The list may remember my cries of anguish when my van wouldn't shift when
visiting southern California.  I think I posted that it was a pilot bearing
failure, it hadn't been replaced when the clutch had been done [I don't know
how many clutch replacements it had lasted but the clutch in there was about
20% worn].

So much for your shop's theory.

Mike

> From: TinkerMan <tinkerman007@YAHOO.COM>
> Reply-To: TinkerMan <tinkerman007@YAHOO.COM>
> Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2001 22:42:57 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: clutch shudder
>
> Thanks for the in-depth and professional response...
>
> No, I haven't asked them to keep costs absolutely down
> - on the contrary: I even asked them specifically to
> replace the pilot bearing but the mechanic said there
> was no need to (although I tried to insist, I didn't
> have the exact P.N. so somehow it wasn't done).
>
> thanks,
>
> T-man
>
> More comments embedded within your response:
>
> --- Coby Smolens <cobys5@HOME.COM> wrote:
>> Pilot Bearing: Also included in our estimate - it
>> comes in the clutch kit
>> from Sachs
>
> I've specifically requested the other, better quality
> (as mentioned on the list) company which I can't
> recall right now.
>
>> If this was the
>> original pilot bearing
>> it certainly should be replaced.
>
> I'm not sure, but I'm checking with the PO. The van
> has 173K Km on it's dial, and I've owned it for 6
> years and +90K, so the clutch has held for at least
> this long.
>
>> Because of
>> these "extra" items, and
>> the additional time to replace them, a complete
>> clutch job can be a $800
>
> Mine cost around $400 for the two clutch parts and
> R&R.
>
>> again. It might be acceptable for them to charge you
>> for removing and
>> installing flywheel, seal and o-ring, & pilot
>> bearing, since their price
>
> Do you have the exact VW parts I need to replace (I
> still haven't found a way to get an EKTA CD...:-)?
>
>> would have possibly have been higher if they had
>> done these things in the
>> beginning. They should absorb the tranny R&R,
>> though.
>
> That's what I thought too.
>
>
>
> =====
> Cheers,
> TinkerMan
>
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