Heater pipes route.

[shrig1969]

I have just finished numerous coolant pipes and radiator overhaul.Lots of flushing done in preparation for adding fresh coolant but am waiting for a new therm housing Because I had issues trying to remove thermostat bolts in the top part. 3 came out easy but one rounded off completely and would not budge! ( I understand the 2 bolts in the housing itself will be more of a headache)
But my question relates to the photo above. Can anyone tell me if there is anything wrong with the way I have routed my heater pipes. Couldn't understand why they were squeezed in with the large plastic pipes when there was a vacant route running under the passenger side? I am sure they will not hinder the gear linkage!
Any views/advice welcome before I fill the system

[RogerT]

Stops them vibrating? If vw made the hole big enough for all the pipes, it might have been for a reason. Are your heater pipes the right size? Mine were 19 mm when I removed them, replacing with the specified 15mm made refitting the pipes much easier.

Incidentally, I was replacing my heater pipes at the same time as the main coolant pipes, which were of a similar vintage to yours, if looks are any thing to go by. The plastic pipes have a metal insert in the end to provide resistance to compression, and this insert corrodes, works its way out of the plastic, or just bursts the plastic pipe, leading to a rapid loss of coolant. Have you checked yours? Good news dew to take the rubber hose off each end of each plastic pipe and have a check, before you fill up with coolant.

And as to your original question, doesn't routing with the coolant pipes provide the most direct route for the heater hoses? (Does on mine, but it's a JX)

[shrig1969]

Thanks for the reply RogerT.
I didn't make a note of the original size when I removed them but the new ones from Brickweks fitted perfectly.
In answer to the plastic pipes, I did change the rubber connections front and rear. And yes the metal inserts had pushed out, but only on the feed side. I managed to hammer them back in and stuck a stainless rivet in to hold them in place.
Vibration, mmmm, never thought of that. If pushed I could always crawl back under, disconnect,and try to force them through the original pathway that the old pipes followed.
Decisions,decisions..........

[RogerT]

Vibration was just a guess... but thepipes are generally very firmly held by the metal clips...

[boatbuilder]

I wondered this myself and came to the conclusion that the original position avoids having to cross over the gear linkage twice, potentially hitting as you change gears. So I just put my new ones in the original place

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[shrig1969]

Nothing exciting, but thought an update was relevant.....
Took the advice given above and decided to route them in the original place.
Good job I did as it was only after I was happy that everything was bled correctly, that it came to putting back the.....wait for it..........
"the wheel carrier and wheel"

Would of been a tight squeeze