Our Volkswagens are full of screws, bolts, nuts and washers that are not all made for a particular model, but are used universally. These parts are recognizable by their part number starting with the "N" of the German word "Normteile", which means "standard parts".
It may be a standard part, but that does not mean that it is still readily available today.
The M8 bolt mentioned here is not available even in the largest nut and bolt store, it has a specific length of 42 mm and that combined with a tensile strength of 10.9.
Volkswagen has used this bolt in a number of places, where only a length of 42 mm was sufficient. This may be to reach the exact end of the wire or where it should not protrude due to the risk of corrosion or other obstructions.
Note: Always use the bolts specified by Volkswagen. If a standard 40 or 45 mm bolt would also fit, Volkswagen would have done so, if a 42 mm bolt was used for the application, there is a good reason. Therefore, only use this bolt for the application listed below and do not use any other alternative, even if it is much cheaper.
Below is a list by VW model of what these bolts are for and how many parts are needed in total if you were to replace them all.
Beetle
- switch housing to lower bearing housing from 1974 (chassis 114 2794 035 ) 4x
- master cylinder to napoleon hat from 8.1960 (except 1302 and 1303 ) 2x
Karmann Ghia
- switch housing to lower bearing housing from 1974 (chassis 114 2794 035 ) 4x
- master cylinder to chassis support (napoleon cap) from 8.1960 2x
Split Bus
- mounting of rear panel on body from 4.1955 (Pick-up all years) 4x
Bay Window Bus
- upper housing halves for Type 4 engines 1x
- rear engine suspension rubbers for buses with Type 1 engines 4x
- switch box to lower bearing housing from 1974from 1974 (chassis 214 2174 971 ) 4x
Vanagon
- upper housing halves for Type 4 engines with CU engine code 1x
- switch housing on the underside of the busswitch housing on the underside of the bearing housing 1x
- steering bar flange clamp brackets 5x
- shift lever linkage at the automatic shift bar 1x
- alternator assembly for cars with diesel and 2nd alternator from 8.1985 1x
VW Thing
- switch housing to lower bearing housing from 1974 (chassis 18402746 290 ) 4x
- master cylinder to chassis support/head (napoleon hat) 2x
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