I just took my '87 in for a clutch replacement, and the service manager
called me the next day to tell me that not only was my throw out bearing
bad, but I needed a new slave cylinder, "cross shaft", and cross shaft
bushing (is this the release shaft under a different name), and my
flywheel resurfaced and new main seal.

He began to describe how the clutch must have felt (I didn't speak to him
when I dropped it off), and he really missed the boat in his
description.  Other than some
intermittent screeching with the clutch pedal out (Most people said pilot
bearing), it drove as it always has.  It shifted fine without any of the
crunching or sloppy shifting that the service manager stated must have
been the case.

Unfortunately, the place I dropped it off is about an hour away, so I
can't go see for myself.  I'm wondering if he's trying to take me for a
ride, or if it's possible that all the things mentioned above need to be
done and I was just experiencing a little symptom.

As well as it was driving, and given the way the service manager was
talking, I feel like somethign is up.  However, I've never had a vehicle
that needed a clutch or clutch parts, so I'm quite ignorant with respect
to these matters.

What started off as a $250 clutch job is being revised to a $575 job.
I've done most of the work on my vanagon since I've had it with the help
of the list, so it's kind of a drag having to pay such huge sums.  It
would help if I could find someone that I could trust for sure around
here.

Thanks in advance for any input.

david