How good is South Bend Stage 3 OFE HD?

[Nebone]

I'm looking into using this clutch with stock dual mass flywheel on my 2001 1.8T for daily driving with occasional 1/4 mile and track time. I want to be able to drop the hammer sometime and actually lanch the car w/o issues.

Future plans involve 2871R at the most.

I'd like to hear personal experience and feel and performance of this clutch.

[mike-2ptzero]

Stage 3 wont be able to hold a hard launch with a well tuned 2871, but it might be able to handle normal driving.


BTW I sent you a PM.

[Poopie]

it will hold the power but i think launching will be an issue.

[pac1085]

didn't one or two people on here separate the friction material from the clutch when launching with the stg3?

[Nebone]

I also plan to toss in a B5 2.8 Quattro transmission to replace my B5 1.8T Quattro transmission.

[Poopie]

thats just gonna increase the load on the clutch.

[mike-2ptzero]

didn't one or two people on here separate the friction material from the clutch when launching with the stg3?

Yes, but the stage 3 for the DMFW uses a unsprung iron disk vs the OFE style sprung disk for the LWFW.The people that separated the friction material from the disk were using the OFE disk. This is why I suggest the SB stage 5 for people that plan on drag racing.


I can get a modified SB stage 3 kit for the DMFW that basically has the clamping pressure of a SS prssure plate. I mainly sell those to 2.8 guys that are making too much power for the normal stage 3 and SB doesn't offer a stage 4 for the 2.8.

[Nebone]

Yes, but the stage 3 for the DMFW uses a unsprung iron disk vs the OFE style sprung disk for the LWFW.The people that separated the friction material from the disk were using the OFE disk. This is why I suggest the SB stage 5 for people that plan on drag racing.


I can get a modified SB stage 3 kit for the DMFW that basically has the clamping pressure of a SS prssure plate. I mainly sell those to 2.8 guys that are making too much power for the normal stage 3 and SB doesn't offer a stage 4 for the 2.8.

Stage 3 for the 2.8 is rated much higher (430 ft*lb) than Stage 3 for the 1.8T (300 ft*lb).

Might not be a strong clutch after all. I have no slipping at all on my stock one with 128k miles unless I launch it on a hot day.

[317ssayzarc]

wanna take my 2.8 lol?

[t1demont1]

Dont try to tell yourself that you only need a stage3 and wont need a stage 5 because i tired, and here i am 6months later with a stg5 sitting next to me to support my build.

[Nebone]

wanna take my 2.8 lol?

We'll see. I seen that thing hit 70 mph in 2nd so me likey.

So I guess Stage 3 is weak sauce.

[gotaudi]

go with the sb stage 5, I have the sb stage 4 OFE. the stage 5 will take heat better than the stage 4 because of the organic side on the stage 4.

[mike-2ptzero]

We'll see. I seen that thing hit 70 mph in 2nd so me likey.

So I guess Stage 3 is weak sauce.

Yeah but it just takes longer to get up to that 70 mph then if it had a 1.8 trans in it.

Stage 3 for the 2.8 is rated much higher (430 ft*lb) than Stage 3 for the 1.8T (300 ft*lb).

Might not be a strong clutch after all. I have no slipping at all on my stock one with 128k miles unless I launch it on a hot day.

That is because the 2.8 uses a 240mm clutch setup while the 1.8T uses a 228mm. So the same clamping force and disk can handle more power because it is further from the center of the flywheel.


The stage 3 and stage 4 for the LWFW use the same disk but the SS presssure plate has more clamping force which is why it is rated at 450 vs the HD pressure plate stage 3 at 300.

So looking at that the modified stage 3 with the higher clamping force should bring the rating up closer to 400.

[bernB5]

I run the Stage 4 OFE on my 30r setup and it's handled the power and a few launches at 25 pounds. We'll see how it holds up soon though, my car will be running much better. Andy assured me it would fit my needs and goals etc..

[mike-2ptzero]

Might hold up on street tires, but if you put some sticky DR's on it might not hold.

[bernB5]

i have a feeling... that with 130k on the axles and driveshaft, 60k on the tranny and 2k on the clutch, something else will surely break with some sticky dr's before the clutch goes.. we'll see. if it can't handle it, i'll go back to andy @ southbend and tell him I'm not happy with the clutch he recommended and stands by and I'll upgrade.

[Nebone]

So we know the SB Stage 3 OFE won't take launching well on Quattro, but how about FWD?

[mike-2ptzero]

So we know the SB Stage 3 OFE won't take launching well on Quattro, but how about FWD?

It would be fine on a FWD car since it then has a higher rating since there is less load on the driveline on a FWD car.

i have a feeling... that with 130k on the axles and driveshaft, 60k on the tranny and 2k on the clutch, something else will surely break with some sticky dr's before the clutch goes.. we'll see. if it can't handle it, i'll go back to andy @ southbend and tell him I'm not happy with the clutch he recommended and stands by and I'll upgrade.

Then please explain how my OEM driveline holds up to launching with 600whp on DR's. 3 of the axles I have on my car and my driveshaft came on my car when I bought it new in 2000 and they have about 130k+ miles on them with 8 years of drag racing abuse. The 1 axle only got replaced because the CV broke.

[Nebone]

Then please explain how my OEM driveline holds up to launching with 600whp on DR's. 3 of the axles I have on my car and my driveshaft came on my car when I bought it new in 2000 and they have about 130k+ miles on them with 8 years of drag racing abuse. The 1 axle only got replaced because the CV broke.

Only way I can explain it that Audi gave it Strenght rating of 4 or more which is very high and that your car has good bearings and hubs not causing vibration or wabble which would normally kill axles. If the launching shear won't kill them, then normal driving won't come close.

After seeing the Launching 101...

[bernB5]

Then please explain how my OEM driveline holds up to launching with 600whp on DR's. 3 of the axles I have on my car and my driveshaft came on my car when I bought it new in 2000 and they have about 130k+ miles on them with 8 years of drag racing abuse. The 1 axle only got replaced because the CV broke.

I thought you had less miles on your car and was never aware of your part-replacement history.... I guess that's good news then. I'm really not worried about the clutch, the worst thing that can happen is it doesn't hold the power. oh well.

[mike-2ptzero]

I thought you had less miles on your car and was never aware of your part-replacement history.... I guess that's good news then. I'm really not worried about the clutch, the worst thing that can happen is it doesn't hold the power. oh well.

Well the axles tend to snap when you get wheel hop during a launch, remove any wheel hop and you really decrease the chance of a axle snapping.


I put 90K miles on the car in 24 months when I first bought it. Right now the cluster reads 125,497 miles, but the car has been driven without the cluster plugged in.

[Nebone]

Now it adds miles 1/4 mile at a time.

[mike-2ptzero]

Now it adds miles 1/4 mile at a time.

Actually 1 mile at a time.

[Nebone]

How different is clutch engagement with the South Bend clutches? Different than stock as in pedal travel?

[mike-2ptzero]

Most of the aftermarket clutchs put the engagement between the middle and bottom.