Date:         Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:07:22 -0400
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Crunchy Clutch Pedal Feel - intermittant
Comments: To: *Ryan Alfonso* <vangina@GMAIL.COM>

On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:11:04 -0700, Ryan Alfonso <vangina@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>Yo.  I hopped in my friends syncro and the clutch pedal is like butter.
>Mine is considerably stiffer and crunchified.  I've checked the archives
>about this issue, but now it's time to ask the masters...
>
>The patient is an '89 Westfalia, 205k, with a rebuilt 5spd installed about
>75k ago with a HD Luk clutch kit.
>
>I'm sure the problem isn't hydraulic (swapped out master and slave a while
>ago to no avail).
>
>So is there a simple and obvious way to determine whether it's the pedal
>assembly, or the release rod in the clutch housing?  Perhaps that it comes
>and goes may be a clue?  FWIW, there isn't a lot of play side to side in
the
>clutch pedal, feels like the brake.  When replacing the slave, I yanked
>around on the release rod and it had some slap in it, but didn't feel too
>loose.
>
>Statistically speaking, what's more likely to be the issue?  Do I rip out
>the dash, or drop the transaxle (again)?
>
>Grazzi,
>-R

It could still be hydraulic..a bit of air in the lines or a faulty
cylinder, even though you did recently replace them..That would be
the "Hard" pedal part.  "Crunchy?"  You may need some lube on the linkages,
too..but you probably won't be that lucky.

  I recently replaced my clutch hydraulics and got a faulty master
cylinder. My clutch worked, but it was sometimes really tough to push down
and at other times, it worked very easily indeed.  After I again replaced
the master cylinder and bled the system a couple of times, it is almost
effortless pushing down the pedal and no gear crunching, ever.  This is a 5
speed diesel tranny..

  I'd go back over the hydraulics, checking both cylinders and all the
connections for leakage.  I would again carefully bleed the clutch system
and while you have the van up, carefully lubricate all the moving parts of
both the shift linkage and the clutch pedals and linkages..I highly
recommend some stuff called Wurth HHS 2000 (in a spray can..Google it) to
make sure all your parts are sliding smoothly..

  You may be 'lucky ' like I was and find everything works smoothly again
without dropping the clutch out and more...
  Don Hanson