Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 19:04:54 EDT
Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Clutch replacement
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 5/21/2004 3:24:35 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
DStewart@REEDSMITH.COM writes:
> What's the price range for this type of work by a shop? I'm told my clutch
> needs replacing on my 1987 - thanks for any info.
>
As far as clutches go it's not too bad. When I last did it a year ago I think
even the VW dealer only got around $500.. And while that's not cheap exactly
clutches on the Golf and or VW Fox get about $500 from a regular
mechanic--that is not a VW dealer. I'd hate to see what VW charges for the Golf. A
"regular" mechanic should charge between $350 and $450 I'd say. Mine was $350 a year
ago.
I'd strongly recommend finding a Vanagon expert shop--not just a run of the
mill mechanic willing to work on any make vehicle from Chevrolet to Yugo. The
Vanangon can be fickle you know. Depending on where you are someone on the list
can most likely recommend a mechanic.
Also, generally on the clutch replacement you will get a new clutch plate,
pressure plate, and throw out bearing. Make sure you get all these. And I'd
recommend the mechanic replace the needle bearing that the transmission shaft
rides on which is in the flywheel. This needle bearing is easy to replace while
the transmission is out and that's a good idea for routine maintanance.
Otherwise you get the new clutch, a few months later it's possible the needle bearing
goes and you've got to remove the transmission to get to it $$$ and that costs
a lot more than the $20 bearing.
I paid $350 for my clutch replacement at Fast German Auto in Santa Ana, CA
and the experience was a HORROR. the Kid behind the counter said, "Replace the
needle bearing? Why? A needle bearing is the strongest bearing there is. They
never need replacing."
When I suggested he let me know about the cost of replacing transmission
mount--me knowing it needed replacement was it was torn. He said, "Why? That mount
never needs replacing."
Since I had spoken to another guy there earlier when I made the appointment I
figured they do all the work I had spoken about when I made the appointment,
and this know-it-all kid at the desk was probably harmless. Turns out the kid
at the desk was one of the owners. I only found out when after the work was
done I contacted the Better Business Bureau and the Dept. of Consumer Affairs
who gave me the owners name.
Oh, why did I contact the BBB and Consumer Affairs? Because when I picked up
my bus the interior had pools of brake fluid, my insturment pod was cracked
and flooded with fluid, the headlight switch was busted into and through the
hole in the dash pod, the interior both rear and driver's compartment was
decorated with globs of grease AND the owners of Fast German said they had noting to
do with any of it. That the Bus must have been that way when I dropped it off.
After I got in touch with authorities they agreed to send me a new insturment
pod housing, and I took the liberty to clean the brake fluid from the
interior and replace the pod myself. A week later I noticed they hadn't even
reconnected the reverse light switch after removing the transmission. This final
insult would have been forgiveable had all the previous not happened--the worst of
which was denying they did the damage, and the mechanic even siad to me "I was
never by the dashboard. I'd have no reason to be."
I said, "What about to fill the brake fluid reservoir?" (which also served
the clutch master and slave cylinder.)
Mechanic, "Oh yeah. I guess I was in there. But that's designed to overflow."
"designed to overflow"? Hmm.
This reminds me: we should think about taking Fast German off the list of
reliable mechanics.
Best
Jeff
83.5 Westfalia
LA,CA
