Sounds like the throw-out bearing....
Karl Batzler

-----Original Message-----
From: DAVID MOST <most@UCLA.EDU>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Friday, January 15, 1999 6:17 PM
Subject: intermittent screeching

>With all this talk of clutch chatter (I'm not sure what this is exactly),
>my '87 has developed a new problem.  There's an intermittent screeching
>from the rear which disappears when the clutch pedal is pressed even
>slightly.  It's not continuous, and it's most noticeable when idling, in
>the lower gears, and when I first get going after the Vanagon has been
>sitting for many hours.  However, it seems to be getting worse (that is,
>hearing it more of the time, not louder), and I'd like to know what's
>happening.  I can always make the sound go away by pressing the clutch
>pedal.
>
>So, does this mean I'm losing my clutch?  I've never worn out a clutch
>before, and the shifting is as good as it ever was.  If I didn't hear the
>sound, I wouldn't think anything was wrong with respect to performance.
>
>I'm pretty sure someone out there knows what the problem is here.  Any
>ideas?
>
>Thanks,
>David
>'87 non-GL camper 142k
>