Yeah, I'll agree with Jake that it may be the cross shaft. or the release bearing. (for the stiff clutch that is). When the clutch was changed out, did you know if they replace that release bearing also? If not, my money is on that one. - let us know.
And I think you might be onto your shutter with the "oil on the clutch" hypothesis.

-Ben

> Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:36:08 -0400
> From: eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM
> Subject: Clutch pedal difficult to push
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> I thought I saw this topic either here or on The Samba, but I can't find it now. Someone mentioned a few possible things to check as the cause for a clutch pedal that is harder than normal to push.
> 
> My '85 Westfalia has a clutch pedal that is hard to push in. It has always been like this, and now I'd like to spend some time and/or money to find out why, as it is much harder to push than my '87 Wolfsburg, or any other Vanagon I've driven. The clutch was replaced not to long before I bought the van several years ago, and the amount of effort you have to put into pushing the pedal has not changed since then.
> 
> There's also a bit of shuder, but I'm thinking that is either oil on the clutch or an engine or trans mount, and I'll try to have those things checked out tomorrow when I take it in for a leakdown test.
> 
> If anyone has any ideas, or remembers the post I saw within the last few weeks, I'd appreciate it.
> 
> Thanks,
> Ed in CT
> 
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