Clutch mishap???

**setay** · 06-02-2008 12:54 AM

Story is, just about an hour ago, im coming from my house to drop my cousin off at his house. I'm one of the most "spirited" audi drivers there are, trust me. I will launch on anybody, whether they're in a honda hatch or a charger r/t. but tonight just doing it for some practice, im still trying to alter at what rpm i launch at.

this particular one was at about 4000 WOT, chirped the wheels and was off. but, misshifted 2nd

, and i thought how embarrasing as i tried to just ease into second after my takeoff. what happened was, the tranny was not going to have it. i couldn't get any gear to engage, even after trying to rev match the clutch and flywheel.

instantly i think i have just eff'd up my clutch. as im coasting down to his house, i get 4th to go in, then 3rd, which to me felt more like the tranny was at the rpm to where it didn't need the clutch, because the gears meshed together perfectly. as i come to a stop in front of his house, i play around with first and its like new. i put it into reverse, same thing, it acts like no problem. which for some reason made me think slave cylinder, but after settling down and analyzing the situation i felt it had to be the linkage, maybe the bolt came loose. but then again, it brings up the question why would it engage again, after first failing. the SS FE is a tough clutch, i highly doubt the problem is with the disc itself.

anyone else have any thoughts? im jacking up the car first thing tomorrow morning, so if interested i could post up my findings. sorry for the length, i was thinking at the same time i was typing.

Thanks for any responses

**sean1.8t** · 06-02-2008 02:14 AM

wow. i am lost now.

so now you can engage every gear just fine and the clutch is acting like normal? i can't figure out what you are asking.

i'd definately be interested in your findings as i just went from OFE to FE 2 days ago.

**sean1.8t** · 06-02-2008 02:16 AM

oh, and take it easy on your drving man. the streets are not your racetrack.. if there's one thing i know. if you treat the car like shit, it will shit on you.

**setay** · 06-02-2008 02:25 AM

ok, for your first post, im asking what do you think could have caused this? every gear engages fine, as if nothing happened...

and for your second post i understand that streetracing is viewed down upon by most, and i have read of bad accidents caused by racing. but i feel that i never take it over the line. like i said i'll launch on people, but won't go past 50 because i know our cars stock are already tired at that speed. besides, turns are more fun. and i know you didn't mean any offense by your posts, but i would never treat my car like shit, i just think if i put the money into making it healthy. it should definately be able to hold itself together through some launches.

**sean1.8t** · 06-02-2008 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by setay

i just think if i put the money into making it healthy. it should definately be able to hold itself together through some launches.

yeah, we can hope so.. but at the same time, "you gotta pay to play" and sometimes paying means a check that you don't want to write...

but im not really sure what it could have been. definately not a shift rod failure or bolt coming loose. as it's fixed itself. does sound like the disk fused itself to the flywheel and then broke itself free.

does the clutch feel completely normal now? or does it feel a little different?

**setay** · 06-02-2008 02:53 AM

feels exactly like it did before it happened, not one thing seemed unusual in the way it engaged once i was able to put it into gear. nor have i had any other type of problem with the clutch since i installed it.

for the clutch fusing together, can you tell me what would cause it to do that? i broke in the clutch to 600 miles without one launch during that period.

and thanks for your help so far, i really do appreciate it.

**sean1.8t** · 06-02-2008 02:58 AM

well this is why i upgraded from the OFE disk to the FE disk. apparently the organic side of the disk(pressure plate side) does not take heat well, such as launches and slipping. so they are known to fuse to the pressure plate.

but when i pulled my clutch out, the feramic side(same material that is found on both sides of the FE disk) was the one that had fused itself to the flywheel. you can see on my disk what portion of the disk was fused to the flywheel..

i couldn't get mine to break loose though..

**BlaQ_B6** · 06-02-2008 09:53 AM

What's crazy is that I had a similar problem in my old jetta. I had launched and shifted hard into 2nd, then just coasted, didn't try shifting. But, when I did try to get into gear again, nothing would work. Finally, I forced her into 2nd and was able to barely roll off again, then everything worked as it did before.

**setay** · 06-02-2008 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by BlaQ_B6

What's crazy is that I had a similar problem in my old jetta. I had launched and shifted hard into 2nd, then just coasted, didn't try shifting. But, when I did try to get into gear again, nothing would work. Finally, I forced her into 2nd and was able to barely roll off again, then everything worked as it did before.

when you did that it must have been with an upgraded clutch right?