TheSamba.com :: View topic - Distributor "fiber" thrust washer source?

Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:43 am

Folks, I'm looking for a source of the thin "fiber" thrust washer used in the shim pack at the bottom of a Bosch Audi 20V distributor, and many others I'm sure.
Or something that is a suitable replacement?

Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:28 pm

Try McMaster-Carr

Wed Mar 26, 2014 5:12 am

Good Idea! Hadn't gone there yet.
However, I'm not sure of the important physical qualities of the original.

These are the best options I've found, mainly because it needs to be thin, and high temp capable.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#95630a246/=r9dzvd

http://www.mcmaster.com/#91545a280/=r9e0ca

http://www.mcmaster.com/#90089a355/=r9e15h

Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:18 pm

McMaster Carr, does indeed have what you need= phenalic washer.

Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:45 pm

Do you mean this?

Wed Mar 26, 2014 7:12 pm

tasb wrote: McMaster Carr, does indeed have what you need= phenalic washer.

Largest phenolic MMC sells is 0.38 in U=ID = too small.

Wed Mar 26, 2014 7:14 pm

Glenn wrote: Do you mean this?

If that is 0.8 mm thick, and 13 mm ID (or so) then YES!

Wed Mar 26, 2014 7:19 pm

They go in the shaft against the body.

I was selling them individually but they are now on back order with no delivery date.

Thu Mar 27, 2014 9:49 am

Thanks Glen,
How long have they been BO?

These seem like they could be a good replacement:
http://www.rbcbearings.com/selflubricatingbearings...pe=Section

another thing - inside the distributor is a foam like material that surrounds the shaft and keeps it lubricated with engine oil.
any idea of a source of that?

Thu Mar 27, 2014 10:25 am

nmerrill wrote:
These seem like they could be a good replacement:
http://www.rbcbearings.com/selflubricatingbearings...pe=Section

Just got the info on those rbc units - Back ordered until summer!

Thu Mar 27, 2014 4:56 pm

The material is wool felt not foam.

Fri Mar 28, 2014 2:45 pm

Wool felt eh?
Is there a source for that material?

Fri Mar 28, 2014 5:47 pm

I just ordered a rebuild kit from germansupply.com

Fri Mar 28, 2014 5:56 pm

Pascal wrote: I just ordered a rebuild kit from germansupply.com
Only problem is the shim kit only comes with 1 fiber washer... you need 2 for the rebuild. So unless you have a source for loose fiber washers, you have to use 2 kits or reuse one of the old ones.

Fri Mar 28, 2014 6:48 pm

Glenn wrote: Pascal wrote: I just ordered a rebuild kit from germansupply.com
Only problem is the shim kit only comes with 1 fiber washer... you need 2 for the rebuild. So unless you have a source for loose fiber washers, you have to use 2 kits or reuse one of the old ones.

Very hard to find any information on the vanagon distributor. So there are two fibre washers in the vanagon digijet distributor?

Fri Mar 28, 2014 7:01 pm

The best source for the wool felt is a core distributor that you can rob one from.

Some of the later distributors only require one shim. I don't restore the newer distributors so I am not sure on the number required for yours.

Sat Mar 29, 2014 1:36 pm

Here are some pics with measurements of a couple of different felts.

This one buckled up a bit for the pic the measurement is accurate.

The felts above came out of a aluminum bodied single vacuum only distributor.

The felts shown below came out of a cast iron distributor probably 40 hp.

These felts are nearly 50 years old possibly older and show very little wear so unless they become dislodged or have obviously disintegrated I would not bother them. My camera storage gave out when I was going to take the pics of the thickness of the felts so here are the measurements:

aluminum = 1.40 mm

cast = 1.60 mm

The felts rest between the bushings inside the distributor housing shaft. They absorb oil that in turn lubricates the spinning shaft of the distributor. I have used a similar material for wadding when firing a black powder rifle.

Sun Mar 30, 2014 5:05 am

Thanks for that.
As far as I can tell, what I see in this one dist., is one large piece that runs almost the full length of the shaft - bushing to bushing. Again, this is a 90's era Audi spec dist.

In the other unit I have, that packing is all gone! Nothing but particles left.