Could be a bad operating cyclinder, (usually acompanied with leaking) or
more likely a bad pressure plate. Since you also have the shudder, i would
gor for the pressure palte and the operating fork is most likely worn also.

Dennis

>From: Edward Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
>Reply-To: Edward Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Clutch pedal difficult to push
>Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:36:08 -0400
>
>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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