What is this for?

[zyewdall]

So, on my 91 GTI, there was a large block of iron mounted right below/behind the inner starboard CV joint.  About 2" x 2" x 5" -- nice and uniform solid -- no markings except two bolt holes through it to bolt it on.  It was bolted to two little arms that are welded onto the frame crossbar that the steering rack is on.  Looked OEM. You could see where the axle flange had been rubbing on the top of it a little bit.  It weighs about 2 lbs.

Any ideas what this was for?

Zeke

[malone]

I believe that block is for dampening engine vibrations.

I removed it from my MK3 Golf because it's just extra weight or it gets in the way. I noticed no difference in vibration.

The Golf/Jetta II forum in vwvortex.com discussed the same topic; the majority of people suggested removing the block.

[zyewdall]

Thanks.  Sort of makes sense I guess, but I removed it and it seems to have no effect.  Easier to work on the CV too.

[Dr. Diesel]

i read in the A3 bentley the other day that for transmission removal, they use the car's scissor jack between that pad and the oilpan to shove the engine forward enough to wiggle off the transmission.  Never done it that way myself, and wouldn't consider it a good enough reason to keep that block. I cut the block's mounting arms off my subframe even. hehe

[malone]

I cut the block's mounting arms off my subframe even. hehe

That's how mine was removed.. yay plasma cutter :lol:

[Dr. Diesel]

. yay plasma cutter :lol:

mmmmmhmhmhmhmmm... plasma....

plasma cutter is on the list. in the meantime... Yay saws-all!! :lol:

[QuickTD]

mmmmmhmhmhmhmmm... plasma....

plasma cutter is on the list. in the meantime... Yay saws-all!! :lol:

The plasma is an excellent tool for manufacturing scrap, I look for excuses NOT to use it... Save your money for a TIG welder and a set of torches, much more gooder...

[moTthediesel]

The plasma is an excellent tool for manufacturing scrap, I look for excuses NOT to use it... Save your money for a TIG welder and a set of torches, much more gooder... Very Happy

I disagree  :!:

I have one now and I don't know how I got along without it. I made a pattern following "router base" for my gun and it allows me to produce (and reproduce) accurate parts from flat stock in much less time then ever before.
Need a turbo flange cut from stainless steel? Just layout patterns on wood pattern stock (I use scrap "Pergo" laminate flooring), clamp pattern to metal and then cut it out. Need a copper exhaust manifold gasket? Same deal - aluminum adaptor plate? - Ditto! Note as well that you would not be cutting any of these materials with a gas torch.
I still use my torch for brazing and heating, but that's about it.
moT

[QuickTD]

I'm probably far too well equipped, thats why I'm prejudiced... The CNC mill does a far nicer job of all of the things you mentioned than the plasma cutter does...  Mine is also too big (60amp) and I drink far too much coffee. The plasma cuts so quickly that it faithfully reproduces every little wiggle of my shaky hands... I use it to best effect on sheet metal, stainless in particular. It works very well for that. I plan on getting the plasma set up on a CNC table in the future, without a vibrating, twitchy human at the controls I'm sure it'll work much better...

[moTthediesel]

The CNC mill does a far nicer job of all of the things you mentioned than the plasma cutter does... Very Happy

I'm sure that you're exactly right about that!  :wink:

I don't have any mill though, far less a CNC unit, just an old worn out Sheldon lathe.  :cry:  The investment of $1600 I made for my plasma caused me to swallow real hard as it was, the damage for a CNC mill I don't want to even think about --

The plasma cuts so quickly that it faithfully reproduces every little wiggle of my shaky hands...

I hear that too --- but I almost never use mine "freehand" for that very reason.

moT

[fspGTD]

I found a similar metal block (it had 4 mounting bolts instead of 2) mounted to my wife's 1995 Passat VR6 also to the subframe behind the inner CV joint.  I think it dampens road-travel induced vibrations in the subframe that can get through to the steering wheel, since the subframe is what the steering rack is mounted to.  If you drive the car with the mass in place and pay attention to the vibrations you feel through the steering wheel, and then quickly remove the mass and driveagain without, you might notice a difference in the road vibrations trasmitted through the steering wheel.  When I was relacing a CV shaft I removed the weight, but I didn't find the added vibrations to be large enough to justify the metal block's existence.  It is amazing how heavy that chunk of steel is!