Anyone who knows anything about starteres please chime in.

My starter went on Monday and when I finally got a chance to take it off and take it apart, I find that the internals are just disinegrtated!!! Anyways, I finally get a new starter for$100 and installed it today. The guy I got it from said it was identically to the stock one. So I take it home and go to install it and it fits perfect except it's as if the bolts are two long. I know that isn't possible because the bolts are the originals, so the only explanation is that the housing is thinner/smaller. Anyways, everything lined up and I put in a nut on each bolt to act as a spacer and make up for the extra ~<1/2" gap.
The car starts like new and I figure it'll be fine. Is this advisable? or would you recommend something else. I know some people put shims in, but I've never seen that done so I don't know what it's like.

 

Sounds like you have the wrong starter. Is it possible you got a automatic starter for a 6spd or vice versus? You do not shim 1/2".
Starters are one of those things where you have to match them up. Take it to the parts store and compare.
Good Luck.
CoryM

 

I have a 6 speed, and that's what he supposedly gave me. The car starts fine, everything lines up, it just seems that the housing was thinner. The gap was less than 1/2" so I just put spacers in. I will call again today and ask again, any other ideeas

 

Was this a brand new starter? If the bolts don't fit right in I would say it is not the right starter , but if you are certain everything is secure and lines up correctly Then I don't think those spacers will be a problem.... What is the difference in a 6spd and A4 starter........?

 

supposedly the A4 has a different type of housing. The starters are called reduction starters and are smaller and more "powerful" then previous generations. But everything does fit and so far it's been starting like new so we'll see.

 

Compare measurements...

Measure the distance from the block to the center of the gear. and the distance from the bolt closest to the block to the center of the gear.

If it all matches up it should be fine.

Actually, since the car starts up okay.. it should be fine!
I wouldn't worry about it too much!