i took the car apart a year ago and don't remember if there was a bracket supporting the turbo and manifold. I thought there was but i can't find it.
Is it necessary?
Yup. It's necessary. They are all braced one way or another. Without a brace you will break exhaust studs.
Andrew
Of all the 1.6TD I took appart (add one 1.9TD), none had a brace to support the turbo/exhaust mani. The only brace I saw is the one to support the downpipe to the manifold. There was a bunch of heatshields though.
Yup. It's necessary. They are all braced one way or another. Without a brace you will break exhaust studs.
Andrew
or they loosen and fall out, i was running a t3 at 25psi and i thought i just popped the exhaust gaskets but i found a few studs in my driveway and some in the parking lot at work... turbos are heavy its good to give it extra support if you can
Golf/jetta do not have a brace for the turbo, just from the manifold to downpipe, neither are necessary anyways.
Heres some cummins manifolds we build for the baja 1000, turcks are getting 8ft of air, no braces anywhere, no failures either. And these turbos weigh about 3 times as much as the vw t3 framed ones.

man, you,re messing with my "always go with what the libbybapa says" philosophy
there are a few vortex threads about kids breaking - losing exhaust mani studs, which messes with my "alwayz double check stuff l3arned on voRt3x" philosophy
I torqued the exhaust mani nuts per bentley and will go with the 935racer advice...but chances are I won.t be able to sleep till i brace the damn thing
alwayz double check stuff l3arned on voRt3x"
this is so true, you can't trust anyone on there
man that exhaust manifold looks sweeeeeet!!!!