Date:         Wed, 2 Apr 2003 18:47:03 -0500
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: clutch chatter -- how serious?
Comments: To: THX0001@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <20.e170d32.2bbc75c6@aol.com>
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George Goff wrote:
> In my experience, a worn out pilot bearing will cause a stiff shifter (i.e.,
> reluctance to go into gear) when going into 1st or reverse at a stop
> accompanied by a little gear crunch.

When the one on my '75 went out, the first symptom was a grinding,
scraping noise with the clutch depressed.  Then I got the stuff shifter
and grinding.  Eventually it seized completely and I was unable to
disengage.

I had clutch chatter, too, but it continued after the replacement so it
was unrelated.  On that van I'm pretty sure it was bad motor/tranny
mounts.  With a cable-operated clutch, this can cause a feedback loop
because when the tranny moves, you're effectively changing the length of
the cable!