> I have just started carrying the LUK brand clutch kits for the
> Vanagon.  These are the kits that are more heavy duty for the
> syncro Vanagon.  They come with disc, pressure plate, throwout
> bearing, pilot bearing, and alignment tool.  I would like to
> offer these at a list special for the next couple of weeks for
> $180.  Please email me or call if you are interested.

Actually, if they're coming from LuK of North America, they are the LuK
competitor to the stock Sachs kit.  Very good kit, and perhaps heavier duty
than the Sachs kit.  But not the fabled "syncro" kit.  While there is a
"heavy duty" version of the LuK kit, it is not sold in North America (I have
to import it right from Germany myself) - and is not actually a "syncro" kit
either, for that matter.

To clear up the first point of confusion, there never was a special clutch
kit for the Syncro.  Late '89 and newer Vanagons used a slightly different
(and slightly heavier duty) clutch kit, mainly designed to reduce clutch
pedal travel. This has been erroneously referred to here on the Vanagon list
as a Syncro kit, whereas in fact it was used on all Vanagons from a certain
VIN number on, Syncro or not.

But that kit is not sold in the U.S. by LuK or by Sachs, and hasn't been for
years.  In the U.S., both manufactuers have superceded this heavier duty kit
to the standard '80-89 kit.  They now ship it for all applications '80-91.

However, in Europe, LuK DOES still make that heavy duty '89-91 kit, and
that's where I have to get it. (In fat, even there I have to special order
it.)  It can be identified because it does not come with the alignment tool
and pilot bearing like the ones distributed in North America do. In fact
it's a totally different kit from the one sold by LuK in the U.S.; even the
throwout bearing is slightly different (although they are interchangeable).
While this kit is a direct replacement for '89-91, it could be considered an
upgrade for all Vanagons, and we sell it as such. The price is $189 with
listmember discount.

We also sell the standard LuK kit. This is the one that comes with alignment
tool etc. and can be obtained through normal channels.  It is LuK's version
of the standard Vanagon clutch kit - their direct competitor to the Sachs
kit- which they sell as fitting '80-91 (and it does, but like the Sachs is
technically actually correct only for '80-89).  While it might be considered
"heavy duty" compared to the Sachs kit, it is not the same as the heavy duty
LuK kit mentioned above.  It runs $143 with listmember discount.

Finally, we sell the stock Sachs kit (again, sold as fitting '80-91, but
technically correct for '80-89).  This is $114 with listmember discount.

Personally I would rate the desirability of the kits in the order that I
listed them.  The $189 kit is the best, followed by the stock LuK kit, and
then the Sachs one.  Right now I have the Sachs kit in my Vanagon, and so do
most of my customers. But I am going to replace my clutch soon on my own
Westy, and the $189 kit is the one I'm going to use. For as much of a hassle
as a clutch job is, in my opinion it's just plain silly not to use the best
clutch parts available.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  (215) 234-VWVW
  www.busdepot.com

_____________________________________________
Toll-Free for Orders by Part #    1-866-BUS-DEPOT