TheSamba.com Forums
 
  View original topic: 67 clutch Bowden tube wrongness
aquifer Sat Nov 30, 2024 6:14 pm

Does anyone know where I can source a good quality Bowden tube that has a correct end? See the picture below. The “wrong” one came from WW.

At first, I installed several washers to compensate for the difference, but my OCD was freaking out. The new tube is the same overall length as the original one, but as you can see, the difference is significant. I much prefer to find a correct tube. I’m fine with inserting a washer to achieve the correct dip if needed, but the original one did not have a shim, and I don’t want to have 4 washers in there to compensate for the wrongness!

I would re-use my original one, but the tube at the other end is broken where the steel fitting is crimped on.

Any suggestions? Thanks again!


Cusser Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:39 am

aquifer wrote: At first, I installed several washers to compensate for the difference, but my OCD was freaking out. The new tube is the same overall length as the original one, but as you can see, the difference is significant. I much prefer to find a correct tube. I’m fine with inserting a washer to achieve the correct dip if needed, but the original one did not have a shim, and I don’t want to have 4 washers in there to compensate for the wrongness!

If mine, I think I'd do the washer thing like you did !

But wait to see what folks more-experienced with your year of VW say....

ashman40 Sun Dec 01, 2024 9:45 am

I’m not clear what the actual problem is? :?

The replacement bowden tube is not an exact replica of OE VW part and you may need to use more/less washers to get the proper “bow” in the tube once installed? That is just normal. Even if you were able to find a NOS VW part it doesn't have to be exactly the same as the part you removed? Manufacturers frequently update parts and the newer parts may not fit exactly the same as the original. This is why you have adjustment specs so they can be adjusted to operate the same.

This clip from an older thread may help:
EZ Gruv wrote: Simma down y'all.

1. I added washers one at a time until my chattering stopped. This occurred last October when I had a cable snap (on the way into a VW show), and the bowden tube end broke during install of the new cable.

This still had chatter:



This does not:





2. I have cleaned it all since then. It looks much better now. :wink:


While I personally view the number of washers used above as excessive… you can’t argue that the purpose of the bowden tube is to allow the trans/engine to move independent of the chassis and not effect the clutch position. When adjusted incorrectly this results in clutch “chatter”. So adding washers until the chattering stops is the correct outcome.



Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group