Author Topic: Clutch dead :( Likely cost? Worth upgrading? What exactly needs replacing?  (Read 24358 times)

Offline The Dave

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,033
 Hi guys.

My car is a 1999 VW Golf MK4 GTI, 1.8 20v turbo. AGU engine so ko3 turbo, engine wise it's mostly standard bar an APR stage one remap, platinum NGK plugs and a stealth subtle backbox.

Anyways, not long had a service, oil, air filter, coolant, new plugs etc.. car seems a lot more pokey when it comes on boost, feels much torquier. Lately with the damp weather, if I've been pressing on, it's been spinning up a bit in third gear with the sudden power increase! It has been accelerating well in all seriousness. But, today in 5th I overtook someone but put my foot down to get past fairly quickly without changing down and the revs flew up till I quickly let off the throttle. Now in third, fourth and fifth it does the same if it comes on boost fairly hard (I had to try, to make sure and of course quickly let off as soon as revs increased).

Long and short is definite clutch slip, so it's gonna need changing. Now I am not a mechanic, it would without a doubt be going to a garage to be fixed, but I'm after an idea of cost from people who may have had their clutch changed on such a car?

Also interested in what exactly is involved, i.e. a brief rundown of parts that'd need swapping. I'm assuming the Golfs use a dual mass flywheel (whatever it does technically I've no idea) - would this need replacement?

Does gearbox oil need draining etc with a clutch swap? And also will the clutch and brake fluid need draining? I wanted to get it all flushed soon anyway so may do this at the same time if neccessary?

Any recommendations of worthy garages within Stoke-on-Trent if anyones local? I was considering giving PSI tuning a call... I have my usual mechanic to ask too. Suppose I could always ask the local stealers too?

Thank you for any guideance, just wanna prepare my wallet for it, timing is terrible :( TAX, MOT due, just booked a holiday, then a borked clutch lol.

Cheers guys.

Dave

Offline Rhyso

  • Global Moderator
  • Sir Postalot
  • *****
  • Posts: 26,729
Search for G60 / VR6..............

Offline The Dave

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,033
I don't know much about it but have indeed heard it mentioned, I will search a bit.

I don't wanna make this a complex task though as I need my car daily and I want to bang all of the blame on a garage for parts and labour combined, I don't wanna buy any bits and have mechanics coming back at me with grief if stuff doesn't fit.

I don't mind the pedal feel at the moment so is their any real benefit to the above setup?

Offline barry-gti

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,016
it can take more power and you never have to replace the fly-wheel. it all fits perfect and is easy to source genuine VW parts with VW Part Numbers...

There's a guide in the MK4 maintenance section

Offline DarkGti

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,706
dave there is a guy in Hanley who charges £70 to fit the clutch if you get the bits!
ebay for a flywheel £50
fly wheel bolts £10
AVS for the vr6 clutch set up £100 http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=732

total £230 fitted

Offline The Dave

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,033
I guess if I went to a specialist such as PSI, in theory you'd expect they'll have done this conversion a fair few times...

Need to get time to get up there to talk to someone really, work always gets in the way! :(

DarkGTI thats very cheap. Can you vouch for his work? I don't want anyone bodging my car up lol. 220 would be fine lol under 300 would be fine (so to speak!).

Offline DarkGti

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,706
dont take it psi they charge about 250 to fit! lol
the guy who i took mine to (the clutch man) has done many 1.8T single mass conversions including mine!

can meet up it you want? you can feel what the clutch feels like and drives like!

Offline barry-gti

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,016
i didnt even go to a VW specialist. i just went to a clutch specialist, they knew what i was on about straight away.

some people say you need to change the standard dual-mass fly-wheel when you replace the standard clutch. this will be in excess of £400 - £500 if i'm correct!

Offline The Dave

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,033
Thats a lorra dollah. Sod that lol

Is that the guy who advertises in the sentinel (the clutch man) as I may lob him more dollah if he sources my bits to be honest, I just wanna lay the blame bang on to someone else, I don't mind paying a small premium, if it's under 300 quid I'm happy.

Could meet up, be nice to feel 240bhp aswell haha :) I hear they're a lot lighter with that clutch setup? :)

Offline DarkGti

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,706
i rang loads of places first some with silly quotes like £350 for fitting and then i remembered the was a clutch specialist across the road from me i didn't even have to explain myself he just knew!
« Last Edit: 16 February 2010, 20:18 by DarkGti »