Hi.

CPI has the back plates:

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D251%2D609%2D425%2DD

Likely other vendors have them too.

There is info in the vanagon archives covering the
"big nut" topic. From what I know, it's torqued on
real tight. You will need a cheater (extension) bar to
help get it off. All things being equal.....

As for e-brake cables, I replaced mine (81' Air
cooled) and though it was a tight fit, the cables fit
into tube on back plate. I had to kinda twist them in
if you know what I mean. In fact I recall
**carefully** using Vice Grips to grab and twist them
into tube. BTW, I assume you're refferring to the tube
on back plate. Maybe you have crud/rust in tube?

Cheers,

Neil.

--- craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Hey. Well with the wheels off and working on the
> brakes, we discovered
> the backing plate for the right rear has rusted
> through and has holes
> in it. I know no one seems to have backing
> plates/splash guards up
> front....are they important in the rear? If so,
> where can i get
> one....and how do i go about taking off the big nut?
> It seems to be a
> rather frightening task.
>
> My vanagon is now officially more of a restoration
> project than
> anything else. I'm a bit suprised, and the finacial
> aspect is crazy,
> but i figure once i get these quarks worked out all
> will be good.
> However, in the process of replacing the parking
> brake cables, a
> variety of things went wrong. We discovered just how
> hard it is to put
> the new cables on, as the new cables outside
> diameter is larger than
> the internal diameter of the hole it mounts into.
>
> As far as the distributor goes, my van died suddenly
> while driving
> last week. The problem is suspected to be the
> distributor. It was very
> loose, and had pulled out of the engine. At the
> bottom of th
> distributor, the steel (?) "pins" that engage with
> the engine are very
> worn. Is it possible to replace just this part, or
> must we purchase
> the $200some rebuilt distributor from FLAPS?
>
> Any help is always useful. This list is very very
> very handy. Big lifesaver.
> Thanks
>
> -Craig
> '85 GL Sunroof.....restoration project
>

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