Hydraulic clutches are used like hydraulic lifters. The main purpose is to
eliminate the need for adjustments. A return sprig would require some type
of stop that would have to be adjusted as the clutch wears. Same problem
with disk brakes. No adjustment but they always rub just a bit. I have
done very few clutch jobs that only needed a release bearing so it really
is not an issue.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
neil N
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 9:12 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 85 Vanagon - Clutch throw-out level moverment ?

I recall seeing something about this on the list a while back (last
summer?)
IIRC, there was speculation as to whether or not a return spring should
have
been designed/installed at the factory.
Personally I don't know why there isn't one. It seems to me that there is
great potential for premature throw out bearing wear.

Neil.

On Dec 1, 2007 5:46 PM, AAG - Larry Word <word_aag@comcast.net> wrote:

> Tonight, in the middle of bleeding my new master cyl./slave cylinders,
it
> dawned on me that I don't understand something about these van's I've
always
> taken for granted - without some sort of "return spring" for the
throwout
> level (on the bellhousing), what makes the slave cylinder return to its
> original "upright" position?
>
> Is it simply the clutch pressure plate?  If so, why do other car manual
> transmissions/clutch have a return type spring on their system?
>
> Thanks for group's insight - I'm always amazed by the good answers I
> receive from the Vanagon community.
>
> Thanks
>
> Larry
> Ga.
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco"  (Bustorius) http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Engine swap beginings: http://musomuso.googlepages.com/home