VW Golf Mk2 Owners Club

piston rings and pistons

December 12, 2025, 04:09:01 PM

I'm possibly not asking the right question yet.

But i'm about to rebuild my engine my self, having the block sent off in a couple weeks time for it to be honed out etc. The machine shop said i would need to put in oversized rings and pistons, but no matter where i look. the prices are more expensive then the job is worth to do in my mind, mega money, more aimed at tuning then just plan old rebuilding.

Yet talking to the machine shop, and a couple of other places, have all said pistons are about £40-50 plus rings around £20 mark ish. yet i can't find anything like this

until they done the machine side, i will not know what size i need. so can you peeps shed some light on this for me please for when i come to buy the pistons and rings, as initially i did ask about just relining which they have said no need for that unless something is badly damaged or worn

Re: piston rings and pistons

Reply #1 – Today at 06:47:05 AM

Any reason you need to get oversized pistons?
When I have done it in the past, I've found there are three sizes to piston rings, depending on the wear.
I've just measured the bore size, post honing (BTW, used a dingleberry hone as it wasn't bad), fitted the corresponding piston ring sets to the stock pistons and everything worked fine.

Re: piston rings and pistons

Reply #2 – Today at 02:48:00 PM

Like i said, possibly not right question yet,

I'm assuming pistons, but the vague wording was really new pistons and rings over sized, bearing big and small, main bearings etc etc