Steve -- Prepare for lots of mail on this one.  The list just went
through a 'oh, you have that too?!' phase on this question a few months
ago.  Check the archives and you'll find that lots and lots of vanagon
owners have the same experience and while some blame Sachs clutch
plates, it's not conclusively determined yet.  I can't remember anyone
with a non-Sachs reporting the problem, but there are many perfectly
happy clutches out there with Sachs plates.

Oh, yeah, mine does it too and I just hate it.  I have replaced every
single part of the clutch system (and I do mean that literally) and
it has had no effect.

        Gary

On Sat, 1 Aug 1998, Steven Manning wrote:
> I have this problem wit my '84 vanagon that started while on a trip in
> Colorado a few weeks ago. When I let the clutch out from a stop in first
> gear or reverse, the rear end shakes and shudders until I get a little
> momentum going. I also noticed the clutch is not as sensitive as it used
> to be.
>
> Could this be the beginning of the end of clutch plates and throwout
> bearing?? If so, how deep does my pocket have to be $$  ?.
>
> -steve
> DBG
>

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Shea                                       shea@xmission.com
Salt Lake City                      http://www.xmission.com/~shea