gesTTalt

I've been trying to contact Juan for a week now - repeated emails and phones calls, and absolutely NO RESPONSE! It's damn irritating when you drop a grand on a product and get no stinking customer service. It's a shame that this has to happen.

When I was in the process of ordering, Juan was quick to return my calls and emails. He stated taht he was to have several 225 clutches completed and ready to ship. So, I put in my order, 3 day shipping, and coordinate an appointment for the day after the clutch is scheduled to arrive. In addition, I asked Juan to also send a pilot bearing.

Ok, the clutch is on sale for $880, the pilot bearing was $20, and 3-day shipping is $52. I'm banking that I would get the clutch, and the next business day, get it installed. I order the clutch Tuesday, and Juan said he would get it out that day. Expected delivery, Friday.

I call Juan Wednesday to get a tracking number. Left a message. Email him my request. Thursday...call and email again. Friday, anticipating the arrival of my clutch. 530pm...600pm....700pm...no clutch. F*ck!! (An aside, I was also coordinating with the body shop that's installing my rear bumper...they needed the car too). I had to cancel the install appointment, as I needed to bring the car Mon morning, and I didn't know when the clutch was to arrive. I called and emailed Juan all weekend, with no response. Not even a courtesy call.

Monday, the clutch finally came in the afternoon. I open the box, pressure plate and disk...no bearings. Call Juan again to complain about the late shipping and missing pilot bearing. Left a message, and email the bastage, AGIAN, requesing a refund of the bearing and overpayment of shipping. I wasn't going to pay for a 3 day service that arrives on the 4th day! If he was unable to ship the clutch on the day we agreed, he should have called. I even told him that I made an appointment for Monday, and he assured me the clutch would arrive by Friday.

Now, I'm stuck. Juan does not return calls or emails. I need to know the procedure for breaking in the clutch, and what if something goes wrong and need to get it replaced under his warranty?

I know Mario (4sfedTT) had problem with Juan's lack of customer response. Juan didn't respond until Mario threaten to complain to others on this forum. This is a very poor way to manage one's customers.

So if anyone can tell advise me how to break it in, I'd be very grateful. Also, any suggestions on how to handle Mr. Mendoza?

If WOA / Juan treats his customer like this, I don't think I would never buy a thing from him again, even if his clutches were undestructible!! I feel like I've just been conned!

AxeYrCat

play nice for a few K miles?

TighTT

I had a Werks of Art stage III in my previous A4. I had PES do the install. As far as breaking in the clutch, PES told me that during the ride home, while on the highway, to give it enough gas to slip the clutch (when a clutch is first installed it slips for a while) for a few seconds, then chillout and let it cool down. They told me to do this about 3 or 4 times during the trip home. Afterwards, drive cautiously for the first 800 miles or so. By 1000 miles I could rev it up to 5 grand, drop the clutch and put on a tire-spinning show for whoever was watching.=) I was disappointed with the way the clutch chattered sometimes, even though PES installed it correctly, scuffing the surface of the flywheel before installing the clutch. They also put in a brand new throw-out bearing. Overall the clutch was great on performance...so-so on street use.

Adam

gesTTalt

I mentioned this to Juan, he assured me that it was not normal and shouldn't be chattering. My TT is primarily a road car, and not used much for racing. Certainly hope this will be a driveable clutch.

And ~800mi? Damn that's a lot of patience! when you say enough gas to induce slip, can I just go WOT for a few secs?

sTTanford

can you post pics of the clutch please? might be able to offer advice.

gesTTalt

I didn't take any pics of the stage 3 clutch, I'll see if I can find anyone else that may have

gesTTalt

<IMG SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/27491/clutch1.jpg">


<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/27491/clutch2.jpg">


The stage 3 material was darker - was told it's Kevlar/CF

TighTT

Yes, to make it slip hold it at WOT for a few secs. The RPM's will go up as the clutch slips...this really heats up the clutch, making it rough and gritty. Naturally, after a while of breaking in, it grips like a mother. I used this clutch on the street for about 4 months before selling my car. For a high performance clutch, it drove fairly easily, just a little picky. It felt like I had a lightweight flywheel added with the clutch. While releasing the clutch, the rpm's would drop really fast, so I had to compensate with giving it alot of gas...very tedious in traffic or on steep inclines.

Adam