Clutch Life

[R1RS4]

Mine failed entirely at around 31K after 4-5 months of the pedal being sticky and just living with it. I could not select any gears - luckily it was when I was just driving out the Garage. Had a new LOBA Stage 1 fitted.

What's the Loba stage 1 like to live with and how miles have you done with it?

cheeRS

It's different at first, stiffer, sharper biting point, although sometimes chatter if you like picking a high gear at low revs (although negligible now as its bed in). I've changed my driving style to suit - a bit like when you first upgrade the exhaust to a non-res and have to drive around that drone at 1,800 - 2000 RPM, you adapt and before long you forget how it was...

I personally like it, I've done around 6K miles so far so it's bed in well and is still is a sharp as when it was fitted.

I thought you might say that,

The more your looking for a quicker launch with more power the chatter seams to be a trade off, it's living with it daily that would bothers me. With the Loba the higher the staging the more the chatter, did you look at others? Who fitted yours mate? CheeRS

Mine is standard and coverered <50k had the slipping issues until return pipe replaced and all ok ( fingers crossed ) since

Just interested in a clutch that could handle a lot more output if I change things

[RossDagley]

Gav how bad is the chatter? The audi is my first car with a DMF so I don't know anything about moving from DMF to SMF.

I'm in the market for a clutch in the coming weeks now really so want to do some research and find the best performance / price / drivability balance for me and my driving style.

[Gavla]

What's the Loba stage 1 like to live with and how miles have you done with it?

cheeRS

It's different at first, stiffer, sharper biting point, although sometimes chatter if you like picking a high gear at low revs (although negligible now as its bed in). I've changed my driving style to suit - a bit like when you first upgrade the exhaust to a non-res and have to drive around that drone at 1,800 - 2000 RPM, you adapt and before long you forget how it was...

I personally like it, I've done around 6K miles so far so it's bed in well and is still is a sharp as when it was fitted.

I thought you might say that,

The more your looking for a quicker launch with more power the chatter seams to be a trade off, it's living with it daily that would bothers me. With the Loba the higher the staging the more the chatter, did you look at others? Who fitted yours mate? CheeRS

Mine is standard and coverered <50k had the slipping issues until return pipe replaced and all ok ( fingers crossed ) since

Just interested in a clutch that could handle a lot more output if I change things

When it was initially installed (<500miles) I had concerns regarding the chatter as it was a noticeable change and I can see why some people get put off and sell them and go back to the original. MRC did the work and recommended the LOBA Stage 1 as being the closest in feeling to the original. So I gave it time to bed in and the chatter is now negligible and is pretty rare unless you like driving in 6th at <2K

If your car is modified and you’re not planning on supercharging then this clutch is a good fit being 550NM. The reason I changed is because I left mine too long and had no choice in the end.

I have also read on here the numerous clutch threads that there was no definitive solution to the sticking clutch issue. So In my mind putting back the original was not a consideration. You were lucky if the return pipe fixed yours - you might have just caught it in time.

In the summer last year I went to GTI International and the car went up the ¼ mile strip around 8 times in a day – each time the clutch performed as well as the first time.

[Gavla]

Gav how bad is the chatter? The audi is my first car with a DMF so I don't know anything about moving from DMF to SMF.

I'm in the market for a clutch in the coming weeks now really so want to do some research and find the best performance / price / drivability balance for me and my driving style.

Hey Ross - Chatter during normal driving is pretty non-existent - if you have a non-res exhaust as well then it's really hard to notice when it does happen.

[RossDagley]

Thanks buddy appreciated. I like that you were doing hard launches repeatedly on one day and everything was fine - seems to have settled it in my mind - in fact, after reading that I've just phoned MRC and asked for a fitted price

cheers!

[R1RS4]

Sounds like a good choice and with the MRC stamp of approval say no more

cheeRS mate

[harding]

56k miles and i (before i stored her for the winter) had my first (and second) sticky clutch issue. was not that bad tho, after 3 sprinted drivings with an bmw m3 in a row, it got stuck for like 2 seconds while changing to the second gear. I dont know how long it will last from this point, but i kinda drive her with a little bit more love and only rev her when it counts (i.e a bunch of ladies walks by)
You guys think it will last the summer?

[pixsaudisex2]

96k in my red one and when i got it changed it was like really beyond any more use could not have timed it better to get it done.

[voidopolis]

69k on original, but I'm having a weird issue.

I've done the 30 in 6th test and there is no slippage - just grunts and pulls forward. no pedal sticking at all- even with spirited driving. clutch starts engaging pretty low on the pedal stroke - my problem is when getting about 3/4 through the clutch release it seems to have a "gap" in its engagement where it seems like the clutch isn't catching at all and then catches again. Not sure whats going on with it, but I'm planning a clutch/lightweight flywheel upgrade in the spring.

[lma07]

51k with no issues at present. Bet this jinxed it!!

[J130YCE]

48k in mine. Horrid bill but it's done...and breathe

[Specter]

75 K in mine, replaced it with an uprated Sachs + Loba single mass flywheel. Done 25 K since then, some chattering, but everything is fine.

[CaptainLF]

I'm at 107K on the original clutch. I may be starting to show signs; however I haven't done much research on signs or symptoms.

[munsen99]

79k on mine but suffering from sticky clutch syndrome with notchy 1st and 2nd gear changes. Looking to get it all replaced in the next few weeks.