Beetle Pedal Alignment

Editors note: Gavin, we thank you for the article. As I’ve said, 1967beetle.com isn’t about me, it’s about the community of ’67 Beetle owners around the world. Let’s continue to help each other stay on the road. -ES

Quote for the Occasion..

“If you think you can, or think you can’t….you’re RIGHT!” -Henry Ford

Hello 1967beetle.com,

You will learn nothing new in the confines of this article outside of luck, determination and deep gratitude! In any case, I was asked by Eric & Jay to share my “little experience” with my clutch pedal cluster that I disassembled by accident and put back together. Based on my total lack of mechanical expertise, you can do it too!

It all started after I read the recent article about Pedal Clusters and the articulation and organization of such parts. I noticed for months my very own clutch pedal on my 67’ had way too much free play and was a two full inches depressed beyond that of the brake pedal. It really started to bother me. Although the clutch worked fine, it looked bad and clearly it was not adjusted properly. So, I thought, “ I’m not a mechanic, what could go wrong. Let’s give it a go!!”

After getting together some of the right tools, floor jacks and lighting, I was set to explore. I made sure to align my resources, 1967 Beetle.com, Jay Salser, You Tube Videos and my nearest mechanic on speed dial, just in case. After a quick email consult with Jay to get his take on what I thought would be a “slight adjustment”, I learned about the stop plate bolted behind the pedals. Jay said, “Check this first, perhaps just a slight tweak will do.”

After removing the rubber mat etc, it took several minutes for me to find the bolt head and plate Jay referred to under the 48 years of crud, rust and particulate. Alas–there it was…..seized and not willing to budge. I decided to clean it the best I could and to soak the bolt and plate with several rounds of penetrating oil and see what happened by the next morning.

Sunday morning came and I awoke, determined as ever. I soaked the bolt and plate again, watched a little football, then decided to give it a try. Success! The bolt turned and turned and then suddenly–“Snap – Pop”–the clutch cable let loose and the pedals fell helplessly to the pan. Obviously, I was well beyond the “slight tweak”. Reminding myself not to panic, I slowly backed away, thinking, “What kind of mess have I made?” I knew now it was going to get painful.

I realized, quickly, that I would need to remove the entire assembly in order to re-hook the clutch cable. I took advantage of this by cleaning and lubricating the entire assembly. Then I tried, like a surgeon, to hook the cable to the clutch pedal through the hole in the tunnel while maintaining the connection through the rest of the procedure.

I meticulously threaded the two 17mm bolts into the tunnel and thought: “It’s going to be OK!”

Finally, I tied the clutch pedal to the firewall with a small bungee cord, which helped a lot. I also realized that the clutch cable needed to be adjusted. I needed to tighten the wing nut at the end of the cable on the clutch lever at the transmission. Looking at the wing nut, I found MORE rust and corrosion–the wing nut was frozen tight. Another round of soaking using penetrating oil was in order.

Monday came and it was off to work. Thinking through what I still needed to do, I emailed Jay to get his opinion on the work so far and confirmation of a pushrod measurement. He sent a few awesome pics and literature from the Bentley Manual and coached me along like he was standing next to me. When I got home from work, I just prayed that the penetrating oil had done its job on the wing nut. Thankfully, it had.

After affixing vise grips to the metal cable end so that it would not turn when I tightened the wing nut, I contorted myself under the car, reached up and tightened the wing nut in a very painful, uncomfortable effort to get it right. It was at that moment when my wife walks up thinking that I had been crushed by the car based on the tone of my audible grunts while twisting the wing nut with my bare hand. Remember, I said I had some of the right tools…

From under the floor of the raised car, I asked, almost begging, “Honey, would you wiggle the clutch pedal to see if it’s loose or sloppy?” After a wiggle…..“No” she said, “The clutch has tension and feels good…no slop.” Music to my ears!

Finally, I could get to the task I had begun two days earlier–the “slight tweak.” After a re-read of the Bentley Manual info and a double check of a few pedal measurements, I finally set the pedals in close alignment and tightened the plate and bolt.

Mission Accomplished.

I reported immediately to Jay: “It’s all DONE!” Jay’s return email and well advised suggestion was to do a safety check in my driveway. I proceeded to take a slow, quiet ride and found the brakes and shifting have never felt stronger or shifted smoother. The feeling of satisfaction and the appreciation I have for the help of the 1967beetle.com community is overwhelming!

Thanks gentlemen, without your continued friendship and goodwill this would have not been such a successful outcome.

-Gavin LaMaide