KMD's new cam follower

[vdubjetta02]

Anyone have good or bad reviews on this new cam follower? I sold my DD and am going to replace spark plugs with one step colder and a new cam follower to get the audi ready for 110+ mile per day commutes

http://kmdtuning.com/?_a=viewProd&productId=1426

[schirm]

I just got their fuel pump internals and I assume they put that cam follower in because they replaced mine, I love everything about it so far. to soon to tell how the cam follower is working.

[vdubjetta02]

no one else?

[schirm]

if anyone has this its way to soon to tell

[grassrootz]

the cam followers from them are solid. no complaints at all. either way you're going to have to replace in 10 - 15k miles, well you should at least.

[vdubjetta02]

the cam followers from them are solid. no complaints at all. either way you're going to have to replace in 10 - 15k miles, well you should at least.

im at 26,000 on my original follower, my best friend is at 90,000 on his (bought the car at 60,000 and had no sign of it being replaced ) not sure about this 10-15k talk

-I am going to replace at 30k and I doubt I will own my car when it hits 60k, but we will see......

[shiro1745]

im at 26,000 on my original follower, my best friend is at 90,000 on his (bought the car at 60,000 and had no sign of it being replaced ) not sure about this 10-15k talk

-I am going to replace at 30k and I doubt I will own my car when it hits 60k, but we will see......

I'm curious how your friend's cam follower looks like. Did he check it?

[Philthy]

I replaced mine at 45k miles, running an APR tune, and only had wear on the black coating. I paid $50 for a new stock part. 20k extra miles doesn't justify double the price to me.

[martin0079]

The 20k is on a car with the high pressure hpfp i am pretty sure it will go much farther on a stock hpfp

[Operator]

What's the OEM part number for the latest revision follower?!?

[chrislane31]

Here is a pic of my followers from left to right at 100k miles, 50k miles and brand new. APR Stage 1 since 20k miles and at 150k now, running Mobil1 0-40 every 5k.

[vdubjetta02]

I am putting Autotech's new internal HPFP in my car in 2-3 weeks, so we will see what my cam follower looks like.... I am now at 31,000 miles....

[grassrootz]

I am putting Autotech's new internal HPFP in my car in 2-3 weeks, so we will see what my cam follower looks like.... I am now at 31,000 miles....

THe 10-15k is what I've heard is good esp if you beat on your car. It all depends on the car. I changed my the first time at almost 50k and the black was scratched up. I still changed it just to be safe. Honestly $50 every 3 oil changes isnt terrible. And the only thing is with pulling it to "check" is you ruin the seal. I also don't have upgraded FP. Maybe thats why I barely had the black gone.

[Operator]

What's the OEM part number for the latest revision follower?!?

Anyone?

Also, any input:

I decided not go with the KMD Cam Follower after doing some research because it does not have a DLC coating like the OEM follower does. Yes it may be thicker and may not wear as quickly but it will be in direct contact with the Cam shaft - metal on metal.

DLC coating is diamond-like carbon, which is extremely hard and slick. It also holds oil very well on a microscopic level. The coating slides along and prevents the underlying substrate from being worn. The point is that the interface between follower and cam is NOT supposed to be metal on metal.

I would be concerned that the KMD follower may cause more wear on the head of the Cam than the OEM follower.

Reply:

I have just spoken to KMD directly. There revised cam follower does include a DLC coating so there is nothing to worry about there. It seems their old version did not have this coating but they have since revised it.

Can anyone confirm?

[viziers]

Just to clear something up here... From what I know of the KMD follower the thickness of the bottom surface was added meaning that slight little bit will put more strain on the HPFP plunger making it compress further as well as not letting the plunger extend all the way out...... Not sure what damage can happen but im sticking to the OEM one that works just as good as long as I change it every10k.


BTW i'm on my 5th follower and changed my first one out at 114k that I was running stock HPFP and Revo..



EDITED: The ONLY viable solution out is the H2Sport follower fix! IMO!




vizi

[elwigglero]

Just to clear something up here... From what I know of the KMD follower the thickness of the bottom surface was added meaning that slight little bit will put more strain on the HPFP plunger making it compress further as well as not letting the plunger extend all the way out...... Not sure what damage can happen but im sticking to the OEM one that works just as good as long as I change it every10k.


BTW i'm on my 5th follower and changed my first one out at 114k that I was running stock HPFP and Revo..




vizi

That's my understanding as well. Coupled with a APR hpfp with a stiffer spring, I'm not willing to risk it. The stock follower is good enough for me.

[Operator]

What's the OEM part number for the latest revision follower?!?

Found it:
06D109309C I think I'll go OEM and just keep a watch on it.

[DRAKLORE]

80k on original....

And that's extremely lucky.. Anyone who boasts 90k on original either isn't chipped, or drives like a nanny...
Google images "cam follower fail" and it will convince you to check your follower on a consistent 5k mile interval, especially once your chipped. (even though cam and follower and hpfp are under extended warranty, I don't think I could easily convince themy car is stock...) lol

[vdubjetta02]

my buddy is at 93,000 and is on the stock follower as well..... I am changing mine out at 35,000 miles when I do my Autotech HPFP

[chrislane31]

I changed mine at 98 or 98k and had been chipped since 20k and I am very hard on my car.

[royal_b7a4]

this all worries me.......40k miles.....orig follower......................how much of a pain in the ass is this thing to install

[audi8844]

Doesn't seem difficult at all, but I just purchased the kmd follower and plan to put it in this weekend or next. I am approaching 49k miles. I will post pics of the original when I get it out

[CorneliusRox]

I'm at 65k, just tuned, but by how everything is on the car, the guy before me babied it. even just doing a throttle body resync, it made a huge difference. I think I'll do it before winter.

So do we have a KMD rep on here? I am curious about the plunger possibly bottoming out? That could be pretty bad. I would assume if it doesnt bottom out then it would be same as stock though.

Vizi, do you run the roller now? I feel like the bearings could get worn and it could get stuck, causing the same issue but for a much higher price tag.

Finally, with my tune, Mike @ VAST left my rail pressure at 3BAR which is OEM which means the HPFP stays at stock load, and basically, the fuel map, wastegate, and rev limit, were the things changed involving my Stage 1 tune. I should have no issues running an OEM follower for mucho miles?

[ladedruck]

stock rail pressure is up to 110bar on most tfsi 2.0t not 3 bar.

[AWDTURBO]

fuck KMD and their shitty products.

[CorneliusRox]

stock rail pressure is up to 110bar on most tfsi 2.0t not 3 bar.

my bad. idk where I got 3BAR from. But, he left it at stock pressure so I would not have any long term issues. that being said... any idea's?

[jimrobbington]

This is my stock follower, assuming it's been in there since 0 miles, changed around 85k.


Here's the new one after about 20k on a stage 2 tune



I worry about the harder aftermarket follower actually causing more damage to the cam. I would only use the oem follower, imo.

[DRAKLORE]

Kmd I'm assuming didn't just throw a product onto the market :-/ I don't think plunger length has anything to do with how much strain is put on the pump. From my understanding the strain comes from plunger travel... But nonetheless a harder and slicker or smoother surface is ideal. That being said, I would rather have a follower wearthan my cam

[jimrobbington]

Exactly, I would rather wear through followers than cams. A soft follower ensures you are saving your cam from certain death, and for me (05.5 year cam) it's better safe than sorry.

[ladedruck]

It always seems like the follower gos first and then eats up the cam only if it is left unnoticed(ie the only time we have put a cam in has been when the follower already had a hole in it). So I would say the hardened follower should be ok or better. But by all means protect them there pumps. I was told there are over 300 on back order with VW today.

[Shanster]

I believe John at HPFPUpgrade mentioned that the cam is still significantly harder than a hardened follower so you shouldn't worry about the cam going before the follower.

Then again, I'm assuming that goes for all hardened followers. He might have only been referring to his upgraded follower

[Operator]

But nonetheless a harder and slicker or smoother surface is ideal. That being said, I would rather have a follower wearthan my cam

Which is what John has in the works.

[hpfpupgrade]

This is my stock follower, assuming it's been in there since 0 miles, changed around 85k.


Here's the new one after about 20k on a stage 2 tune



I worry about the harder aftermarket follower actually causing more damage to the cam. I would only use the oem follower, imo.

Camshaft damage is not something you have to worry about, the follower is much softer than the cam.

[hpfpupgrade]

Which is what John has in the works.

:)

Thanks!

[jankaroni]

80k on original....

And that's extremely lucky.. Anyone who boasts 90k on original either isn't chipped, or drives like a nanny...
Google images "cam follower fail" and it will convince you to check your follower on a consistent 5k mile interval, especially once your chipped. (even though cam and follower and hpfp are under extended warranty, I don't think I could easily convince themy car is stock...) lol

What year is your car and how long were you chipped on that original follower that you swapped out?

I only ask because I have an 08 and I have heard some say that you don't need to worry about the follower on the 08 models and I have heard others say it is still a concern. I am at about 42k and have been chipped for about 10k of that.

[NODO-GT]

I'm 103k. on stock cam. don't know if previous owner changed it, but car is stock not chipped, will be definitely changing it before chipping :)

[Jay-Bee]

Mine @ 106,000kms, never changed before, stock other than an intake and i've been driving it hard since I bought it in March.

And I have checked with Audi of Canada and I am covered if it fails (up to ~190,000kms i believe)... so does that mean I have a Rev A Cam?

I will stick with OEM follower as well.

[DRAKLORE]

I'm 07 that follower was 75k or so , 20k at stage 2.

[papadelogan]

Mine @ 106,000kms, never changed before, stock other than an intake and i've been driving it hard since I bought it in March.

And I have checked with Audi of Canada and I am covered if it fails (up to ~190,000kms i believe)... so does that mean I have a Rev A Cam?

I will stick with OEM follower as well.

I just changed mine the other week and was right @ 106,000 miles. Looked a little more worn (all black gone IIRC) but to the best of my knowledge it was the original. Previous owner didn't recall it being changed and the car still had the original DV with a torn diaphragm, so it wasn't making crap for boost for who knows how long. I'm APR Stage 1 right now and may add an 034 HFC or not.... we'll see. I'll be sticking with the OEM follower and changing about once a year, but will check every oil change. It only takes 20 minutes so I'll start it draining and do my check.

[Jay-Bee]

I just changed mine the other week and was right @ 106,000 miles. Looked a little more worn (all black gone IIRC)

Mine was 106K kms (~66K miles)