How to remove flywheel bolts?

[beast02er]

Well, this is probably a simple answer. I'm trying to remove the flywheel bolts and they seem to be torqued down pretty good and are hard to remove since the crank can rotate. Looking in the manual it seems I need the little brake thing, but if you don't have that, how do you keep the flywheel from rotating when you are trying to loosen the bolts?

Thanks,

Bryan

red73

[BillWilliams]

Air gun will zip them off without a lock but that lock is good to have around, you will need it when you put it back on.

VW shops should have one.

You can see the VW flywheel lock on the upper right

[kenkoy214]

Use an air compressor. Make sure you got the bigger gallon ones so you won't be waiting to fill up each bolt? 125psi is good enough. But if you don't have compressor, use the lock like the one on the picture. You can try using a screw driver just make sure to secure it.

[Guest Anonymous]

Impact gun, 19mm socket, air compressor. Comes right off without the locking device. Remember put removeable locktite on each bolt when reassembling. Can be torqued when installing with the impact wrench...but the final torque is approximate.

[ArdenK]

I used a big screwdriver to lock the flywheel with the motor out of the car.

hth

[kenkoy214]

I used a big screwdriver to lock the flywheel with the motor out of the car.

hth

So it's not only me that uses screwdriver..hehe

[Guest Anonymous]

I just grip the flywheel ring gear with medium size Vice Grips, let it jam against the bottom of the block to hold the flywheel when loosening or tightening the bolts.

Vice Grip method only touches the sides of the ring gear (no marks on teeth flanks), and does not fall out like the screwdriver. Very quick & secure attachment, and it's done with a common tool already in the kit.

[beast02er]

Interesting to see that many use the "jam the tool" method. That seemed the obvious answer that I would find myself regretting after trying it (broken tool or worse, broken engine parts).

Guess i'll try the tools, easier than going and buying something

[Todd21]

One other approach is to use a box end wrench and strike the wrench with a hammer. This is basically what the air wrench does it will just take a few more minutes to do. You won't need to jam the flywheel with anything.

Hold the wrench on the head of the bolt with one hand and rap the opposite end of the wrench with a hammer. DO NOT STRIKE THE BOLT, strike the wrench on the other end causing a shock load on the wrench. While not very pretty it is effective. The shock load of the hammer blow will break the bolt loose. Be patient and keep pecking away.

Todd

[tomorrowcalling]

I use a bit of aluminium bar bolted to the flywheel, using the pressure plate bolts to hold the flywheel.

[Guest Anonymous]

Jam a piece of hardwood in the starter motor opening to keep the flywheel from turning - you can torque them back on with the same technique - the wood doesn't hurt the ring gear.

[Retrogroucher]

Hold the crank from the front. Can't recall on an '02, is it 36mm??

[brianstj]

I use an "L" bracket with a hole in one side. Run a bolt through the hole to the block, then swivel the bracket until the other side of it lands in the flywheel teeth. You want to swivel it so the flywheel is pushing against the bracket TOWARDS the bolt, so it goes one way for tightening and the other way for loosening.