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I'm pulling the pistons soon to decarbonize and re-ring, and I realized I'd need to replace the keepers. I've got 1.8L Mahle jugs and pistons, standard T4 wrist pins (24mm right?), and the keepers that're there now are Truarcs. So, go with Truarcs, or spiral wire keepers, or what? Never been in this spot before, just having to replace keepers, usually I have to do a full-up replace-everything overhaul on the cars I buy, and the keepers come with the pistons.

On stock pistons and wristpins, I have never needed more than the stock snap rings. Ray

That's what I'm thinking, too. What's a good place to find 'em?

Thanks Ray.

MGVWfan wrote:That's what I'm thinking, too. What's a good place to find 'em?

Thanks Ray.

Ive never needed anything either other than the stoc clips, go to your local VW junk yard, there are usually old type 4 pistons everywhere, get them from there, I have boxes of them.

Re-use keepers?

Yup, have not had a problem ever and I have assembled many motors. If you are just freshening up your engine, you dont need new c clips if you remove them carefully.

Good info, thanks guys!

Well, we passed that point dude! One of the keepers got a bit "sprung", and is deformed, so it's got to be replaced . My Truarc pliers had an accident...the pivot pin gave out while I was compressing the keeper. Oh well, I guess tools just don't last like they used to, this one was only 40 years old

Seriously, every time I've rebuilt/freshened something, I've replaced the keepers, even one-lungers. I figure it's cheap insurance, what with the consequences of a pin coming loose at speed.

MGVWfan wrote:Good info, thanks guys!

Well, we passed that point dude! One of the keepers got a bit "sprung", and is deformed, so it's got to be replaced . My Truarc pliers had an accident...the pivot pin gave out while I was compressing the keeper. Oh well, I guess tools just don't last like they used to, this one was only 40 years old

Seriously, every time I've rebuilt/freshened something, I've replaced the keepers, even one-lungers. I figure it's cheap insurance, what with the consequences of a pin coming loose at speed.

To be honest I would only trust the ones that come with new P/C sets or old ones, new ones from a hardware store etc. might not be hardened correctly.

Although you couls ask Jake Raby if he sells the stock clips, he would be your best shot at finding some outside of a junkyard.

Most American performance shops carry wrist pins clips. Just be sure to check the thickness. Also. if they don't have the right size, you can probably get away with a clip from a wrist pin 1mm larger in diameter than yours ...but not smaller. I also agree, that if a clip is carefully removed from an engine in the junkyard, has no silver wearing on the inside and the engine did not die violently....there is no reason why you cannot use that clip. There just is not that much side thrust on these things. The worry is that when a wrist pin does walk over an sit against a particular lip, that it may stay there for jillions of miles and wear on it. Ray

raygreenwood wrote:Most American performance shops carry wrist pins clips. Just be sure to check the thickness. Also. if they don't have the right size, you can probably get away with a clip from a wrist pin 1mm larger in diameter than yours ...but not smaller. I also agree, that if a clip is carefully removed from an engine in the junkyard, has no silver wearing on the inside and the engine did not die violently....there is no reason why you cannot use that clip. There just is not that much side thrust on these things. The worry is that when a wrist pin does walk over an sit against a particular lip, that it may stay there for jillions of miles and wear on it. Ray

Now I have seen this ONCE, it was so obvious that the clip was worn when I went to remove it, the clip BROKE it was so worn. I would think in most cases this would happen.

OK, you guys have convinced me, if the keeper's not deformed, it should be OK to reuse...unfortunately I have at least one to replace.

Well, first I've got to get a new set of Truarc pliers, then pulse Mr. Type 4 and see if he's got OE style keepers...unless one of you fine gentlemen would be willing to part with one from your used stash ?

Thanks for the good discussion as usual.