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jaeger74 Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 75 Location: Bucks County
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:17 am Post subject: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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Hello Folks,
Checking out my 87" Westy how it is after the camping season going into winter I noticed that the rubber gromet / tube that is on the upper right corner of the rear hatch is broken into bits and pieces. It seems the window washer fluid line goes through there and some wiring. Anybody has an idea where to get a new tube and how to replace it? Looked on Busdepot and GoWesty, can not find the part.
Thanks and stay warm
Elmar _________________ 1987 Westy
2000 Ducati Monster
2001 Toyota Tacoma |
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Timwhy Samba Member

Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 4090 Location: Maine
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SteveVanB Samba Member

Joined: June 01, 2008 Posts: 1645 Location: This side of Daytona
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:44 am Post subject: |
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I used some left over fuel line. _________________ 91 CARAT |
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goffoz Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2007 Posts: 1486
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:23 am Post subject: |
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I had to remove my hatch, for some other work
..while had it off, I ground out the openings to match the ones on the driver side....bigger and oval
The rubber boot from that side is still available.
...also the larger holes makes it easier to run wire and hoses and allows you to use boots from some of the newer minivans,and hatchbacks if you prefer
the subaru ones are nice  |
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jaeger74 Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 75 Location: Bucks County
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for your answers. If you can't fix it with duct tape, its broken, right Tim ?
To remove the old rubber piece you remove the back panel and disconnect the wire and the washer tubing, I assume?
Best
Elmar _________________ 1987 Westy
2000 Ducati Monster
2001 Toyota Tacoma |
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greebly Samba Member

Joined: August 27, 2009 Posts: 973 Location: Here and now
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blyhigh Samba Member

Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 165 Location: The Beaver State of Mind
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2020 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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Van Cafe has replacements in stock. |
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coqcitywesty Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2018 Posts: 449 Location: Coquitlam, BC
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2020 10:01 am Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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^^^^^ Wicked - thx for the heads up. Just ordered along with the stainless coolant junction to make the order/shipping worthwhile. I am tired of the duct tape solution, so for $12, this will last my lifetime with my Westy.  _________________ 1991 Westfalia EJ251, 1972 Volvo 1800 ES |
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kguarnotta Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2004 Posts: 1207 Location: Woodstock, NH
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Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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Can i revive a not too old thread...
My '86 grommet tube thingy is missing on mine (right side). It has been sealed with some silicone or something. I also notice the wires are cracked/split. So I plan on splicing in some new wire, as well as probably needing to splie the washer tubing and installing the new grommet.
My bus has the rear upper cabinet which at some point held an AC something or other, but is now just a speaker holder. I'm trying to see how to get to those wires inside the bus - I think I can figure it out for inside the hatch.
Before I dig in - any tips? _________________ -Kevin
Lincoln, MA
2001 Eurovan
'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper |
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ledogboy Samba Member

Joined: September 19, 2005 Posts: 599 Location: Scappoose, OR / Oakland, CA
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Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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kguarnotta wrote: |
Can i revive a not too old thread...
My '86 grommet tube thingy is missing on mine (right side). It has been sealed with some silicone or something. I also notice the wires are cracked/split. So I plan on splicing in some new wire, as well as probably needing to splie the washer tubing and installing the new grommet.
My bus has the rear upper cabinet which at some point held an AC something or other, but is now just a speaker holder. I'm trying to see how to get to those wires inside the bus - I think I can figure it out for inside the hatch.
Before I dig in - any tips? |
I just did mine a week or so ago, and it was pretty easy to see the wires by looking around in that corner near the A/C cabinet. In my case, the wires were ok in that area, and I had the hatch cover off (van was getting paint). So, I just cut them down in that hatch panel area so I could re-splice later where it wouldn’t be seen. Used some electrical tape and a string attached to the ends of the wires so that I could fish them back after replacing the grommets. _________________ 1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
Some people call him Maurice... |
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kguarnotta Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2004 Posts: 1207 Location: Woodstock, NH
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Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2020 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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I got it done - not too hard.
I ended up taking the upper cabinet down. this was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Then I cut the wires near the hinge.
If I were to do this again - I'd take the upper cabinet down first, as I realized after I spliced the new lines in - that they had already been splice once before - above the cabinet - I didn't want to cut and redo it at that point, but it would have been nice to keep just the single splice.
thanks for the help. _________________ -Kevin
Lincoln, MA
2001 Eurovan
'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper |
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VanAllen_84 Samba Member

Joined: October 17, 2016 Posts: 55 Location: Ventura County
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kguarnotta Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2004 Posts: 1207 Location: Woodstock, NH
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 6:35 am Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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sorry - I didn't make that clear. I have the boot. I was just looking for pointers on installing (ie not losing wire behind the sheetmetal, splice points, sequence of install etc).
I think I'm all set now. _________________ -Kevin
Lincoln, MA
2001 Eurovan
'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper |
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Jayfix Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2022 Posts: 6 Location: CA
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 10:35 am Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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if replacing the wire boots, most folks just cut the wires, replace the boots then just splice the wires? Has anyone had any success with trying to undo the wire connectors then feeding the wires through the boots? This would eliminate another connector. |
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Sodo Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 10615 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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I camped with "the guy" who spec'd and produces these wire boot replacements.
He says they are made of a proper "forever" material, just like your 34 year-old other-side boot. He also manufactures many of the electrical replacement harnesses, so is well-versed in "splicing".
The rear wiper is seldom use, low-power, and splices would be in a very protected, dry location.
I would not worry about a (proper) splice.
His method is to drop the cabinet down a little, and cut/splice the wires, and splice the washer hose with a double-barb splice from the drip-irrigation dept at Home-Depot.
If you have air conditioning be REAL careful dropping the cabinet, or the condensation drains will break, then water will drip on the bed. That's kind of a HUGE bummer, a laborious repair task and no replacement parts available. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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Altoona Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2011 Posts: 590
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 1:47 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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It's really not that big of a deal to pull the rear hatch panel and disconnect and feed the wires back out the hatch. It gives you a chance to inspect stuff back there as well. |
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shagginwagon83  Samba Member

Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 4314 Location: SWVA
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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Quote: |
I camped with "the guy" who spec'd and produces these wire boot replacements.
He says they are made of a proper "forever" material |
Does he still make them? _________________ "Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram: @joannthevan |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member

Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 7161 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2024 12:19 am Post subject: Re: Rear hatch wire rubber gromet replacement |
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Sodo wrote: |
I camped with "the guy" who spec'd and produces these wire boot replacements.
He says they are made of a proper "forever" material, just like your 34 year-old other-side boot. He also manufactures many of the electrical replacement harnesses, so is well-versed in "splicing".
The rear wiper is seldom use, low-power, and splices would be in a very protected, dry location.
I would not worry about a (proper) splice.
His method is to drop the cabinet down a little, and cut/splice the wires, and splice the washer hose with a double-barb splice from the drip-irrigation dept at Home-Depot.
If you have air conditioning be REAL careful dropping the cabinet, or the condensation drains will break, then water will drip on the bed. That's kind of a HUGE bummer, a laborious repair task and no replacement parts available. |
You must be talking about Craig Forney ?
I had lengthy talks with him at SyncroFest ! _________________ Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget |
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