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Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:02 am

Here is a photo looking down on my gas pedal assembly. Can anyone tell me what this kluge supposed to look like? The threaded post welded right angle to the first, with a cable connector and a nut, drilled through and pinned with a nail can’t be right. I never noticed it until the body shop disassembled it to paint. When I got it back that nut/nail combo is rubbing against the tunnel. Pictures or exploded view to order the correct parts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:19 am

I've posted a bit about this over the years.

Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:23 am

Thank you Andy! Big help.

Mon Jun 16, 2025 6:27 pm

I'm assuming that you have an early 1966 Beetle. There was a mid year change in how the accelerator pedal functions. Beetles with a VIN 116460614 and later had a roller that the accelerator pedal pushed.

Tue Jun 17, 2025 2:43 am

Yes, no roller here but the welded nut with the hole through the shaft was definitely not original. I ordered the Z bar and it came yesterday. Any idea if I have to remove the pedal cluster to install it?

Tue Jun 17, 2025 8:00 am

The z-bar wears out. New ones are of various qualities. Find a good one, and carefully deburr and shim until it works like butter--no binding and no excess play (which will wear it out faster). Easier with the driver seat removed, since you will be repeating it several times until it is just right.
Lube with dry-film lubricant at each oil change; it doesn't attract dirt like grease or oil does.
Then adjust your cable just right. All the time and care this takes will make driving feel much smoother!

Tue Jun 17, 2025 8:14 am

A cruiser / roller pedal setup is bout the best $100 you can ever spend on these old tin cans. A proper nice working throttle is absolutely one of the most important parts of making these cars drive decent.
I swap every old wire throttle for a later cable (the wire has spring tension built in and can kink and cause you problems you have a hard time tracking down).

And add a cruiser pedal.
Take a couple hours to pull the assembly and set it up once and properly and it'll transform your car. No more sticky throttle, no more wobbly pedal...

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=724470

Tue Jun 17, 2025 9:22 am

Or get this roller pedal assembly from Classic Bug Parts:

https://www.classicbugparts.com/x-celerator-speed-wheel-kit-1/

A little pricier, but you won't find one that is built better. Solid and smooth as silk, which is something you will never be able to say about the z-bar set up. I see in your gallery that you have a fine looking bug. Treat it and yourself to this upgrade. BTW ... you do need to disconnect the pedal cluster and move it away from the tunnel a bit to install the pivot pin for the roller arm, but you don't have to remove the cluster from the car.

Tue Jun 17, 2025 3:45 pm

sfizio wrote: Yes, no roller here but the welded nut with the hole through the shaft was definitely not original. I ordered the Z bar and it came yesterday. Any idea if I have to remove the pedal cluster to install it?

If you look at my photo of the correct setup, there is a connecting lever that the Z-bar passes through. (Mine has been replaced, you can see the Wolfsburg West logo on it) Well, whomever hacked your pedal setup, they reversed yours. The pin it pivots on, the head of it is up against the tunnel, so the cluster has to be unbolted to get to it.

Tue Jun 17, 2025 4:04 pm

So I’m now debating the roller versus the Z bar. I’m kind of partial to OG but the way I’m set up now, I find the pedal sticking at times. It worked for years fine so I didn’t notice but when the body shop removed the cluster something must have shifted. If I go roller, I’ll def get high quality. Otherwise, yes Andy, your pictures are helpful. I also have some dry graphite spray, Slip Disc, which works great on metal to metal contact. I’ll let y’all know how it works out.