Clutch pedal, has anyone got to the bottom of problem

[ArthurPE]

imo it's the friction of the throw out bearing on the guide bushing
the tolerance shrinks when hot and it binds (dust and debris may contribute)

I remember someone having the guide bushing checked and finding this - was that you Arthur?

No, but I would like to see that

There were 2 types of bushings used
A 'floating' type
One bolted down (or held with a clip?)

I think cleaning would help
Access/inspection port?
That is why anew clutch does it less frequently and it gets worse with use

[ArthurPE]

Do aftermarket clutches use the same throwout bearing
I assume they use oem guide bushing

[Wavey Dynamicist]

I'd tend to agree arthur.. It's the only thing that makes sense after reading what people have attempted and had no luck with.

Although i've had it happen once after a few miles of a 50mph cruise in 6th so i don't feel the sole contributor is heat.. Manufacturing tolerances would explain to me why some experience the problem and some don't.. Even after new clutch assemblies.

I'd be happy to sacrifice a light clutch by putting a stronger return spring in if i can manage to get hold of one. I'm loathed to fork out £1000+ for a "maybe" fix to what isn't really a serious problem.

I feel Audi have let themselves down with the RS4.. Development must have been seriously cut short by the small production volume.. The sheer number and occurence of common faults this model has had in the small (10,000?) run of the B7 RS4 are statistically horrible..

[ArthurPE]

When the pedal sticks the clutch still engages so I don't think it's the pressure plate
So I think the issue is in the return mechanism
Bearing hangs up
Pedal hangs up

I dont think its hydraulics
I had mine sheathed in heat sleeving and moved away a bit from the header
Still did it
It will do it cold
Start car
Depress clutch
Rev engine a few times
It will stick

[Wavey Dynamicist]

Yep, I agree..

[R1RS4]

I have another variant of the problem

Clutch performs as it should during "normal driving " ( what's normal driving in an RS4 I can hear you all say) bites at the top, smooth in heavy traffic,

But from a standing start, floor it and pedal stays down, and heavy slippage of the clutch, burning smell, to be honest my 80 BHP clio could take it on and win

I went into talk Audi Camberley on Friday, re how they would resolve it without replacing everything and charging me for it.

They said they are going to call me back with the answer

[adsgreen]

Do people still have this problem who have fitted sachs or loba clutches?

The only thing you notice with this clutch is sometimes there is chatter at low revs but you get used to it and can easily drive round it...

Guessing you also have a LW or single mass Fly wheel

[adsgreen]

As said above - "nobody knows"
The only time I've seen something like this on other cars is also in high revving applications (+8k rpm). With wet clutches normal wear n tear contaminates the oil and combined with the high rpm forces the debris into places it shouldn't get to causing stickiness.

[R1RS4]

New clutch, simple.

Not true. I had brand new clutch and pressure plate. 2 weeks later first occurrence of sticky clutch.

Hi mate, Was this OEM fitted by Audi?

[Marten]

Do people still have this problem who have fitted sachs or loba clutches?

The only thing you notice with this clutch is sometimes there is chatter at low revs but you get used to it and can easily drive round it...

Guessing you also have a LW or single mass Fly wheel

I've got LOBA setup (with SMFW) and I've not experienced the "sticky cluch" issue since it was installed (about 10 000 km's ago). LOBA uses OEM throwout bearing.

[Gavla]

Do people still have this problem who have fitted sachs or loba clutches?

The only thing you notice with this clutch is sometimes there is chatter at low revs but you get used to it and can easily drive round it...

Guessing you also have a LW or single mass Fly wheel

Yep single mass fly wheel which is lighter

http://www.loba-motorsport.com/shop/aud ... -disc?c=33

[sakimano]

lol at 'new clutch'.

On my car I had the sticky pedal but only when I would rev it near redline while in gear, with clutch depressed. i.e. to scare a friend on the street or something silly. Or if making a bad gear change at high rpms (bit slow on the disengagement/reengagement or a poorly revmatched downshift or something.

Last year it was acting up quite a bit more. Sticking to the floor for no reason. Stalling at a light while clutch was pressed. I had a warning for low brake fluid. I topped it up, but the problems persisted, and then the warning came back. Then I topped up again and took it to the dealer. Under warranty they replaced my master and slave cylinder. It was leaking fluid. The hydraulics of the brakes and clutch use the same fluid...and when you are down fluid, you can experience brake problems as well as clutch problems. In my case the master was failing.

When they replaced it, the car was like brand new. Sticky clutch now ONLY happens if I rev the car to near redline while in gear and the clutch is depressed. As before. Normal driving, even driving like this (below) it's absolutely perfect.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

[Marten]

lol at 'new clutch'.

On my car I had the sticky pedal but only when I would rev it near redline while in gear, with clutch depressed. i.e. to scare a friend on the street or something silly. Or if making a bad gear change at high rpms (bit slow on the disengagement/reengagement or a poorly revmatched downshift or something.

When they replaced it, the car was like brand new. Sticky clutch now ONLY happens if I rev the car to near redline while in gear and the clutch is depressed. As before. Normal driving, even driving like this (below) it's absolutely perfect.

TBH i'd rather have system (clutch) which works all the time. Repalcing the OEM clutch has been the best modification for me with RS4. Should have done it much sooner than I did.

[sakimano]

It does work all the time. Unless you are referring to the very specific driver caused issues i outlined. If so you would rather pay 2 grand so that you could rev the engine with the clutch down and not have it get a little sticky? Not sure I agree.

Did you replace the flywheel?

[TonyHayers]

New clutch, simple.

Not true. I had brand new clutch and pressure plate. 2 weeks later first occurrence of sticky clutch.

Hi mate, Was this OEM fitted by Audi?

It was genuine Audi clutch and pressure plate fitted by Unit20.