MK3 radiator removal

[bvolks73]

My Haynes manual says that the front bumper and radiator support need to be removed to change the radiator on my 95 Golf. Is this true? It looks like there would be plenty of room to pull it back towards the motor like on the MK2s.
I'm geting ready to change mine and don't want to have to take any more stuff off than I have to.

[the caveman]

If you don't have A/C it's possible, if you do have A/C it's WAY easier to pull the bumper etc. Really not that bad a job. Doing it on a car with A/C without removing the front bits may end up taking longer in the end.

[R.O.R-2.0]

pulling the radiator out of a car with a/c without pulling the front bumper and core support is a B!TCH!

those 4 screws holding the condenser to the radiator are a real pain to get to if you dont take the front end apart. i finally cut the condenser out of my GTI.. but i was deleting a/c, not pulling the rad..

[bvolks73]

Thanks. That's what I was hoping to hear. I don't have AC so I'll be trying to do it without removing the bumper.

[catlin_cava]

you can take the Whole front clip off and its a joke to take off, i do it all the time when working on MK3s,

[R.O.R-2.0]

you can take the Whole front clip off and its a joke to take off, i do it all the time when working on MK3s,

the whole core support is SUPER EASY to do it.. i have a retarded friend who can pull a mk3 front clip.. (hope that doesnt offend anyone, but its the truth.)

[catlin_cava]

you can take the Whole front clip off and its a joke to take off, i do it all the time when working on MK3s,

the whole core support is SUPER EASY to do it.. i have a retarded friend who can pull a mk3 front clip.. (hope that doesnt offend anyone, but its the truth.)

8 bolts holds the support one, 4 10MM on the top of the rad support, 4 13MM in the dummy lights, 2 13MM bolts hold the rad in on the support, 2 10MM for the hood latch, unhook the bumper lights and the disconnect the main light harness...REmove front clip,

THEN there are only 2 10MM bolts that hold the rad on the bottom support.....

Imagine it only takes me 5 mnites to remove a front clip on a MK3

1 hour to pull a motor and transmission 

[bvolks73]

The radiator finally blew yesterday so I pulled it today to replace it. It was a piece of cake without removing the bumper cover, etc. Lots of room to bring it back through the engine bay. Hopefully I'll get my replacement radiator and get it back together in the morning.