Mk7 Golf Manual Clutch Issues, Discussion and Questions

[CraigR]

Wonder if it was incorrectly adjusted from the factory? ie no free play at the top of the pedal travel

[mrmomoz]

mine was my own fault, i had mine tuned, the clutch was gone completely, and the flywheel scattered.

[Paul_R]

Dealer still can't find anything to risk putting it through as a warranty job. They have decided to bypass the warranty department and talk to customer service instead. They are going to plead my case for a reduction on the price of a new clutch. And then they will stick a Sachs organic and new flywheel in it.

Anyone know where is the best place to get a Sachs clutch and flywheel kit from?

[CraigR]

That's what I was going to suggest for you to do - makes sense while the box is out.

[stellio78]

I'd be interested to know where you end up getting your replacement kit from as this is looking like something I'm going to have to do in the future. Do the Sachs clutch pair up with a dual mass flywheel or single?

[Paul_R]

The dealer has spoken to customer service at VWA. They have agreed that it is strange but pointed out that they only have 4 Golf R clutches in stock. In Singapore. They are not seeing Mk 7 clutches come back other than the odd obvious failure where a spring has broken etc. as reported on UK forums.

Upshot is that VWA have agreed to pay for all parts as a goodwill gesture (circa $2600) and I have to pay for the dealers time. Expecting around a grand there. Downside is that it will be a stock clutch going in but I'm not arguing. Car will be gone to a new owner by end of year.

All up I'm happy. Dealer has been great and did everything they could to help. The car only went in on Monday, with no appointment, and should be back end of next week. They've let me 'borrow' an Amarok that they just traded in - must be some sort of test mule as it seems to run on Carlton Dry

[mrmomoz]

Congrats Paul, Sach's is a good setup, are they sticking to a Dual Mass Flywheel setup?

[Paul_R]

Downside is that it will be a stock clutch going in but I'm not arguing.

No Sachs for me at this stage. All stock parts going in because VW are paying for them.

I got a look at the gearbox this morning. The bell housing and fly wheel are a mess of clutch material everywhere. Stinks too.

[CraigR]

If you can hand on heart, say that you haven't abused that clutch you shouldn't be paying a cent. It's up to them to find out why it's failed so early.

I've heard "never accept their first offer", they will always come back with a better offer. If the flywheel is burnt however, you won't have a leg to stand on.

[Paul_R]

I haven't abused the clutch. I drive hard and have the opportunity to take the car from 1st gear to red line in 4th several times a week. I do change gear a lot in town but will also do a lot of full throttle 4 gear overtaking moves. I've not been doing drop clutch starts or anything silly like I used to to do in my late teens.

The clutch has been slipping for a while now and was really bad on the weekend so probably got destroyed then. In retrospect I probably should have taken it in sooner but got caught out by it seeming fine when cold and having never destroyed a clutch before. And yes, the fly wheel is burnt.

Part of the reason why I've gone DSG next time - and I'd made that choice last year - was because I wasn't enjoying the clutch action as much as I used to. Maybe it's because subconsciously I knew there wasn't something quite right. Other reasons were because of the greater functionality of the radar cruise with DSG, and my left knee is often swollen from an old injury. Faster gear changes on motorway slip road drag races was also an element.