimes with huge (80%) discount on VW prices.

Any others? Waterpumps?

slave n master been in van for a few months now - both fine -
dash lights - the 3 lights held together by the the printed circuit that runs underneath them that lights up - speedo etc -

would get things like thepipe that goes to slave cylinder and vacuum advance gauge from brickwerks - cos of the good recommendations from this forum -

I bought a load of stuff from tierod on e bay . His name is Spencer I did have a problem with a disc but he replaced it and paid for the postage to get it back to him.

The quality of the stuff is great and very very inexpensive. I call him first now and he usually can get the bits I need

KarlT wrote:GKN.....supplied CV's & boots to VW....Have now been known to sell direct to us......Sometimes with huge (80%) discount on VW prices.

Just for the record, how do we order from GKN, do they have a website / online shop?

Tony

perro wrote:I bought a load of stuff from tierod on e bay . His name is Spencer I did have a problem with a disc but he replaced it and paid for the postage to get it back to him.

The quality of the stuff is great and very very inexpensive. I call him first now and he usually can get the bits I need

He does a complete set of shocks for £60. I asked him who actually made his shocks..............he didn't bother to reply.



I typed 'GKN uk' into google.

Here you go Tony ...

I have sourced the following from VW

Automatic Gearbox accelerator linkage (bolts onto the side of the gearbox)
Accelerator cable for Automatic
Automatic gearbox oil service seals
Final drive oil service seals and bolts
Injector rubber seals (DJ engine)
Front windscreen rubber (with chrome insert and joining strip)
Rear window chrome insert and joining strip (same as front)
Side window chrome inserts and joining strip (from VW Classic.de)
Outer nearside B pillar complete

These parts from Just Kampers

Hidden trim panel clips
3 point rear seatbelts for caravelle
Mud flaps (OK - took a bit of fitting)

All body panels from Schofields - recommended

These parts from Brickwerks

Stainless fog light brackets (no longer available from VW)
Clear front indicators with side marker bulbs

... to be continued

VW Lewis

Anything I sell is what I use in the garage, I hate doing warranty work for parts that screw up in no time at all.
So, the stuff on my site is what I know and trust, some of it is from VW but seeing as a lot of people seem to have problems with their local dealers I sell some of the parts I have on the shelf for workshop use.
When I set the garage up I never really intended doing so much mail order but I read on here and other places what people have trouble finding, and if I have it I add it to the shop.
I try to get parts, like the clutch masters, clutch slave cylinders etc from the people who made them for VW, and you can see that from where the VW/Audi badges are ground off them!
I'm going to be adding ball joints and a few other bits soon as again I can get them from the people who made them for VW.

As for dash bulbs, I had a few from GSF, they were terrible, they always crack when the try to fit them, I now have another brand in, which are more expensive but a much better part.

I'm not really into selling bling items, shiney arch covers and that but seriously, if there is anything you are struggling and think it would be a good idea for me to stock let me know and I will try to track it down for you, as if you want it so may someone else.
Things I got recently after customers requests are the scarily popular head unit spacers Click . And, as I now deal direct with the company that makes them i got a better price, which was passed on to you have they are now half what they were!

I know you can't buy online at the moment, I will be up and running (no pun intended) again soon, Doctor says I gotta stay off for at least 2 weeks, having this time off is bad enough but if I don't let it heal I could be in more trouble and have to take more time off, which I can't afford!

Simon Baxter wrote:Anything I sell is what I use in the garage, I hate doing warranty work for parts that screw up in no time at all.
So, the stuff on my site is what I know and trust . . .

Brickwerks is usually the first place I look now tbh, but if it's not there then I have to decide between going to VW (always found them very helpful, but rather pricey!) or do I risk cheaper parts that could be a false economy if they're not reliable. I recently returned a set of HT leads to GSF because two of them kept coming loose on the spark plug when I was driving which was a right pain in the ar*e. It's a 20 mile round trip to our local GSF so I wasn't happy! Have emailed the Brickwerks shop, to see if I can get a set of leads off you (I'll send lucozade and grapes to aid your post-op recovery if you'll accept such a bribe!)

Tony

VWlewis wrote:Here you go Tony ...

I have sourced the following from VW

Automatic Gearbox accelerator linkage (bolts onto the side of the gearbox)
Accelerator cable for Automatic
Automatic gearbox oil service seals
Final drive oil service seals and bolts
Injector rubber seals (DJ engine)
Front windscreen rubber (with chrome insert and joining strip)
Rear window chrome insert and joining strip (same as front)
Side window chrome inserts and joining strip (from VW Classic.de)
Outer nearside B pillar complete

Thanks for the info. Can I just check if you're recommending these parts from VW because they're still available, or because cheaper and reliable versions aren't available from other suppliers (e.g. front windscreen rubber)?

Tony