lear70

In a nutshell, which clutch should I get for my Stage 3 build since I'm low on cash, one that will NOT rattle when attached to the Fidanza LWFW.

I have a 2000.5 Audi S4 that jumped a timing belt on me 3 months after I put a Fidanza LWFW in it. I had an ACT Stage 1 clutch in it at the time.

Rattling symptoms: When the transmission is in NEUTRAL, i.e. NOT turning, and the clutch pedal is NOT engaged, i.e. no one is sitting in the driver's seat, car running, there is a mechanical rattle that sounds like a marble is loose inside the bell housing. It's REALLY DAMN loud, more than a few people have asked me if there's a rod knocking!

The moment I depress the clutch enough to where the clutch disc is no longer contacting the pressure plate, the rattle goes away. It comes back at very low RPM launching slowly in street driving but goes away very quickly and you can't hear it above 5 mph or so.

I don't believe it's Transmission noise since the transmission isn't even ENGAGED in neutral sitting in a parking lot running by itself.

I got a great deal on a Stage 3 engine complete on eBay, K04's, all the hoses and such already on and clamped, including ECU ready to go. We have everything pulled except the half axles (had to look up how to get those out, they were giving us fits yesterday), going to pull those this morning, get the engine assembly out, pull the transmission and see where we're at, but I know I'm at least going to have to have a better clutch disc and pressure plate for the Stage 3.

So what's the best budget Stage 3 clutch and pressure plate that has smooth street performance but will handle the torque and WILL NOT RATTLE with the Fidanza? or at least not noticeably aggravating in idle without the clutch engaged.

Thanks.

MTykhnenko

Just as a note, yes the transmission is engaged in neutral. More specifically input shaft is still spinning and so are the appropriate bearings. Speaking from experience, from 6 blown transmissions.

Josh/AWE

Sounds like a throw-out bearing. They rattle, you can replace it and see if it gets better. I would start there.

If you still want/need a clutch. We have a large selection for your car.
AWE Tuning B5 S4 Clutches

lear70

Oh man, you guys ready for this?

Wasn't any of the above. The shop in Orlando that installed this forgot to put the washer in. The rattling was the pressure plate hitting the transmission casing as it spun. Pushing the clutch pedal pushed it away from the case.

It finally bit hard and snapped right off the crankshafts breaking all 8 mounting bolts of the flywheel off in their holes. Found it when I split the case today, I'll post pictures later.

Time to sue the shop.