Hi Dean,
    Your wife is correct. While the clutch is disengaged the throwout
bearing and the crank shaft / #1 main bearing must withstand the pressure of
the clutch spring.  The pilot bearing is also active.  However our vanagon
clutch system is well designed and last 100k or more. Most people change
throwout and pilot bearings anytime they pull the engine or transaxle so the
clutch bearings rarely give problems.  I usually set at stop lights with the
clutch disengaged ready to launch.
Darrell
----- Original Message -----
From: Dean Forshee <steeling@CREATIVE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 6:48 AM
Subject: Proper Clutch use

> I have an ongoing debate with my wife regarding the proper way to drive
our
> Vanagon.  I am in the habit of waiting at a traffic light or stopsign with
> the Van in first gear, with the clutch fully engaged.  My wife says that
> that is hard on the clutch and that I should take it out of gear and put
it
> in neutral.  I've owned a number of standard shift vehicles in the past
and
> don't recall any problems resulting from my (allegedly) bad habit... so I
> put it to the listee group - is there any downside to waiting at a traffic
> light or stopsign in first gear with the clutch all the way engaged?  I'd
> love for the list to help settle this debate.  Thanks.   -Dean.
>