Which clutch?

**onepoint8tee** · 08-19-2008 11:17 PM

For OE replacement, would you go with Luk or Sachs? Neither? Either?
Thanks.

**fenderstrat1184** · 08-19-2008 11:40 PM

i believe i read that your new '97 will be a project car... why not just do it right the first time and put in a clutch that can handle plenty of power. that way you won't have to worry later about possibly swapping in a stronger clutch if you go bt / bat

either way, just go southbend.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113728

12. Clutch/Flywheel – a great man once said "Stock clutch wasn't rated for stock power" . When going past a simple chipped setup, with the added hard driving a clutch may be needed. It allows for better launches and better grab between shifts. ECS tuning sells a decent clutch but Southbend clutches are the best. The OFE SS is the top dog while the HD is a step lower. Make sure you get a new OEM dual mass flywheel when you get the clutch. Everything should be around $1100 without install.. our cars have a heavy DualMass Flywheel, DMFW, that assists in balancing and honing the engine. it's dualmass is separated by rubber bushings so this is yet another source of the rubberish feel to our cars. there is no problem with the DMFW other than its ~24lbs. a lot of people keep it after a clutch upgrade for numerous reasons. depending on the shape of it you can easily resurface it with a heavyduty scotchbrite pad.. as for a Light Weight Flywheel, LWFW, there are many options, Unorthodox, Fidanza, AWE-tuning to name a few. they will help your car rev quicker but some say it's too much for a daily driver. hard to shift smooth and creates chatter at idle due to our internally balance enigines.

**onepoint8tee** · 08-20-2008 12:04 AM

I've decided to not go that route and make it a DD. I'll be chipping it at most. Are you saying this is not good for my needs? Or won't perform as well as/ last as long as an oem clutch? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Car-...4506.m20.l1116 Thanks for the help.

Or this?:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Car-...4506.m20.l1116
Last time I heard, Sachs is OEM equiptment in Porsches.
I'd have to spend $100 more to get southbend's stg 1 clutch.
I'm not trying to skimp, I'm just try to not spend more money than necessary for my needs.

**GO-GOTEKNO** · 08-20-2008 12:55 AM

Do it right the first time and go southbend

**onepoint8tee** · 08-20-2008 01:08 AM

I need to hear you say with confidence and evidence that "Sachs and Luk is the wrong way" for my needs before I take that sort of reply seriously. In other words, don't say something is better than the alternatives without giving reason as to why the alternatives are a poor choice. No offense, but that sort of one liner reply is seemingly biased, and is an indicator of ignorance. Thanks for taking the time to give your 2 cents though.

**CycloSteve** · 08-20-2008 04:50 AM

IMO the LUK and Sachs would be perfectly fine if you stay stock. Beyond that they will definitely wear much quicker than a performance-oriented clutch and pressure plate.

Personally, I always try to plan for the future, spend a few extra bucks now, and not have to redo anything later down the line...thus my recommendation is spend the hundred dollars more on the Southbend Stage 2 and you will be both happy with the performance and longevity. Tonnes of folks on this and other Audi boards running these in slightly modified cars, and they stand up to quite a lot of use and abuse.

It just seems pretty rare to hear about anyone replacing with OEM while you have the opportunity for a straightforward bolt-on upgrade...you never know when the itch to add other mods takes hold and you are facing a clutch replacement due to a premature failure.

**andyrew** · 08-20-2008 08:03 AM

Look at your car and think 2 years in the future. If you think you might have a bigger turbo then I would plan ahead.

Changing the clutch is a BIG job, and you only want to do it once if you have to...

If you have NO intentions to hitting a race track, or NO intentions of modifying the car past where it is already... then sure, my prefference would be Sachs..

Oh and we would tell you to get the southbend stage 3 or 4..

**mike-2ptzero** · 08-20-2008 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by onepoint8tee

I've decided to not go that route and make it a DD. I'll be chipping it at most. .

If your going to chip it then your better off going with at least a Sach Performance clutch, not a standard stock version.

**onepoint8tee** · 08-20-2008 08:32 AM

Thanks for the replies.

I have friends with chipped B5 A4's on stock clutches with ~100k miles who go to the track a few times/year with no problems. There are plenty of people that have been chipped for 10's of thousands of miles with no problems with the use of the stock clutch. Thats my reason for being sort of persistant on using a stock clutch.

I want stock DD smoothness, which means I'm going to stick to a dual mass (not lightweight single mass) flywheel. Is it ok to use a stock (but new) dmfw with the southbend stg. 2 clutch? I'm guessing "yes". I've replaced clutches before, just never anything more than a stock equivilent and have not done the flywheel either.

Originally Posted by andyrew

Look at your car and think 2 years in the future. If you think you might have a bigger turbo then I would plan ahead.

I already made clear what my full intentions are.

Changing the clutch is a BIG job, and you only want to do it once if you have to...

Depends on your ambition, skill level, and tool selection.

Oh and we would tell you to get the southbend stage 3 or 4..

Thats totally unnecessary for 200ish chp. Where do you get your information?

Thanks again.

**Nebone** · 08-20-2008 10:14 AM

Stock clutch is only good if you drive the chipped car normal. Once you want to launch it at the strip or drive it hard, it heats up real fast and feels like poo.

I'm one of the people who have been chipped for 50k miles on the stock clutch and have over 130k total miles on the clutch.

**flyromeo3** · 08-20-2008 11:08 AM

Im currently getting a stock clutch ( Luk ) installed in my car= (

no plans to speed up the car

**bob12312357** · 08-20-2008 05:42 PM

130K miles on stock clutch. 25k of them chipped. Clutch catches high, but doesn't slip or feel vague yet. I like stock smoothness. Probably gonna replace with stock or stage 2.

**GetBoosted84** · 08-25-2008 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by onepoint8tee

For OE replacement, would you go with Luk or Sachs? Neither? Either?
Thanks.

You could buy my used 01 a4 quattro clutch with about 14.5k miles on it. Had to replace it since I am going with a bigger turbo but it works great. PM me if you are interested.