Uprated Clutch & Flywheel ?

[R88PER]

The clutch / flyhweel on my S3 has been a bit suspect for a while know. No slippage just an annoying vibration feel through the pedal when taking up bite and a very short travel, with a snappy feel to it.
I've done the dealer thing and they say theres nothing wrong. But I've drove 2 other S3's now and somethings definately not right. The clutch felt smooth with no snappiness.

Anyway I'm going to change it in a few weeks and this is where the question arises.

Do I go for option 1 which is to replace the clutch and dual mass flywheel with geniune Audi parts. I can get these for around £587 (trade)

Or Option 2 which is to fit a lightened flywheel and uprated clutch. Ive seen this

ECS Tuning
with which the current exchange rate comes in at £733.

The car is chipped by MTM so there is the issue of a standard clutch going again in the future. But I dont want a sharp visceous clutch with the amount of town driving I do.

Also surely Audi made the flywheel a dual mass one for a reason, can anyone forsee engine problems by removing this for a solid Aluminium one?

What do you guys think becasue as you can tell I havnt a clue which way to go.

[Joshie]

I uprated the flywheel on my S4 with the lightened one from tanoga plus the RS4 clutch.

Significant performance benefit particularly torque and the clutch was actuallly lighter that the S4's.

Only downside was a very slight metallic russle but certainly no jerkiness, shuddering or excessive bite.

Sure you'll see a benefit on the S3 and I was glad I opted for the upgrade.

[DuncS3]

No slippage just an annoying vibration feel through the pedal when taking up bite and a very short travel

I think i have noticed this a couple of times this week on my car - need to investigate further but basically in traffic and abit of vibration as the clutch bites (not all the time though so could be nothing)

Dunc [img]images/graemlins/s3addict.gif[/img]

[bjacks]

My clutch started to feel different before it went. Pedal feel and bit point changed gradually.

[sitas3]

so is the standard S3 clutch a weak point then??

my old S3 with 34k miles on it never had a problem (remapped for 30k miles, occasional traffic light/demo 4 wheel launch!) - maybe it is the driving style/round town driving that wears these out excessively..

Hope you get yours sorted OK Paul. They're not cheap are they??

[bjacks]

I think it is. Mine only lasted 37k, less than 10k of which it was revo'd. But then I do live in London so it was a lot of stop/start. I didn't ever do anything like Santa Pod either.

If the clutch is juddery then there is usually some oil on the plates from a leaky seal somewhere.
Audi want megabucks to do the clutch/flywheel £1100/£1600 where as QST only wanted £650 for the clutch alone (std item).

[R88PER]

Cheers for the replies guys.

My S3's done nearly 62k now and been chipped for around 20k of them by MTM. I'm not really a one for really heavy starts, but I think a good session in the snow when I first bought it done whatever damage has been done.

The only way I can describe the sensation coming through the clutch pedal is its like when your brakes are on there way out and you begin to get a slight grinding. Now apply that feeling to when youre letting the clutch out, and you've got it. ITS DAMN ANNOYING.

There certainly not cheap. As I said above I can get standard OE stuff at trade prices, but its still going to be £587 or £733 plus carridge depending on which way I decide to go. Plus whatever my mate wants to fit it.

I dont even know what the problem is until we get it all apart, but I'll have to make a decision on which way I'm going to go so I dont have the car in bits for too long.

I've also considered just keeping the standard dual mass flywheel (albeit probably a new one) and uprating the clutch.

Theres just too many options.

New Standard Clutch + New dual mass flywheel.
Uprated clutch + New dual mass flywheel.
Uprated clutch + Lightened Ali flywheel.

ARGGHHH [img]images/graemlins/062802beat_prv.gif[/img]

[DuncS3]

The 'vibration' I described is not like a grinding at all - probably me just nearly stalling the car or something.

Dunc [img]images/graemlins/s3addict.gif[/img]

[R88PER]

Driving lessons for you then [img]images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Anyone anymore thoughts of which way to go then? As I'm defo going to do it in the next couple of weeks.

[sitas3]

Paul, IMO the problem with uprated clutches is that you tend to pay more for them and they still wear out... I'm as undecided as you.

[Ryan_s3]

May help,may not but i had a helix 4 paddle clutch in my last car(there is one for the s3).It was all or nothing ,with next to no pedal travel,awesome grip but not suitable for town driving,so i'd steer clear of that one.

[Ryan_s3]

awe racing in the states do a heavy duty clutch and light flywheel for £630 plus postage and vat.
Made for the 225bhp tt over there it claims;
This clutch kit is designed to handle up to 375hp and 400 ft/lbs of torque while maintaining stock driving characteristics. Quite often, aftermarket clutch kits sacrifice too many of the characteristics that make a clutch easy to live with everyday, resulting in extremely high pedal effort, abrupt engagement, and lessened component life.

would be interested in coming in with you to save on postage ,anyone else?regards Ryan

[Rusty]

Hi there,
I'm looking at getting a new clutch fitted in my s3 (270bhp) as I have started to experience some clutch slippage. I know that you can get an MTM uprated clutch from Kim Collins at QST but I'm still not sure what way to go with the clutch.
Anyone got any tips on which way would be better for everyday use? STD or uprated

[R88PER]

Sorry guys - but I'm glad that I'm not the only one who's having this dilema [img]images/graemlins/suicide.gif[/img]

I'm actually swaying towards keeping the Audi Dual mass flywheel and uprating the clutch. As I really dont fancy the chattering at idle speed thats been associated with the lightened version.

I suppose really the whole point of me changing the DMF and clutch is because of the feel, and not it slipping. So I'd be [img]images/graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] to go for something thats going to chatter.

Now the dilema of what clutch to buy.
MTM ?
Sachs?
Helix ? (they do a fast road version not thats not paddle)

[VST]

I've got the MTM paddle clutch fitted on mine.
It works well.The thing people tend to forget is the whole dual mass flywheel thing,a paddle clutch on a regular flywheel setup can be very harsh in operation,but the OE S3 clutch is already a solid disc(ie no sprung centre)as is the paddle,so it doesnt become a total animal.
Its obviously sharper on take up than the std item and it requires a change in rpm used pulling away and driving style to avoid judder,but after a few days you get used to it.
Put it this way,if you were in my car around town,you wouldnt know it had a paddle clutch unless I told you,or deliberately pulled away with not enough throttle,making it judder.

Upsides are really positive change up at full chat(in my case about 7300 )as tested at a recent trackday and its pretty much bulletproof,clutch slip just aint an issue,even with the big turbo.

QST are the people to talk to if you want a clutch