On some golfs the clutch is of reverse type to conventional.
On the reverse type, the pressure plate is bolted directly to the crankshaft flange, the clutch friction disc in the middle, the flywheel fitted last. There is a pushrod that goes through the input shaft of the gearbox,when the clutch pedal is pressed the rod pushes against a packing plate which releases the pressure on the clutch pressure plate, this will release the friction disc from the flywheel and so disconnect the gearbox from the engine.
The release bearing on this type of arrangement is situated at the end of the gearbox, you can remove the end cover to replace it.
Conventional clutches have the flywheel fitted to the crankshaft flange, the friction disc, and the pressure plate fitted last. The release bearing on this type fits on the input shaft of the gearbox.
You can tell which type is fitted by seeing where the cable goes.
All hydraulic clutches, like the mk3 16v and vr6 have the conventional arrangement.
However if you look at mk2 gti 8v/16v and mk3 8v you will see the clutch cable connects to a lever which in turn operates the pushrod, so this lever will connect towards the end of the gearbox.
I hope that helps.
By the way i have fitted both types of clutches, one on a mk2 16v and on a mk3 vr6 ÂÂÂ
