Engagement question for those with CX300 and stock DMFW

[lookaught]

My car has a really odd engagement with the clutch and I am curious if others have experienced the same thing. Basically the clutch will start to engage and grip almost immediately off the floor... so for instance when on flat ground or a very, very slight uphill as soon as you let the clutch out a bit it will start to engage, but with nowhere near the force to actually get the car really moving, but enough to keep it from rolling backwards. I can feel it grab, but then it really engages fully after the pedal comes out another inch or two.

It's a very weird sensation. Even after almost a year with the clutch it still is tricky b/c it feels like the clutch is grabbing and I'll add some throttle but then it slips and the revs go to 3k... then the clutch really grabs hard once the pedal is about half way out. It's done this since day one.

Anyone else experience this? Ideas? There are no rattles, it doesnt slip, it is really a good clutch except for this little annoyance. Maybe a slave cylinder issue?

Thanks for any input.

[AudiNFS]

I haven't experienced this, but you should have just gotten the LWFW with the clutch. I just had mine installed and don't have this problem at all. And it's only been on my car for 30 miles

[lookaught]

Thanks for that suggestion but it's not exactly an option at the moment.

I like the DMFW drivability. My car is my DD and I don't want anything but stock like drivability... which it has except this odd engagement when on a very slight uphill.

[bl0wn3ur0]

I have a fx400 on a DMFW but i do have a similiar issue. The clutch will engage low to the ground(not right off the floor) but not enough to move the car, i then have to come off the pedal another inch to get the car really moving. I also wondered if it was a issue with the master or slave cylinder because my engagement point "moves" sometimes. If i keep the clutch pedal pushed in for extended periods then it engages right off the ground(enough for the car to really move), do you have this issue also?

[lookaught]

I have a fx400 on a DMFW but i do have a similiar issue. The clutch will engage low to the ground(not right off the floor) but not enough to move the car, i then have to come off the pedal another inch to get the car really moving. I also wondered if it was a issue with the master or slave cylinder because my engagement point "moves" sometimes. If i keep the clutch pedal pushed in for extended periods then it engages right off the ground(enough for the car to really move), do you have this issue also?

Yes sometimes this happens, sometimes not. It's so erratic... There is one spot on my drive home that it always happens, while on a slight uphill while waiting to turn left off a bridge. On most other slight uphills it will do it as well. It will move the car but just barely... clearly the clutch is not fully engaged, it is as thought the disk is *just* touching on both sides but then it takes a lot more pressure for it to be fully clamped. Very weird.

Thanks for you input! I'm glad someone else has experienced this, now we just need to find a solution.

[bananas]

I also wondered if it was a issue with the master or slave cylinder because my engagement point "moves" sometimes. If i keep the clutch pedal pushed in for extended periods then it engages right off the ground(enough for the car to really move), do you have this issue also?

Yup, sounds like a bad slave or master cyl to me.

[bl0wn3ur0]

Yup, sounds like a bad slave or master cyl to me.

Is there anyway to tell by looking at them if they are bad(when completely out of the transmission)??? My car is at audi getting the transmission rebuilt, so i would change them now if i can be sure they are bad.

[bl0wn3ur0]

Yes sometimes this happens, sometimes not. It's so erratic... There is one spot on my drive home that it always happens, while on a slight uphill while waiting to turn left off a bridge. On most other slight uphills it will do it as well. It will move the car but just barely... clearly the clutch is not fully engaged, it is as thought the disk is *just* touching on both sides but then it takes a lot more pressure for it to be fully clamped. Very weird.

Thanks for you input! I'm glad someone else has experienced this, now we just need to find a solution.

Yes it is very erratic, it happens to me most often when i'm parking and i hold the clutch in while rolling back into a spot.

[A4SoftWalker]

Is there anyway to tell by looking at them if they are bad(when completely out of the transmission)??? My car is at audi getting the transmission rebuilt, so i would change them now if i can be sure they are bad.

I would rely on miles and time-in-service to determine if I would change the slave cylinder.

They are cheap enough at $50-70 to do every clutch change. Gets rid of another point of failure plus gets the system bled out more thoroughly.

I did mine at 96k or so when I did my clutch and have not had any issues since with the drivability of my Spec clutch for the 22k its been in - little heavier than stock with really good pedal feel.

[Matt@EuropaParts]

Hmm...interesting...this was the route I was thinking about going. Where does the clutch normally engage when its not doing this?

[lookaught]

It fully engages just like a stock clutch or maybe a bit lower off the floor. It's been a while since I've driven a car with a stock clutch. The pedal is lighter too.

[lookaught]

I would rely on miles and time-in-service to determine if I would change the slave cylinder.

They are cheap enough at $50-70 to do every clutch change. Gets rid of another point of failure plus gets the system bled out more thoroughly.

I did mine at 96k or so when I did my clutch and have not had any issues since with the drivability of my Spec clutch for the 22k its been in - little heavier than stock with really good pedal feel.

They are not too difficult to replace on the 1.8t, so maybe if I can find one for cheap I'll install it next weekend.

[lookaught]

I replaced the slave and it did not fix the problem, though for some reason (perhaps the extreme winter cold in VT?) the problem has subsided quite a bit. If it comes back more often in the spring I will replace the master cylinder, and if that doesn't fix it I'll just set the car on fire. On a positive note, the master cylinder is only $90

[itsmatt33]

just for reference i have the the fx400 with steel fw (just installed) and it releases at the very top

[mnsirtee]

did you try bleeding it? try flushing the fluid.

[Ruska]

my fx300 was grippy very low as well at first but it has gotten a ton better after it starts to break in. It takes a while for it to break in properly but im currently engaging around the middle now. Cold weather seems to effect it a little too.

[lookaught]

I want to update this thread. I have about 40k miles on the CX300 and after replacing the slave cylinder I still have the same problem, it is still intermittent, and it still annoys me.

Another thing... my clutch seems to be slipping now as well, which is something other CX300 owners have reported. I get a very noticeable chirping/squeaking noise when engaging the clutch from time to time, and when in long lines of stop and go traffic it really seems to slip when it gets hot.

However, it's still driving, so I'm not fixing it. I am suspicious that there may be some connection between this odd engagement point and the premature failing of the clutch, but I won't know until I take it apart.

Has anyone else had this problem and found a solution? I'm fairly sure it is not install error, as I've put in a number of clutches in VW/Audi cars and this is the only one that is weird. I wonder if a rivet or two came out and part of the disk touches a bit earlier than the rest... who knows.

I think in retrospect, I should have bought an S4 and left it stock. Live and learn I suppose. They are getting cheap nowadays, maybe its time to upgrade.

[MikTip]

Ya might wanna read this:

http://forums.quattroworld.com/a4b6/msgs/61106.phtml

[lookaught]

Thanks. I'm aware the CX300 has been a disappointment in terms of longevity, which is why I'm not surprised it's slipping. I am still wondering about the double engagement that occurs with my car. It's like the friction plate is touching, then not touching, then it engages.

I don't plan to rebuild or reinstall the CX300 unless the rebuild price from CM is very inexpensive, as I'm disappointed with this product. I'm likely going to buy an RS4 clutch with the steel SMFW and a fluidamper once fund allow. My brother has an RS4 clutch in his Stage 3 B5 S4 and it is buttery smooth and very nice to drive. I'm just in the process of saving money to build my bottom end at the same time so I can avoid duplicating work.