Help me pick a clutch!

[absalom]

Replacing rear main seal and an original clutch with 340k miles. With a 1 week old newborn, I can't justify dropping $500 + tax/shipping on a SBC clutch. Which ones of the following would be best for a 2002 w/ 764 nozzles and eventually a tune?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BAHNHOF-Stage-3-Clutch-Kit-Flywheel-Audi-TT-VW-beetle-Golf-Jetta-1-8L-1-9L-TDI-/160709974607?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item256b0f9a4f&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/99-05-VW-Jetta-TDI-1-9L-SACHS-HD-CLUTCH-KIT-FLYWHEEL-/400340452230?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d36268386&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FX-STAGE-1-CLUTCH-KIT-FLYWHEEL-AUDI-TT-VW-BEETLE-GOLF-JETTA-1-8L-1-8T-1-9L-TDI-/400687831651?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d4adb1a63&vxp=mtr

 

[BobnOH]

I'm not much of an ebay fan, try this one

 

[maxmoo]

Its nice to support our venders but on the other hand if you are on a limited budget and want a quality OEM clutch check out the Luk 17-050 0n amazon....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1JEEY3ZA6DXKC8FDM8Q7


oops....just noticed that you have nozzles and a tune....I take back my recommendation....only good for stock....can`t beat the price though

 

[Jesus Is Lord]

The Bahnhof and FX clutch you have listed are the same exact clutch. I did a lot of research on those exact clutchs. They are absolute garbage.

I ended up using a LUK 17-050. maxmoo has a link in his post.

I purchased this one, it is cheaper than Amazon. The $188.63 clutch kit in this link is the LUK 17-050.
http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2000/volkswagen/jetta/clutch/clutch_kit.html

 

[absalom]

Is there a sub $350 option that can handle tune and nozzles?

The Bahnhof and FX clutch you have listed are the same exact clutch. I did a lot of research on those exact clutchs. They are absolute garbage.

I ended up using a LUK 17-050. maxmoo has a link in his post.

I purchased this one, it is cheaper than Amazon. The $188.63 clutch kit in this link is the LUK 17-050.
http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2000/volkswagen/jetta/clutch/clutch_kit.html

Not doubting you, but what makes them garbage? I don't believe the LUK clutch will hold up to a tune and nozzles ... please correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[SyncroHead]

Car: 2004 New Beetle TDI, 96K miles. Original clutch & DMF. Stock everything.
New to me, purchased just a few days ago with hard shifting, suspecting the clutch or DMF failure. Mindset: Drive directly to the shop, by the shortest route! I felt very relived to get it into the shop late before it got much worse.

Just had my clutch replaced today also. Wanted assurance about delivery, so I ordered my $199 complete LUK 17-050 assembly from Amazon, shipped direct to my mechanic. He said his sources could only provide these for over $350 and was happy to have me order the clutch.

By the time I got by the shop late in the afternoon, it was already installed, so I didn't get a look inside. But, the old clutch parts told quite a story! Flywheel was quite marred with many discolored spots alternating with shiny spots. Surface of the pressure plate was very similar, but even worse. The big deal was that the pressure plate was severely cracked in several places. About 5 easily visible cracks, with two going all the way from the inner to the outer edge of the ring. The largest of the cracks (a complete separation actually) was about 1/8" across!

Clutch disk itself had signs of wear, but didn't look all that bad compared to the cracked up pressure plate. Felt very fortunate to have this replaced before the pressure plate just grenade and sent shrapnel everywhere.

I'm amazed we can get this Luk 17-050 complete assembly (flywheel, disk, pressure plate, T/O bearing) for under $200 - shipped! It's a good day when parts cost less than you feared.

Looking forward to being able to feel the NB TDI shift the way it's supposed to.

Jim

 

[nkgagne]

I splurged on the SBC Stage II Daily, not for the performance, but for longevity. I have a lot of stop & go traffic on my commute, and lots of stops & starts (red lights, stop signs, etc.). It's not clutch-friendly. Not eager to pay another $500 in labour in another 3 years, so got a good clutch and insisted all parts in the bellhousing be replaced.

Also, contrary to common wisdom, I got the 14# flywheel and love it. Car feels much spritelier, but is a bit louder at full throttle.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

The LUK 17-050 is a very nice clutch kit. I had it in my wagon briefly. It drives beautifully, but it won't hold much power. PP764s and a tune will probably test its limits. My wagon overwhelmed it immediately. I had SBC modify the friction material and put it in my A3, and it was great in that application.

The second option on the first post isn't a bad one, as long as you're willing to put up with the noise from the light flywheel. And some cars won't idle or run well at low speeds with a light flywheel: seems something with the fueling is upset by the lack of rotating mass. My '99.5 wouldn't run well at low speeds with a 14 lb. flywheel: put in a 22 lb. and it runs great.

 

[Jesus Is Lord]

Is there a sub $350 option that can handle tune and nozzles?




Not doubting you, but what makes them garbage? I don't believe the LUK clutch will hold up to a tune and nozzles ... please correct me if I'm wrong!

I read that they were either stock clutches with a coat of paint or Chinese garbage. I have a LUK 17-050 with DLC 1019 nozzles and 11mm pump. So i know it will hold that, I am not sure about a tune because I have never tried.

 

[mwalters]

I put a SPEC stage 1 clutch in my 2003 when I put bigger injectors and RC3+ chip in it at 30k miles. Holds 300 ft-lbs. It was still going when I sold the car with 230k miles!!

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/partdetails/SPEC/Clutch/Clutch_Kits/Euro_Stage_1/7256

 

[nkgagne]

The second option on the first post isn't a bad one, as long as you're willing to put up with the noise from the light flywheel. And some cars won't idle or run well at low speeds with a light flywheel: seems something with the fueling is upset by the lack of rotating mass. My '99.5 wouldn't run well at low speeds with a 14 lb. flywheel: put in a 22 lb. and it runs great.

Interesting, Peter. Maybe this is a difference between ALH and PD? My PD is happy as a pig in <insert bleep sound effect of choice> with the 14 #, just a little noisier is all. Slow-speed driving is fine.

 

[kray]

I did this guy from iDparts.com with the G60/VR6 option. Peter actually sold it to me. Came with everything I needed to get the job done (including all your stretch bolts). Very very happy with how strong it is. Unfortunately, it made the differential my new weak link which exploded a month later when the pin slipped out.

I have 270,000 miles and replaced the stock clutch which had no life left in it. I'm running RC stage 2 with PP520 injectors and a fresh VNT15.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Interesting, Peter. Maybe this is a difference between ALH and PD? My PD is happy as a pig in <insert bleep sound effect of choice> with the 14 #, just a little noisier is all. Slow-speed driving is fine.

I think it is a rotary pump thing. And more common on the older ALHs with more primitive electronics than the later ALHs.

 

[absalom]

Just pulled the trigger on a used VR6/G60 combo, however it doesn't come with the required nuts/bolts. I assume my stock bolts will not work, correct? Does anyone know where I can pick these up?

 

[Dimitri16V]

Kit should come with bolts to crank and the pressure plate bolts
Alignment tool should be included

I have the Sachs VR6/G60 combo . Holds power just fine , just noisy as hell at idle

 

[nkgagne]

Dimitri, he said it's used. All the fasteners are single use, so...

The local dealer should have the hardware, or hit up idparts.com

 

[absalom]

Dimitri, he said it's used. All the fasteners are single use, so...

The local dealer should have the hardware, or hit up idparts.com

Appreciate this, which car would I be buying the fasteners for?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Flywheel bolts, pressure plate screws, and new bolts for the transmission and dogbone mounts.

 

[Cha2ga]

Will the Sachs VR6-G60 from idparts hold an ALH with 5 speed , pp520, Malone stage 3, egr delete? If so, will it leave room to grow into vnt17 and 3 exhaust? How about a south end stage 2 daily?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

If you go to the VNT-17 and have the car tuned for it you may be pushing the G60/VR6. I had no problems with mine but others have.

 

[absalom]

Flywheel bolts, pressure plate screws, and new bolts for the transmission and dogbone mounts.

Thanks for this info, would you happen to know which year/model vehicle I will need flywheel bolts and pressure plate screws for? I made an order from you guys on Saturday, any chance it hasn't shipped out yet?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

For the flywheel you can use these, or these. Only difference is one is a hex head and one is a triple-square. Pressure plate screws are here. You'll need six of both.

We have a bolt kit for clutch installation, OE torque to yield bolts.

I don't know if your order went out or not this weekend, it may well have. Best to call us after 9:00 EDT and find out. Or place a new order and drop us an email to combine if possible.

 

[macoombi]

For what it's worth, I misplaced one of the pressure plate bolts for my new clutch and went to the dealership with the part # listing from the id parts webpage and the dealer had it in stock. It was about $2 instead of the $1 that id parts charges.

 

[SyncroHead]

Car: 2004 New Beetle TDI, 96K miles. Original clutch & DMF. Stock everything.

I picked up the car a day or so after my clutch replacement on 10-24 and wanted to report findings.
The LUK 17-050 works very nicely in this application. Very smooth engagement, no noise, light clutch feel, nothing to complain about. Perfect for this stock application and a very easy clutch for our teenage girl to learn to drive a manual transmission.
I have no comments about it's sufficiency with higher powered engines or it's ability to launch quickly for drag racing.

Jim