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Fri Jul 04, 2025 2:53 am

New to owning VW beetle. Have no knowledge so looking for help. DrI’ve axel broke on my latest trip. I know that needs to be fixed but my question is about the clutch. I can now but car in gear without holding in the clutch. Is that just because the drive axel is broke or do I also need to replace the clutch? It a 1973 super beetle. Thank you in advance for anyone that helps. Parts are ordered for axle. So that has not been fixed yet.

Fri Jul 04, 2025 7:41 am

Fix first what you KNOW is bad. In your instance, replace the drive axle.

Be aware that you likely will need an 8M (8mm) triple square drive. And use a pick to clean out the 12 bolt head recesses (6 on each end) and keep the drive PARALLEL to the bolt.

Fri Jul 04, 2025 8:42 am

Are you sure it's a broken axle? You've actually seen it? I'm just wondering if it could possibly be stripped splines in a brake drum.

Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:24 am

Maybe the splines in the clutch disc are destroyed? With car running you should not be able to put it in any gear without a lot of grinding, without the clutch all the way down on the pedal. That would also stop your being able to drive the car as the engine would now not actually engage and turn the transmission. Good luck-Bob

Sat Jul 05, 2025 7:40 am

SBD wrote: Are you sure it's a broken axle? You've actually seen it?
Great point ! Some folks - and many "mechanics" - suck at diagnosing !

SBD wrote: I'm just wondering if it could possibly be stripped splines in a brake drum.

Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:01 am

I have thought a little more on this one and I think it's possible that the clutch disc actually broke the rivets where the friction outer portion of the disc attaches to the inner portion containing the splines. Please report your findings on this as I would like to know the cause of your problem. Thanks Bob

Sat Jul 05, 2025 7:48 pm

The drive axel wasn’t exactly broken. It was the bolts that attached the axel to the transmission. One bolt was missing one broke inside and another one bent. Fixed the axel today and so far thinks look better. Haven’t drove it yet because I’m still waiting on the bolts from Jbugs. I think the transmission is ok. Fingers crossed. Thank you for all your responses

Sun Jul 06, 2025 6:02 pm

Pielhau200 wrote: The drive axel wasn’t exactly broken. It was the bolts that attached the axel to the transmission. One bolt was missing one broke inside and another one bent. Fixed the axel today and so far thinks look better. Haven’t drove it yet because I’m still waiting on the bolts from Jbugs. I think the transmission is ok. Fingers crossed. Thank you for all your responses

There needs to be 6 bolts that hold the axle to the flanges, not 3. In your case 4 were missing one bent and one broke. Make sure there are SIX on every end.

Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:42 pm

You also want to check up on having the correct locking washers under the bolt heads and fish plates between pairs of bolts, and use a torque wrench on the bolts to make sure they are done up tight enough..

If you get it wrong they can come undone quite fast.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=405966

Thu Jul 10, 2025 5:45 pm

I was just wondering about the clutch problem in this thread. The OP stated that he could now put the car in gear without stepping in the clutch. What was the resolution of that condition? Thanks Bob

Thu Jul 10, 2025 6:12 pm

Bobs67vwagen wrote: I was just wondering about the clutch problem in this thread. The OP stated that he could now put the car in gear without stepping in the clutch. What was the resolution of that condition? Thanks Bob

The clutch wasn't the issue. Since the axle wasn't there, the output shaft of the trans saw no resistance & that allowed him to shift into gear without the car going anywhere.