New clutch time! Too many choices! Help?!

[Mysticality]

So, after 162,000km of loyal service, my VW specialist garage (Camden GTI) has told me its time for a new clutch.

Help!
Don't know what to choose, too many available and don't want to buy the wrong thing.

Skoda Octavia vRS TDI (VW Golf GTD (125TDI/02Q))
Stage 2 tune, planning on hybrid turbo eventually

I do a *lot* of k's, car is 2yr4mo old, 250km in a day is a quiet day

So... Suggestions on what and where to buy?
Have been told to get an SMF (single mass flywheel) and all the literature I've found online supports this, while there will be more chatter (I have a 98duro torque arm insert anyway so chatter is terribad anyway) it'll be quicker off the line and the engine will rev more happily.

Main thing is it has to be cheap. Not cheap and nasty cheap, but cheap enough to not break the bank... which is not terribly large.


Cheers,
-Matt

[Lucas_R]

Go for the Sachs SRE which is essentially a heavy duty version of the stock clutch. Quite a few guys with GTI's and R's in the USA using these with great feedback. You get to keep the smoothness of the dual mass flywheel but with increased clamping pressure.

[brad]

What does Matt say?

I was talking to him about a clutch not long back & he didn't sound like he'd had a good run with some of the lesser known SMF clutch conversions.

Have you asked at Briskoda? lots of diesels over their & the pommies seem pretty keen on SMFs

[Mysticality]

What does Matt say?

He said post here, lol

Yeah I was thinking about that... But hoping for someone in Aus who was able to say "Buy X from Y and you'll have a good time", having never bought an aftermarket clutch before... (I'm still learning new things every day)

[pansy]

Hi mate,

I've got a sachs performance clutch with the single mass flywheel and the thing is perfect, the chatter is pretty reasonable and nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. As for price, get it from Germany, unfortunately its prohibitively expensive from the australian dealer.

Jared

[Mysticality]

Hi mate,

I've got a sachs performance clutch with the single mass flywheel and the thing is perfect, the chatter is pretty reasonable and nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. As for price, get it from Germany, unfortunately its prohibitively expensive from the australian dealer.

Jared

Where did you get it from, and how much?

I found both a Valeo SMF and Sachs SMF clutch kits for mid-$900's, looks like the Valeo is gonna be easier to find (available a lot of different places - Sachs only Darkside Developments?)

[brad]

Mate, have you actually asked over at Briskoda? I just had a quick look & it appears there are a lot more options than those you've posted.

You might also ask in the diesel section here as it's a common engine in the VW family.

Sachs kit should be ZF Sachs; P/N 883089 000034 and there's definately cheaper suppliers than Darkside (the cheaper places are like Pommie Repco)

Here's some of the pommie providers
LuK

Valeo Clutches » Products » Clutch Kits » Clutch Conversion Kits :: Solid Flywheel Conversion :: Valeo Clutches

Sachs Performance Clutch Clutchkit - VW Jetta III - S-Performance GmbH

883089 000034 Sachs Sre Performance Clutch Kit And Solid Flywheel Vag Group - VW Car Parts and Accessories

:: JKM Motor Services Ltd | JKM Performance | V.A.G Specialists | Telephone +44 (023) 9263 9933 |

[pansy]

Where did you get it from, and how much?

I found both a Valeo SMF and Sachs SMF clutch kits for mid-$900's, looks like the Valeo is gonna be easier to find (available a lot of different places - Sachs only Darkside Developments?)

I got it through Derek at European Autotech and he sourced it direct from Germany, I think it was about $1000, can't remember exactly as it was over twelve months ago. Worth every penny after the OE clutch was buggered by the torque. Can't recommend it highly enough.

[Mysticality]

Ended up getting a "520Nm rated" clutch kit off eBay... The pressure plate is red!

Its holding up fine.