Southbend OFE Questions

[1.8quattro]

I have been running a southbend OFE for about 30,000 miles now. I bought it around February 2007, which is when they had that bad batch (I believe).

The clutch still holds fine, however there is a strange rattling noise when I am driving around at low speeds and am wondering if it could be related to the issue of rivet failures some of these clutches have seen? I can only hear it with the windows down, and it gets increasingly loud with RPM.

What would happen if one of these rivets were to fail? Is this noise a possible symptom, or would something more catastrophic happen?

Also, my shop just installed an OFE on a B5 A4 and the pedal feels much lighter than in my car...should the clutch pedal feel on the B5 and B6 be the same?

[LampyB]

you're sure it's part of the clutch that's rattling? what does it sound like, and where does the sound originate from? my point is that it could be a lot of different things in the engine as well, we need more info....

[MikTip]

I have been running a southbend OFE for about 30,000 miles now. I bought it around February 2007, which is when they had that bad batch (I believe). The clutch still holds fine, however there is a strange rattling noise when I am driving around at low speeds and am wondering if it could be related to the issue of rivet failures some of these clutches have seen? I can only hear it with the windows down, and it gets increasingly loud with RPM. What would happen if one of these rivets were to fail? Is this noise a possible symptom, or would something more catastrophic happen? Also, my shop just installed an OFE on a B5 A4 and the pedal feels much lighter than in my car...should the clutch pedal feel on the B5 and B6 be the same?

You have a SB OFE "HD?" or "SS?".

The problem with SB's failing rivets, allowed the clutch lining to come loose, or break away from the riveted disk.

The noise your hearing could be anything...

You need to get your car up on a lift(shop) and have it running, and have someone try to specifically locate where the noise is coming from. Or...

Since you wrote it increases with RPM's, it could be engine related or gearbox related

You should see if the clutch pedal makes any difference to the sound? Press in the clutch pedal when you hear the sound, if it goes away, it maybe more clutch related. If it doesnt go away, its probably more engine related

[1.8quattro]

I have an OFE SS.

I understand it could be anything. I can't hear anything at idle with the clutch disengaged, nor when I blip the throttle. I can just hear it at low speeds.

I am asking because my shop brought it up as a possibility, so I wanted to see what you guys thought.

But can anyone chime in as to whether the clutch pedal feel should be the same for a B5 and a B6 A4?

[MikTip]

The pedal will feel different between HD & SS.

Does the B5 have the SS?

The SS makes for a stiffer pedal, in both B5 & B6.

You really need to press in the clutch pedal, when you hear the noise, and see if the noise goes away...

[1.8quattro]

Yes, both the B5 and the B6 have an OFE SS.

[MikTip]

Yes, both the B5 and the B6 have an OFE SS.

What year B5?

Could be the clutch hydraulic system....

[1.8quattro]

Not sure what year.

I was surprised because the OFE SS in the B5 felt much lighter, almost like my stock clutch!