One suggestion, if you go on long trip (or short for that matter), bring 2
of those (+ at least 15 others important and poorly design parts), the upper
one and the lower one.... in the past year i have seeen so many of those
fail that i wonder about the design, well, there is nothing to wonder, it's
poorly design, like many others VW parts.

Last exemple (out of 3 in one month!!!!!).

Mr. Roadhaus (who is in MD right now):
He broke those parts (lower and upper)...2 or 3 time since January, ok, we
could say that the Alternator core was the problem, maybe the engine... or
for that matter or the brackets by themselves....

http://www.benplace.com/roadhaus/100_0209.jpg

OK, now he as a brand new engine, new alternator (not the same core) and 2
NEWS VW OEM brackets.... he e-mail 2 days ago to tell me that boths brackets
are falling aparts again... Some of you may say, well, i had those for
years!!!!!
Mmmm...., i don't think you drive as hard and as much as "Roadhaus".

So Roadhaus is a good test bench for many of you!

Cheers
http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm