Build date on front axle?

vanoochka · #1 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 11:25 PM

While installing an Accusump, I happened to look straight down at my front axle, and there is my car number and a date scratched into it. The date is in the S. African format of dd/mm/yr and it is about four months prior to the car's sale here in the US. I'm guessing this is build the date of the car, or at least date the front axle was installed.

If the axle wasn't in exactly the right position, and I hadn't removed the hood to make life easier, I would never looked down and seen it. Have any other SPF owners noticed this on their cars?

Blas · #2 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 06:56 AM

If you look down the page for "Superformance Number Plate " thread, you'll see that the build date is in your VIN nimber......If yours is car #237
than your VIN swould look something like:AC9CSLK1397AM1237. The "97" before the "AM" is the production year....

vanoochka · #3 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 07:07 AM

Thanks, Blas but I'm really more curious to know the significance of the date scratched into the axle and to find out if anyone else has noticed one on their car.

RedBarchetta · #4 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 12:33 PM

Vanoochka, check the top of your header flanges as well...mine are stamped '20 Jan 2000', and that's consistent with the approximate build date. Not sure if all the headers are like that, but mine sure are.

-Dean #747

vanoochka · #5 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 12:57 PM

Thanks, Dean,

This date is literally scratched into the axle - it looks like it could have been done with a nail. I'm just curious if it's a normal thing, or if it was randomly done by someone on the factory floor.

jwoodard · #6 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 04:05 PM

What exactly are you referring to as the front axle? These cars have IFS, so there is no axle so to speak. Are you looking at the steering rack? A frame cross member?
Maybe a picture would help.

vanoochka · #7 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 04:57 PM

Jim,

I'm afraid my mechanical inexperience may be showing.

Thanks for the information.

I commute to Los Angeles during the week, so won't be able to post a photo until I'm home on the weekend. However, it is the round bar that runs across the width of the car that looks like an axle. It is lower than the cross-brace that holds the VIN and is positioned forward of it. I guess that it may be the steering rack?

If you lean over the front of your car and look straight down you will be looking right at it.

Chuck

jwoodard · #8 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 06:02 PM

OK,

I went and looked at mine, the steering rack that is, and didn't see the VIN scratched or marked on it in any way.

Blas · #9 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008, 12:45 PM

I did a little research, I think the front steering rack is from a VW Citi/Gulf car...I think I have a part number....VW 172 419 061
Can anyone take this further?

vanoochka · #10 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008, 02:28 PM

I think it is just a random thing that happened on the factory floor. It isn't the date and VIN number, BTW, it is the date and car number. So, I have "15/06/99 237" scratched into the steering rack.

No big deal, just idle curiosity to determine if it this was a common practice.