Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 12:06:12 -0600
Reply-To: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject: Re: Clutch problems
In-Reply-To: <010101c3dd23$7fbb96e0$55bdd018@columbus.rr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
I concur. I had a rattling sound on startup, turned out to be a broken
spring at about 170K miles. The clutch had to come out for a leaking
seal, so it didn't cost anything but the plate, really. But it was a
very intermittent problem while it lasted. No shuddering though, just
screeching and rattling till the broken part found some place to hide
till the next start.
Jim
On Jan 17, 2004, at 11:58 AM, Jon Schaer wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Shawn Wright" <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
>>
>> I had
>> a brand new Sachs clutch disc fail and lose a spring inside the
>> bellhousing of my '85 Jetta a few years ago. The shuddering started
>> within a few months (perhaps less) of installing it, and when the
>> spring
>> went, it got dramatically worse, and a grating sound was added, as the
>> spring flew around the bellhousing, getting wedged into various
>> places...
>>
>
> Funny (sorta). I had a similar Vanagon problem, though I think it was a
> reman disc, and the springs weren't replaced. One broke (unbeknownst
> to me).
>
> I had been having some shuttering trouble. Ended up finding some loose
> CV
> bolts on one side, so I thought that was the cause, and it was better
> after
> tightening. Shudder was sporadic anyway, so I was procrastinating
> deeper
> investigation. Sometime later, I lost clutch action very quickly. Like
> in a
> day. Pedal felt normal, but clutch wouldn't disengage. I had never
> dealt
> with a hydraulic clutch before (my VW history involves 4 Sciroccos and
> a
> diesel Rabbit, and a few type II's as a kid). Seemed the classic
> symptom of
> a slave cylinder failure.
>
> I performed the slave replacement, and bled just by blocking the
> clutch fork
> and bleeding like brakes. Clutch worked great!!........for about 2
> miles.
> Then the lack of action returned. Shoot! Guess the master was shot,
> too, so
> I replaced that, and bled the same way. Nothing. So I figured my
> bleeding
> was to blame, so I purchased a pressure bleeder and rebled like the
> manual
> suggested. Still nothing. I was befuddled. I even tried shimming the
> slave
> piston rod seat to artificially increase the stroke reach. Zilch.
>
> Nothing left but to drop the tranny. Bingo! Disc and pressure plate
> were
> very young and near pristine, but I found the one spring missing. It
> had
> bounced down into the crotch of the PP fingers and was preventing the
> disengagement. So now I have a complete clutch system R&R and a sore
> spot
> from beating my head against the wall.
>
> I thought about investigating the previous owner's clutch job, but
> even if
> it was a clear disc defect (???) I doubted they would forward any
> warranty
> eligibility to me. Just tough luck, and some great clutch service
> experience.
>
> Jon Schaer
> Columbus, OH
> 1985 GL
> 139,000+
>
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