In a message dated 9/22/05 6:09:47 AM, RAlanen@AOL.COM writes:

<< One of the  black washers disintegrated. What can I use to replace it? It
would appear that without replacing the washer, the amount of up/down play is
too  great. Any experience here would be  appreciated.

Andrew, the washer is a thrust washer and is case  hardened.  A machine shop
or industrial hardware supplier may be able to  find you a replacement.
 >>

I assume that you are talking about one of the fiber shim washers in the shim
pack on the distributor shaft, NOT the thrust washer Frank "The Spam Can Man"
is talking about.  There is a parts kit for the 1983-1985 distributors.  It
consists of shims, washers and hardware.  The number is:

      Parts Kit (Shims, Washers & Hardware): VW 059-998-211, Bosch 1237 010
007

While some parts might be different for a 1986+ distributor, most items in
the kit should be useable.  The real problem at hand might be to find someone
willing to order this kit for you rather than to sell you a distributor complete.

I hope you saved the pieces of the broken fiber shim washer so that you can
determine how thick it's replacement needs to be.  Fiber washer are run of the
mill industrial supply items.  They come in at least three colors (red, gray
and black) which appear to indicate their hardness.  If you have to source them
from a hardware supplier, just make sure that they are HARD FIBER WASHERS and
try to get the same color as the one you are replacing.  You might have to
resize them and to dress them to thickness to meet your needs.

George