Clutch upgrades for manual transmission

[A-Kai]

Hey everyone,

Now I think it’s universally accepted that the GTI Manual clutches are rather quick wearing, and I’ve read a few posts on different forums referring to the GTI/R manual clutches as “spongy”. That being said, my clutch with only 40k miles has started to develop a judder when cold and pulling away for the first time at low speeds. Fairly certain that this is terminal and will only get worse over time.

I’m tempted to get the clutch changed for something more uprated and maybe prepare for a future stage 2 (undecided). Does anyone here have insights on what clutch upgrades they used or if they looked at any OEM clutches from the TCR, CS Or R?

I know that Sachs make uprated kits and recommend replacing the fly wheel too. Not sure if those clutches feel clunky? Retention of driver comfort would be ideal as I don’t want to be smashing my head every gear change.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

[joe6]

Those symptoms can also be caused by the dmf beginning to fail. I fitted an uprated sachs to my mk6 that has been fine.

[rowlers]

Hey everyone,

Now I think it’s universally accepted that the GTI Manual clutches are rather quick wearing, and I’ve read a few posts on different forums referring to the GTI/R manual clutches as “spongy”. That being said, my clutch with only 40k miles has started to develop a judder when cold and pulling away for the first time at low speeds. Fairly certain that this is terminal and will only get worse over time.

I’m tempted to get the clutch changed for something more uprated and maybe prepare for a future stage 2 (undecided). Does anyone here have insights on what clutch upgrades they used or if they looked at any OEM clutches from the TCR, CS Or R?

I know that Sachs make uprated kits and recommend replacing the fly wheel too. Not sure if those clutches feel clunky? Retention of driver comfort would be ideal as I don’t want to be smashing my head every gear change.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

I can let you know next week, I'm getting Sachs organic fitted with a new DMF on Friday.  Bough the kit from AE motorsports who were the cheapest at the time of ordering and was delivered quickly with free haribo!

[A-Kai]

Those symptoms can also be caused by the dmf beginning to fail. I fitted an uprated sachs to my mk6 that has been fine.

Ah I didn’t think about that … did you change your DMF with the clutch too? Might be a stretch but is the DMF covered under warranty? I have feeling they’ll refer to it as a wear and tear part…

Hey everyone,

Now I think it’s universally accepted that the GTI Manual clutches are rather quick wearing, and I’ve read a few posts on different forums referring to the GTI/R manual clutches as “spongy”. That being said, my clutch with only 40k miles has started to develop a judder when cold and pulling away for the first time at low speeds. Fairly certain that this is terminal and will only get worse over time.

I’m tempted to get the clutch changed for something more uprated and maybe prepare for a future stage 2 (undecided). Does anyone here have insights on what clutch upgrades they used or if they looked at any OEM clutches from the TCR, CS Or R?

I know that Sachs make uprated kits and recommend replacing the fly wheel too. Not sure if those clutches feel clunky? Retention of driver comfort would be ideal as I don’t want to be smashing my head every gear change.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

I can let you know next week, I'm getting Sachs organic fitted with a new DMF on Friday.  Bough the kit from AE motorsports who were the cheapest at the time of ordering and was delivered quickly with free haribo!

Oh exciting, please do feedback! if you don’t mind me asking, approximately how much did the parts and labour come in the end? Might follow in your shoes if you have a good experience.

[rowlers]

Those symptoms can also be caused by the dmf beginning to fail. I fitted an uprated sachs to my mk6 that has been fine.

Ah I didn’t think about that … did you change your DMF with the clutch too? Might be a stretch but is the DMF covered under warranty? I have feeling they’ll refer to it as a wear and tear part…

Hey everyone,

Now I think it’s universally accepted that the GTI Manual clutches are rather quick wearing, and I’ve read a few posts on different forums referring to the GTI/R manual clutches as “spongy”. That being said, my clutch with only 40k miles has started to develop a judder when cold and pulling away for the first time at low speeds. Fairly certain that this is terminal and will only get worse over time.

I’m tempted to get the clutch changed for something more uprated and maybe prepare for a future stage 2 (undecided). Does anyone here have insights on what clutch upgrades they used or if they looked at any OEM clutches from the TCR, CS Or R?

I know that Sachs make uprated kits and recommend replacing the fly wheel too. Not sure if those clutches feel clunky? Retention of driver comfort would be ideal as I don’t want to be smashing my head every gear change.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

I can let you know next week, I'm getting Sachs organic fitted with a new DMF on Friday.  Bough the kit from AE motorsports who were the cheapest at the time of ordering and was delivered quickly with free haribo!

Oh exciting, please do feedback! if you don’t mind me asking, approximately how much did the parts and labour come in the end? Might follow in your shoes if you have a good experience.

Clutch kit from AE was £879 delivered. And I got a Sachs release bearing from GSF on sale for £29. Labour is £200

[A-Kai]

Those symptoms can also be caused by the dmf beginning to fail. I fitted an uprated sachs to my mk6 that has been fine.

Ah I didn’t think about that … did you change your DMF with the clutch too? Might be a stretch but is the DMF covered under warranty? I have feeling they’ll refer to it as a wear and tear part…

Hey everyone,

Now I think it’s universally accepted that the GTI Manual clutches are rather quick wearing, and I’ve read a few posts on different forums referring to the GTI/R manual clutches as “spongy”. That being said, my clutch with only 40k miles has started to develop a judder when cold and pulling away for the first time at low speeds. Fairly certain that this is terminal and will only get worse over time.

I’m tempted to get the clutch changed for something more uprated and maybe prepare for a future stage 2 (undecided). Does anyone here have insights on what clutch upgrades they used or if they looked at any OEM clutches from the TCR, CS Or R?

I know that Sachs make uprated kits and recommend replacing the fly wheel too. Not sure if those clutches feel clunky? Retention of driver comfort would be ideal as I don’t want to be smashing my head every gear change.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

I can let you know next week, I'm getting Sachs organic fitted with a new DMF on Friday.  Bough the kit from AE motorsports who were the cheapest at the time of ordering and was delivered quickly with free haribo!

Oh exciting, please do feedback! if you don’t mind me asking, approximately how much did the parts and labour come in the end? Might follow in your shoes if you have a good experience.

Clutch kit from AE was £879 delivered. And I got a Sachs release bearing from GSF on sale for £29. Labour is £200

Good to know, thank you mate!

[symonh2000]

If you do upgrade the clutch make sure that you also use an upgraded slave.

The standard ones have been known to fail. Indeed the one on ours started to go at 42,000 miles before giving up completely a few months later.

The clutch itself had virtually no signs of wear.

The slave failing started off with the pedal randomly failing to return after changing gear, then it started having an inconsistent bite point. When it went completely the pedal stuck to the floor and fluid was leaking under the gearbox.

Cheap crap plastic item.

[rowlers]

If you do upgrade the clutch make sure that you also use an upgraded slave.

The standard ones have been known to fail. Indeed the one on ours started to go at 42,000 miles before giving up completely a few months later.

The clutch itself had virtually no signs of wear.

The slave failing started off with the pedal randomly failing to return after changing gear, then it started having an inconsistent bite point. When it went completely the pedal stuck to the floor and fluid was leaking under the gearbox.

Cheap crap plastic item.

I just bought a Sachs OEM with the using the VW part number and it is metal?

[symonh2000]

The part which contacts the clutch plate fingers is metal but the bellows part is plastic as is the body and inlet pipe.

Utter crap, and then they bury it away so that when it fails it is a big job to change it.

[rowlers]

Oh exciting, please do feedback! if you don’t mind me asking, approximately how much did the parts and labour come in the end? Might follow in your shoes if you have a good experience.

Just picked the car back up. First thing to mention is OMG, the clutch is HEAVY! Much heavier than I expected, after reading about other people getting the sachs organic. I'll get used to it, I'm sure. (maybe put the assistance spring back in  )
Now for a few hundred miles bedding in.