Clutch Cable Help Please!!!

Hi Everyone,

I'm having some trouble. I have fitted a brand new VW clutch cable and had to adjust it right up so its on the maximum limit just to take up all the slack in cable.

When I push my clutch pedal down it has a lot of slack to take up before it actually bites and starts to lift the clutch arm. I now only have a very small amount of movement between the pedal flat to the floor and the biting point.

I have previously repaired the bulkhead with a bulkhead repair plate, which I stuck on with chemical metal.

Please can someone help, I don't know why this is happening and I need a solution. Any advice is much appreciated!

Ta Chris

Hi Chris.  Is the clutch cable the correct item?  I ask as I was given the wrong one when replacing mine.  It should have a rubber bung with a shape on it like an arch?

Maybe this thread is of some help mate?   :dontknow:

The Mk1 Golf Owners Club

Yes its definitely the correct cable. It has the rubber bung with arch shape that fits into bulkhead. Part No is 532 721 335J

532 721 335J - 1490mm, scirocco
172 721 335H - 1470mm, golf

You have a scirocco cable, note the 532 part number

I took my previous clutch cable into GSF today with the hope of getting a shorter cable as it had been suggested that I had the wrong cable.

They said it's definitely the correct cable as they cross referenced the part numbers and physically matched the cable up with the cable they had listed for my car. They only had the one cable listed for my car.

I really don't know what's going on!

as I said, you have a scirocco cable. ETKA also shows you the scirocco cable  is longer than a Golf one.
The fact GSF only have 1 cable listed doesnt proove anything, just means they have a 'universal' size which does both.  Buy the GSF MK1 cable, it will fit. Thats where I got mine from

I just bought a GSF cable for a Mk 1C (I assume cabriolet) - and it doesn't have the self-adjuster. Which is a bit disappointing. Are VW ones horribly expensive? (I'll sell the one I bought to anyone who wants it for the GSF price, and post it free).

I'm sure it'll fit, I just like having the correct parts on my car.

you dont want the self adjust cable, you want the manual type. afaik MK1s never had the self adjust cable anyway?

Thanks but I forgot to mention my Mk1 is a late cabriolet model (1989) with 1.8 8V DX engine. I don't know if this makes a difference!

I do have a manual adjust cable. The one which you adjust at the gearbox end. Mine is screwed out as far it will go before it pulls out.

sorry i was talking to richard about the self adjusting vs manual type

age of cabby makes no odds, they all use the same manual cable: 172 721 335H.

if the cable was 20mm shorter would that be enough? if so, bin the scirocco cable and get a proper Golf one

Hi John,

Thanks for all your help! I took the cable of today and it was too long like you said, it measured 1490mm.

I have now ordered the correct 172 cable from VW, cost me ?24. I am returning the long cable to the supplier for a refund as it's obviously the wrong one.

I think the extra 20mm in cable length + the repair to the bulkhead was just too much. Even with previous cables I have had to adjust them out quite a lot.

Do you think it was worth spending the extra money for a VW cable rather than a GSF or cheaper cable?

I've never had a problem with gsf cables, but ?24 for a vag one is a bargain. it'll definitly last longer than a GSF one

One of the reasons I have been having so much trouble is that I keep going through clutch cables, I am now on my 3rd cable this year.

This all started after I had a new clutch fitted, the pedal was really heavy and seemed heavier than the original they replaced. I questioned the garage about it and they told me it was heavy but fine and it was just a heavy duty clutch. I thought nothing of it at the time.

I have been buying the clutch cables from my local motor factors and the rubber grommet that goes through the bulkhead keeps perishing from the strain of lifting the clutch arm. This is why I thought I would try a VW cable as the rubber grommet and components may be stronger and better quality.