Odd clutch issues stage 3

[Thagodeus]

Hey all,
Just joined here, bought a b5 s4 the other day. EPL stage 3.
Anyways, when I got it I was told it had a stage 4 southbend clutch. The clutch was engaging very high.
Next day, went to dmv, drove down the highway to my brothers and spent a while, when I left I was cruising down the highway and I touched the pedal and it just revved. 100 degrees outside, plus thick humidity. Felt like the worlds worst slip in every gear.
Is the clutch out? It also had a weird brake pedal, pedal would go a 1/3 of the way down before grabbing very hard. (Just commenting on that because I know the fluid systems are connected)
Anyways, need input. Guy I bought it from told me to bleed the clutch, could that be the issue?

Thanks all
👍🏻

[JVD]

Could try bleeding the clutch and see what happens.

The brake/clutch reservoir is shared. Not the hydraulics.

[vavJETTAw36]

What brakes? That could make the difference on the brake side.

But the clutch hydraulic system can either disengage the clutch or it can't. It would not make the clutch weak. Are you having trouble changing gears? If so? Maybe it's not disengaging enough and burning the clutch.


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[Thagodeus]

Could try bleeding the clutch and see what happens.

The brake/clutch reservoir is shared. Not the hydraulics.

I guess i'll try that. Do i just bleed at the slave? I assume I'll have to get the car in the air for that. I have experience bleeding the clutch on a mk5, those are gravy. But transverse vs longitudinal, i know this one is probably more difficult to do.

What brakes? That could make the difference on the brake side.

But the clutch hydraulic system can either disengage the clutch or it can't. It would not make the clutch weak. Are you having trouble changing gears? If so? Maybe it's not disengaging enough and burning the clutch.

Im not 100% sure what you mean by which brakes, but no it goes through the gears pretty well. Sometimes you have to really try to get it into reverse. I was told it had a trans rebuild about 15k miles ago, but i have no proof so who knows. I have receipts for a lot of stuff but I still have yet to verify if it really has EPL stage 3 parts on it, all the mounts, control arm kit, etc etc. Only thing i can see from the top is the fsi coil pack kit.

[vavJETTAw36]

I guess i'll try that. Do i just bleed at the slave? I assume I'll have to get the car in the air for that. I have experience bleeding the clutch on a mk5, those are gravy. But transverse vs longitudinal, i know this one is probably more difficult to do.



Im not 100% sure what you mean by which brakes, but no it goes through the gears pretty well. Sometimes you have to really try to get it into reverse. I was told it had a trans rebuild about 15k miles ago, but i have no proof so who knows. I have receipts for a lot of stuff but I still have yet to verify if it really has EPL stage 3 parts on it, all the mounts, control arm kit, etc etc. Only thing i can see from the top is the fsi coil pack kit.

Sorry does it have brake caliper upgrade? Or is it stock?

Here is a trick that will get you into reverse smoothly. Go into second before going into reverse.


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[Thagodeus]

Sorry does it have brake caliper upgrade? Or is it stock?

Here is a trick that will get you into reverse smoothly. Go into second before going into reverse.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ah, I was told that all but the drivers front were replaced with OE lucas calipers. Stoptech cryo rotors on the front, hawk hps pads around. And i'll have to try that. He said it was a rebuilt 01e with new synchros, 1-2 and 3-4 shift collars and Southbend stage IV clutch kit.

I was all ready to buy either the JHM kit with the LWFW or maybe an FX400 kit but I guess now I'll have a few things to look at.

[christianb5s4]

Well, the FX400 will have a high engagement point as well (I have one), here are the reviews on that clutch if you're curious. I love mine for the most part along with the Clutchmasters single mass steel flywheel, although I'd go for a TTV if that steel FW didn't come with my clutch.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...s-FX400-owners

[Thagodeus]

Well, the FX400 will have a high engagement point as well (I have one), here are the reviews on that clutch if you're curious. I love mine for the most part along with the Clutchmasters single mass steel flywheel, although I'd go for a TTV if that steel FW didn't come with my clutch.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...s-FX400-owners

I'll check it out. Trying to find the best price wise yet not cheaped out. If I end up needing a clutch.

I checked the fluid, still topped off completely. Any other diagnose may have to wait till next month till I close on my house and have a garage to work in

[JVD]

I'll check it out. Trying to find the best price wise yet not cheaped out. If I end up needing a clutch.

I checked the fluid, still topped off completely. Any other diagnose may have to wait till next month till I close on my house and have a garage to work in

You can bleed it from the top. Just unbolt the coolant reservoir... and maybe move the harness connector holder off the firewall to give you some room. Should be a 9mm stubby wrench. Use the closed end. The bleeder is easy to round because it's plastic.

[QuinnsterKID]

No one has said this, but you may have overheated and glazed the clutch. That's my take on it based on the symptoms you stated. Some say if you drive normal for awhile you can get it to "unglaze" but I personally do not know how true that is. Try driving normal for awhile (keyword TRY haha) keeping it cool and it may grab again, but most likely a glazed clutch is a glazed clutch. Maybe Scotty can chime in.....

[JVD]

No one has said this, but you may have overheated and glazed the clutch. That's my take on it based on the symptoms you stated. Some say if you drive normal for awhile you can get it to "unglaze" but I personally do not know how true that is. Try driving normal for awhile (keyword TRY haha) keeping it cool and it may grab again, but most likely a glazed clutch is a glazed clutch. Maybe Scotty can chime in.....

I glazed my RS4 disc after numerous back to back launches. Wouldn't hold anything above 3rd gear even days later. After daily driving the car for a week it regained its holding ability. Not sure why... but it did.

[Thagodeus]

No one has said this, but you may have overheated and glazed the clutch. That's my take on it based on the symptoms you stated. Some say if you drive normal for awhile you can get it to "unglaze" but I personally do not know how true that is. Try driving normal for awhile (keyword TRY haha) keeping it cool and it may grab again, but most likely a glazed clutch is a glazed clutch. Maybe Scotty can chime in.....

I glazed my RS4 disc after numerous back to back launches. Wouldn't hold anything above 3rd gear even days later. After daily driving the car for a week it regained its holding ability. Not sure why... but it did.

I guess it's worth a try. I kinda was thinking I glazed it in the heat. Cause the clutch was fine when I got on the road then 6th gear on the highway 15 minutes later, hit the gas and it just red lined. Probably didn't help I just tried to build boost and drive around someone. I'll try giving it a light drive around after work every day for a week or so and see if it gets better. I have a take home work truck so this is just a very fast weekend vehicle lol.

JVD, if I do what you say, can I just crack it and gravity bleed it like I read about in the JHM thread? Just leave it open for a half hour and see if it helps?