Date:         Thu, 19 Oct 2000 22:12:50 -0700
Reply-To:     Rennie Wible <volksdragon@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rennie Wible <volksdragon@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: 89 syncro westy clutch shudder
Comments: To: The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I installed a Factory 'clutch kit' (Luk) from the Dealer about 6 months ago in
my 84 that was my daily driver until 3 weeks ago.  It had a bit of chatter when
I bought it, and upon pulling the trans, break dust poured out of it.
Resurfacing the flywheel and replacing the clutch fixed it.

My new syncro occasionally chatters a bit in reverse.  The service history shows
that it had a clutch 50K ago at 56K.  Seems it may be due for another.  I guess
I get to learn how much more work a syncro clutch is than a 2wd.

Rennie
VolksDragon@earthlink.net
Los Angeles

61 crew cab (911 conversion)
65 convertible
84 vanagon (for sale)
84 vanagon (another for sale)
86 syncro
93 fox

The Bus Depot wrote:

> > the bus has developed this very strong shudder when letting out the clutch
> > in reverse and first from a dead stop.  doesn't happen all the time, but
> > almost all of the time, and much less when the bus is still
> > moving a little.
>
> The Vanagon clutch shudder has been covered on the list a number of times
> and is certainly in the archives.  A small percentage of Vanagons seem to
> develop this.  Some people have blamed the Sachs clutches, but others
> (including myself) feel that the actual culprit is more likely to be worn
> engine or trans mounts, or in some cases a flywheel that needs resurfacing.
> I started carrying the Luk clutch kits in response to those who blamed the
> Sachs kits for the shudder, and have to admit that I haven't had a report of
> any shudder with Luk kits.  But I'm reluctant to draw any conclusions from
> that because the sample size of installed Luk clutches is much smaller than
> with Sachs kits.  In other words, given that the vast majority of Vanagons
> have Sachs clutches, the odds state that any Vanagon that developed the
> problem would probably have a Sachs clutch, even if there was no causal
> relationship between the two. Check the archives; you'll see way too much
> info (much of it conflicting) on the subject. :-)
>
> - Ron Salmon
>   The Bus Depot, Inc.
>   http://www.busdepot.com
>   (215) 234-VWVW