Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 16:25:14 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: 13 Year old Brake Fluid
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Jere
If yoou have a shuddering clutch, you most likely have some crud on the
clutch disk, usually brought on by a seeping clutch seal. Only way to
get at it is pull the tranny, replace the seal , and install a new
clutch disc. If you have to go to all that trouble, you might as well
get a full clutch job, and you are done with it for thousands of miles.
I went through this twice in short order.
The first time because I had shuddering I replaced seal and clutch disc.
problem solved. A year later I blew the engine and when the engine was
replaced the new clutch seal that went in with the new engine
installation (it's actually an oil seal to prevent leakage around the
crankshaft - fits into the engine case.) started leaking. Bum
installation. In a short time I had significant shuddering. Again the
tranny came out, a newl seal installed, and a new clutch disc as the oil
and the shuddering ruined the existing one.
One thing. When you pull the tranny and replace the clutch disc and/or
pressure plate, be sure and have a new throwout bearing installed and
have the clutch disc side of the flywheel ground and resurfaced by a
machine shop. Poor business to install a new clutch disc against an old
flywheel face.
BTDT!!
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Jeremy Speer wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I just returned from my Vanagon Guru's place where we purged and bled
> all the hydraulics. We ended up flushing a full quart through in search
> of clean fluid at the bleeders. The color of the brake fluid was darker
> than coffee at first... and took many pumps to run clear.
>
> Despite the fresh fluid, the brakes feel pretty much the same.
>
> The clutch, however, is a different story. I got into the van and
> pressed the clutch pedal as i always do prior to starting the engine. It
> fell to the floor like it was not attached to anything.
>
> "Whoa, is this supposed to feel like that?"
>
> "Start her up, see if it's disengaging."
>
> Sure enough it worked perfectly... the clutch pedal in my van has always
> put up a bit of resistance, which i thought was normal. But after the
> bleed, although the pedal feels loose and sloppy at first, the point
> where the clutch begins to grab is much clearer and exact. What's even
> better there is NO SHUDDER at all when i start off in first gear. GREAT,
> i thought.
>
> Well, it didn't last. By the time i finished the 54 mile drive home the
> clutch seems to have "degenerated" back to it's pre-bleed state. The
> pedal provides more resistance, but the exact point of engagement seems
> more approximate... and if i'm not careful it shudders terribly when
> starting from zero.
>
> Air creeping in somewhere? Failing master/slave cylinder? The slave was
> replaced just about one year ago, but not by my Vangon Guru, so it might
> be suspect. Anybody experience this sort of behavior?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -jspeer
> '89 Westy GL, "Mystery Machine"
>
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