I think that Karl is right on the money on this one.  You can replace
the clutch and pilot bearing and resurface the flywheel, but if the
clutch actuator cross-shaft is worn unevenly from side to side, clutch
performance will suffer.  After having seen a couple of the aftermarket
(probably Mexican) cross-shafts fail, I only buy the German ones with
the induction-hardened fingers.  The rubber mounts are certainly a
potential issue, but the labor required to replace the clutch is
significant enough to justify the cost of a new cross-shaft if it is
worn unevenly.

Michael Snow
1987 Syncro GL camper
1986 GL
1982 Westfalia 1.9D

Keith Ovregaard wrote:
> Will
>
> My 84 Westy has had that same shudder for years and I had a new
> clutch/pilot bearing and resurfaced flywheel done only about 35K mi.
> ago (although it was in 1996). It's sort of annoying, but has not
> gotten worse. I wonder if the motor/trany mounts might have something
> to do with the shuddering. I noticed that my 90 Syncro mounts are
> really stiff, but my 84 Vanagon has a lot more wiggle when I try to
> move the motor back and forth. Think about it. When you let out the
> clutch, torque is applied to the drive train and the engine wants to
> twist. If slop in the mounts allows too much twist, the mounts can act
> like a rubber band and spring back which could set up an oscillating
> shudder until the clutch is fully engaged. My 2 cents: check into the
> mounts before spending a lot of $$ on a new clutch, etc.
>
> Keith O
> 84 Westy "Brownie" Solar Charged Camper
> 90 Westy Syncro (No name yet for the pastel white box)
>
>
> On Aug 2, 2005, at 10:55 AM, Wil Haslup wrote:
>
>> Mike Collum wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Wil,
>>>
>>> I'd say it's clutch time ... and while you're there you should replace
>>> the engine seal and pilot bearing along with having the flywheel
>>> resurfaced.  Of course you'll replace the throwout bearing and you
>>> should either true up the release fork or replace it along with
>>> checking/replacing its bushings.  Replacing the input shaft seal in
>>> the
>>> transmission is another must do as far as I'm concerned.
>>>
>>> While it's all out ... replacing the starter bushing is a very good
>>> idea, too.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>> Houlton, Maine
>>
>>
>> Thanks for the many responses both on and off list.
>>
>> I expected as much.  I usually do most of the work on my Vanagon but
>> I'm
>> going to have to have this done.  What's the typical price tag.
>>
>> At the moment I only have the shudder starting from a stop in first.
>> When shifting at speed into 2nd, 3rd, or 4th there is none and I can't
>> say I've noticed it in reverse.  Does this mean I've got some time or
>> is
>> that wishful thinking?
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Wil
>>
>>
>> -- http://www.charmfx.com/
>>
>> "In action a great heart is the chief qualification. In work, a great
>> head."
>> -- Arthur Schopenhauer
>>
>>
>