Clutch replacement suggestions???

[DapperD]

So, I recently acquired a B6 S4 which now has about 70k miles. I knew the clutch was weak when I bought it but it worked... until last night. I let a friend take my car out for a spin last night and when he came back, all I smelled was burnt clutch. He tells me he babied it; which I know means I only tached it up to 4500 rpms and dropped the clutch. I thought maybe it was just glazed. Well I learned a lesson last night, I will never let anyone drive my car from here on out.

I can drive the car still but it's slipping pretty bad, so my question is do I go OEM for the replacement? Are there any aftermarket kits with lighter flywheels? My thought process is in "2 weeks" when the Supercharger is released I may need a high performance clutch to accommodate. All kidding aside, if that SC becomes a reality I may want to be a step ahead.

Suggestions? Any recommendations? How much is the clutch and labor?

[ieatfishburitos]

Here's what I did recently. I bought new OEM audi clutch parts for around 400 from www.genuinevwaudiparts.com.

Sent said parts to Southbend clutch and they upgraded them to stage 3 (which southbend said could handle the supercharger, yet work with the current hp as well). I also sent them my flywheel and they resurfaced it. As of today, I don't know any aftermarket flywheels that are available. If you didn't know, our car uses a dual mass flywheel which can't be resurfaced by any shop, it requires a special bit to do the work which most places in the US don't have. Audi will tell you to replace the flywheel which is $800. So if you go my route your car will be down for a few weeks while you ship the parts to Southbend and get them sent back.

Southbend was happy that I sent them the full stock oem clutch kit and flywheel and they spent a few days taking all the dimensions. They said they now have the info they need to make a single mass flywheel for our car. Heck if you call them and ask they may sell you the first one they make.

[91gl]

Hey fishburrito, is your car on the road with the upgraded clutch? How does it feel?

[ieatfishburitos]

Hey fishburrito, is your car on the road with the upgraded clutch? How does it feel?

Nope, I get it back on Tuesday.

[nimski62]

I got the stage III from southbend, and my shop said they resurfaced the flywheel, and im pretty sure they didnt bc i have clutch chatter now. freaking blows bc i spent so much money. i should have just bought an oem clutch and spent half the money.

[WaySloS4]

Give VAST a call to see if they carry a clutch setup for the B6. I installed one of their stage 2 clutches in my B5 S4 and the thing was amazing! I could launch the car - Stage 2+ at about 4500 and the thing would just rocket off the line and yet was still close to stock peddle feel.
Phone 248-399-2222 Prince usually answers the phone, and is very friendly and helpful, as are the rest of the guys. Good luck!

[DapperD]

Thanks for all the information. I'm weighing my options now.

At what mileage are you guys replacing your clutches?

[ieatfishburitos]

Thanks for all the information. I'm weighing my options now.

At what mileage are you guys replacing your clutches?

Mine went at 45k, but it was due to me launching the car at 6k rpms 3 times in one night (clutch disc broke). The tech was surprised to see how good of condition all the clutch components were at 45k except for the broken disc, he said it had a ton more life left in it..

[AudiOso]

Anyone running a Spec clutch in their car? I was looking on their website and they had different stage clutches listed for the S4.

[Jdubya]

I've ran Spec in previous cars with a lot of luck. My 400HP GTI and 700HP Cobra both had Spec clutches and I was always very happy with them. In fact I'll probably be putting one in my S4 here shortly. The only issues I've ever heard with them was from the lightened pressure plates flying apart.

[AudiOso]

The only issues I've ever heard with them was from the lightened pressure plates flying apart.

May I ask if that was the case under hard launches? I don't hammer my cars. I want to do the VF Supercharger when it becomes available and am interested in upgrading my clutch a forehand. I am concerned that the torque of the upgrade will be too much for the stock clutch. I never power-launch my car. I do get on it, but no 4500 rpm drops or anything like that.

[DapperD]

Here's what I did recently. I bought new OEM audi clutch parts for around 400 from www.genuinevwaudiparts.com.

Sent said parts to Southbend clutch and they upgraded them to stage 3 (which southbend said could handle the supercharger, yet work with the current hp as well). I also sent them my flywheel and they resurfaced it. As of today, I don't know any aftermarket flywheels that are available. If you didn't know, our car uses a dual mass flywheel which can't be resurfaced by any shop, it requires a special bit to do the work which most places in the US don't have. Audi will tell you to replace the flywheel which is $800. So if you go my route your car will be down for a few weeks while you ship the parts to Southbend and get them sent back.

Southbend was happy that I sent them the full stock oem clutch kit and flywheel and they spent a few days taking all the dimensions. They said they now have the info they need to make a single mass flywheel for our car. Heck if you call them and ask they may sell you the first one they make.

Who did you deal with at South Bend? How long did it take for them to ship your parts back?

[ieatfishburitos]

I can't remember the guys name, but they were all friendly. They can upgrade the stock components in 1 day to stage 3. In my case it took them a week because they took measurements off my flywheel to make a single mass aftermarket flywheel for our cars. The biggest delay for me was shipping, which took several days from arizona to indiana. You will be in better shape since you live close. Get your old flywheel out of the car and ship it to them with the clutch parts, they'll resurface it for like $25 - $50 bucks.

[cotmfk]

I got the stage III from southbend, and my shop said they resurfaced the flywheel, and im pretty sure they didnt bc i have clutch chatter now. freaking blows bc i spent so much money. i should have just bought an oem clutch and spent half the money.

Do you have a lightweight flywheel or stock? Sometimes lightweight flywheels will chatter b/c they are smaller in size, so they are literally vibrating against the clutch. Does it only happen when the car is in neutral?

[AudiOso]

What exactly is a dual-mass flywheel?