Changing a clutch cable

[bmw156]

Hey guys, im looking to change the clutch cable on the 8v.

i have done one before no problems on a different car and know its tight behind the pedal etc.

whats it like on a golf? any right pains?

[snifferdog]

Sorry mate, not done it, but if you are in the AA .....

[Wayne]

Easy enough to do 

[bmw156]

yeh, i had a search just after i posted doh.

and it seems easy enough to do. ill just attache the new one to the old one's end and pull it through.

cheers guys.

[gasketface]

Just done mine today.Took the lower dash panel off and also a cover above the heater pipe.You can just get your hand through to unhook the cable from the pedal.I cut the old cable at gearbox end with a dremel and new cable was already held compressed as yours should be.I used some wire tied to the old pedal end fitting and pulled it out then i just hooked the new one to that to pull it back through.This is where the fun starts !.The outer cable on pedal end is angled and has a plastic fitting on the end (looks a bit like a top hat).Mine was a pain as it would'nt go back in the hole it needs to fit in because of the tight angle so i did'nt have enough inner cable to attach to gearbox arm.Then i discovered that the plastic panel around the windscreen wiper arms can be lifted up (where the chassis number is stamped) and you can use a long screwdriver to poke the outer cable into place.Took me about an hour in the rain but would have been less if i had realised about the panel earlier to locate the outer cable.Nice and smooth now,not creaking !!!.Good luck.

[Deano2711]

Remove the scuttle panel and the lower dash panel on the drivers side. Then there should be a white clip on the cable by the gearbox. Clip this into place and the cable expands. You can then unhook it from the gearbox arm and then from the pedal inside the car. Remove the old cable through the rubber grommit under the scuttle panel. Push the pedal end through the rubber grommit and into the car. Hook it up to the pedal again and then clip the white plastic expanding clip into place. This will allow you to hook the gearbox arm up. If you struggle here its easier to jack up the gearbox arm while you attach the cable. Then just undo the white clip and job done. Press the pedal in the car a few times to auto adjust.   Easy job really mate. I did mine in under half hour and this was the first one I had ever done.      Cheers      Deano

[bmw156]

ok cheers guys, think i will go for it lol.

by scuttle panel you mean the bit by the wipers on the outside of the car?

is the bulkhead not in the way lol.

[Deano2711]

Yes Mate the scuttle panel is the plastic that runs along the bottom of the windscreen and round the wiper arms. There is a rubber seal that runs along the edge of the scuttle panel that just pulls off. Then remove the clips that hold on the scuttle panel (these are a pain in the arse to remove). Then remove the wiper arms to remove the scuttle panel. This is the hardest part of changing the cable.

[Wayne]

Couple of pointers.

1) I had to remove the wiper linkage on my car.

2) You will 100% need to jack the clutch arm up, then fit the clip, do not remove the white clip untill it is all connected.