Question
I have a 356A coupe and am getting it ready for driving this spring. I have the brake and clutch pedals out of the car and thought to replace the clutch cable. But I’m confused as to which cable to order: the online listings like the Porsche PET aren’t too clear. — A. Cunningham, Monroeville, PA.
Answer
Yes, there continues to be confusion about the cables due to misleading printed catalogs and present online entries. Many guys seem to go by the length of the cable when ordering. All old used cables in the car for 20–40 years have stretched, so length isn’t a good identifier, but it can be a rough guide. By the way, the difference in lengths of new cables is only about 3 inches.
So a better guide is the thread diameters on both ends of the cable. If you disregard the very early cable with the outer casing, you’ll see the other three cables all have a different combination of end threads. So the thread diameter is the key to which cable you need. Take a look at the chart below.
| Model, trans type | Length, mm | Pedal thread | Trans thread | Stoddard number | Gemo number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-A, 519 1-Mount* | 2085 | M-6 | M-6 | NLA 23 058 | 424 030 |
| 356A, 519 2-Mount, 644 | 2057 | M-6 | M-8 | NLA 23 208 1 | 424 060 |
| 356A 716, 356B 741 | 2015 | M-6 | M-6 | NLA 423 401 00 | 424 040 |
| 356B T6, 356C 741 | 2025 | M-7 | M-6 | NLA 423 401 01 | 424 050 |
* with outer casing / sleeve
In the chart I added the part number of the German company, Gemo, that supplies these cables to the aftermarket. In the last several years, Gemo has identified their cables with a red sleeve marked with their part number: a convenient way to lessen the confusion with these cables.
See our website for the cable end fittings for each model / transmission combination. Also, I recommend the application of the Würth product HHS-K lubricant on the moving parts at each cable end.
Regards,
Brad Ripley
