Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 21:11:41 -0500
Reply-To: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject: Re: Which clutch kit for 88 Westy?
In-Reply-To: <63a2e863821c.63821c63a2e8@ou.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> I'm going to replace my clutch, but I'm not sure
> whether to go with a Sachs or Luk. I've used Sachs kits in
> the past with no problems, but a friend of mine said he
> thought his clutch was a Luk. Has anyone had experience with
> both and care to comment on your experience with them? And
> what about size? Are there any options beyond the standard?
Since no one's tackled this on-list, I thought I'd put in my $0.02.
We sell three grades of clutch kits for the Vanagon...
1) Entry Level: $119. Normally this is the Sachs kit that everybody
sells, but we have obtained a small quantity of genuine Volkswagen brand
kits that we're offering for the same price. The difference is that the
Sachs kit includes a Mexican disc and pressure plate, whereas this
genuine VW kit is German/Austrian (but still Sachs components). On the
other hand the pressure plate is labeled as "remanufactured," whereas
the Sachs branded one is not. But being as it's a genuine VW unit I
wouldn't be too concerned about this, as it's clear that the workmanship
is first rate. I would expect this kit to be at least as good as and
almost certainly superior to the Sachs kit for the same price. We have
about 6 of these left. Then it's back to the Sachs for the same price.
2) Middle Grade: $149.95. This is LuK's competition to the Sachs kit,
and it is German made (although in some kits the throwout bearing is OEM
VW/Brazil; still a good part though). For those who are not aware, LuK,
like Sachs, is an OEM supplier to VW. However, their kit is a little
beefier than the Sachs, and in my opinion worth the small difference in
price. The Sachs has also gotten a reputation for susceptability to
clutch chatter (oft mentioned in the list archives), a condition which I
have never heard of with a LuK. To be honest I have my doubts as to
whether this reputation is deserved, as it's my suspicion that in most
if not virtually all cases the real culprits were worn motor mounts, an
uneven flywheel surface, or other external factors. But if you are
concerned about it, get the LuK (or, for the short term, one of our $119
genuine VW ones). Wost case is you got a slightly heavier duty, German
made kit for an extra $30, so there's no downside.
3) Top of the Line: $199.95. In early 1989, VW redesigned the Vanagon
clutch to include a different pressure plate with a reinforced collar
and slightly different design, the primary goal being to reduce required
pedal travel. This kit has erroneously been referred to on-list as a
"Syncro only" clutch kit, but in fact it was used on all mid-89 up
Vanagons (and fits all years of Vanagons). This is a LuK kit, and we
have to import it ourselves because it's no longer offered here. (In the
U.S., if you order the 89-91 kit from either LuK or Sachs, they
supercede it to the '80-89 kit and that's what you get.) Frankly, for
the amount of hassle that a clutch job is, my feeling is that it makes
sense to use the best parts you possibly can (especially for the
relatively small difference in price), and this would be it. Why chance
anything less, when the best is still reasonably priced and having to
re-do the job is such a major pain?
Link to all 3:
http://busdepot.com/view.jsp?model=43&category=10&group=23&prodgroup=303
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
(215) 234-VWVW
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Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT
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