firstarsbrnwhite

I am planning on doing a clutch replace on my 98 1.8. I was planning on ordering southbend TZ series clutch with torque cap of 290 lbs. Right now the car is bone stock but plan on getting a GIAC chip shortly and possibly exhaust. I searched the forums and saw that some chipped cars were running sotck clutch (which im not sure of the torque cap) Would I be alright ordering the Rally Series with a torque cap of 220? To me the extra 70 bucks for the stronger clutch makes more sense but maybe its overboard. BTW im doing all the labor so thats not an issue.

I also saw on ebay SACHS OEM kits for $259 buy it now plus $20 shipping. It doesn't list the torque cap. and with future mod plans it doesn't seem like the route to go. Also on ebay is http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-01-AUDI-A4-1-8T-STAGE-1-CLUTCH-KIT-FREE-S-H_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33730QQitemZ799360801 5QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW stage 1 clutch kit for $260.

My other question is the flywheel. The clutch has not slipped yet and ive had the car for 7k. When I bought it I knocked the price down $1,000 knowing a clutch would be needed soon. It grabs really high (like an inch from the top of the pedal) and gear shifts (from first to second especially) are very choppy and almost feels like im dumping it every time. Like I said no clutch slip at all yet and I have floored it in 5th gear and reved from 2 to 5 thousand rpms and the clutch held like a champ. Do you think the flywheel will be usable? I was also thinking a snubmount would help the smoothness switching gears. Im ordering one today to install along with the clutch. Hey! these days a snub mount is 10 bucks shy of what I pay for a tank of gas! BTW the car is a 98.5 and has 143K on it and runs real strong. I think the original clutch has lasted remarkably long!

firstarsbrnwhite

Would buying a clutch kit with flywheel be the better option..

SPEC?
AWE TUNING?
SOUTHBEND WITH UNORTHODOX ALUMINUM FLY?
OEM FLY WITH SOUTHBEND?
SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

AND thanks in advance!

CURSH[silverbullet]

and good theft prevention.


As far as needing a new Fly are concerned, I was told that you almost always need a new fly.

Also, the APR and Dhalback chips claim 280hp.

not sure about GIAC, but its not much off that.

240-250 perhaps?

so I cant see 280 being overkill.

I have a southbend OFE in mine with a SLIGHTLY lightened fly (very slightly) and its not much harder to drive than stock.

Keeps new people from learning on my car.

I am not chipped yet, but when I am I have no worries of hold.

And I would think the $75 is worth "no worries"

RallyVermont

You just have to think about how much you will be boosting the car in the future. Any records of a clutch replacement during the 140K+ mile life of the car?

With just the miles on your car I would suggest an OEM Flywheel and a stageI or a StageII clutch. Room to grow for boost and and still practical everyday driving.

Go OEM fly with new South Bend and you should be good for a while. And the Shifting problems right now could be a busted pressure plate IMO.

Cheers,
Joel

firstarsbrnwhite

the car was very well taken care of only records show scheduled maintenance and timing belt..

RallyVermont

I would get a new OEM flywheel or LWFW

firstarsbrnwhite

Just ordered the southbend tz series clutch torque cap of 295 for $395! I am waiting untill we take the old clutch out and see how the flywheel is. If it looks shot I guess I will have to go to the local parts store and get an oem flywheel for about 600 bucks.. I hope this isnt the case...

RallyVermont

good luck! keep us posted on how things go for you

the dev

which flywheel do you have that's "slightly lightened"?