Wil,
   Perhaps you need a new mechanic.
It is best to bleed the brake fluid out the bleeder
when changing the pads which requires adding fluid.
When you push the pad inward you push dirty fluid back
into the reservoir that the clutch system shares.
You may want to flush the entire system with fresh
fluid.   Remove the fluid first and add fresh before
bleeding.
             regards Gary
"I'm fairly sure the mechanic did nothing to the brake
fluid since he wasn't a VW guy & probably didn't even
know where it
was...just put the pads on the front."

Date:    Tue, 2 Aug 2005 22:26:42 -0400
From:    Wil Haslup <wil@CHARMFX.COM>
Subject: Re: clutch shudder?

After reading the several replies I wanted to add a
few things.

The shudder is a recent phenom.  The van has near 200K
on it but I
wouldn't say the condition of the mounts or anything
else has recently
gotten worse.  It was pretty old when I got it.

I haven't checked my brake fluid reservoir in quite a
while.  I
probably
should just to make sure there is enough to properly
actuate the clutch
slave.  Now that I think about it the shudder began
recently after a
front brake job.  I'm fairly sure the mechanic did
nothing to the brake
fluid since he wasn't a VW guy & probably didn't even
know where it
was...just put the pads on the front.

I've noticed some oil spattered on the surface of my
rear hatch for
some
time...not an immense amount but some.  I did not
notice needing to add
any more oil than has been necessary since I got the
Vanagon and it
doesn't use more than .5 qt. in a few tank fulls of
gas.

--

Wil

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