Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 19:33:33 -0800
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: clutch pedal wear
In-Reply-To: <DF7836A9-155C-48C7-BEB4-AED8BFC224B7@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
About a year ago or so, I had some "clicking" when engaging clutch pedal. At the time on the Vanagon List, there was a thread about "ovaling" of the hole and wearing of the clevis pin; I was sure that was my situation for my 85 Vanagon with 170,000 miles or so. So I went to the trouble (not bad at all folks, just step-by-step, and for me it was a one-person operation in a narrow garage) of pulling dash to get to the clutch pedal.
No, I did not have to remove the whole cluster and go replace the hydraulic fluid. I was able to (somehow, not bad but don't remember details) pop off the C-ring, slide out the shaft, and somehow thread the clutch pedal up and out, or was it down and out. Anyway, got it out. Turns out....NO WEAR!!! Everything looked nearly new, nice and round hole, and the pin only showed a little shininess at the wear point. I lubed pin and hole and everything else I could see with grease gun grease, and put the whole mess back together. That's where it got harder...getting that C-clip back in the retaining groove....but somehow I did it and I'm no mechanic nor do I have fancy tools. Hardest part is the "body English", working sideways and upside down in that cramped area....I know you guys know what I mean.
Result? No clicking, smooth operation, and now that's been 20,000 miles or so (mostly long distance driving for ALL my miles, that of course makes a difference; daily drivers are going to have more wear for sure).
Just giving my results.....and to let you know that to remove clutch pedal you don't have to do a hydraulic oil bleeding and all. (PS....later, when I had a clutch slave cylinder failure, my mechanic did the fluid flushing and all...so no moisture for me...but I get it changed every 2 years...don't want corrosion hassles.)
Also, Benny Boys website was invaluable to me with regard to this job of dash removal. Thanks Ben!
Rich
85 Vanagon
San Diego
--- On Tue, 2/1/11, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: clutch pedal wear
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Tuesday, February 1, 2011, 6:52 PM
Having seen the wear in the clutch pedal clevis connection in both my
'82 and '86 vanagons, I have to imagine that most manual trans.
Vanagons have the same thing going on. Its not a big deal unless it
squeaks and drives you crazy with the noise, or it causes the pedal to
be rough, or wear completely and fail.
If you ever take the dash off for heater work, spend the extra time to
pull out the pedal assembly to have a look at it. It is a fair bit
more work, (have to bleed hydraulics after), but I think its worth it.
alistair
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