My 1985 was with the ball and plastic strap.  My 1990 and 1991 have the tabs, no cables.

Hope this helps

--------Original Message-----
---From: Vanagon Mailing List 
---[mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
---Of Kim Brennan
---Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 11:09 PM
---To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
---Subject: Re:       glove compartment?
---
---
---In a message dated 8/27/02 10:40:58 PM, roch00@YAHOO.COM writes:
---
---> My glove dept doesn’t close easily and seems a bit lop 
---sided.  Is this
---> correct….the left side has a plastic cable that connects 
---it where the
---> ball portion  goes into the hole.  On the right side, 
---there is the same
---> hole but no plastic cable.  Instead there is a  plastic cable that
---> loops on below this upper hole.  Should there be 2 plastic 
---cables on
---> the right side?
---> 
---> 
---Interesting. Your description does not match my glovebox, at 
---least on my 91 
---Westy, which I had out and off just the other day. There are 
---no cables of any 
---kind on mine. It has two tabs at the rear corners. I push 
---these in to clear 
---the front of the dast, and the whole thing pivots, almost 
---upside down. Then 
---the hinge is in a postion to slide out in its keyed 
---position. What year are 
---you dealing with?
---
---> Also the square plastic piece that holds the lock wobbles from the
---> inside.  I can’t find any screws to tighten this piece.  
---How does one
---> tighten?
---> 
---