New OEM LUK Intermittent Clutch Judder

[mb1907953]

Hi Guys,

So I need a bit of assistance from the brains trust.

I just had a brand new LUK Clutch kit (pressure plate, clutch and TO bearing) fitted along with the clutch fork at the local mechanic around the corner (after my old clutch fork snapped in half). He's a good bloke and doesn't mind taking on an old euro from time to time.

The flywheel was machined at the same time.

Anyway, I have driven it about 1000 clicks since then and throughout that time the car has had an intermittent (but mroe often than not) judder when engaging the clutch under load. It improves if I use a bit more right foot but it is definitely noticeable and the judder simply seems to increase in frequency as you increase speed rather than going away.

It is also sometimes noticeable on a downshift into second when engine braking.

You can't feel any judder in the clutch pedal itself but mostly through the car.

Now I took it back to the mechanic and he happily got the guy that did the job to take it for a drive. He admitted there was a judder but seemed to think it wasn't the clutch but rather the engine mounts.

To an extent I agree as there seems to be a fair bit of play in the two engine (not tranny) mounts when you engage the clutch a little with the hand brake on, and then the whole motor judders which is obviously what is causing the car to judder.

But (yes there's a but), I have very new BFI Stealthlines holding the motor down so I can't see how these would be causing an issue?

I guess my question here is,

What is causing the judder? CLutch? Engine mounts? Something completely unrelated?

Cheers,
Max

P.S. it didnt judder with the exedy kit it had in it when the clutch fork snapped. So something has changed!

[mattross]

Hmmmmm
The cyclic bit gives it away, something that is spinning isn't balanced. This may be caused by an out of balanced mass (i.e. an individual component), or out of alignment of the axis of the spinning items (system as a whole). This will have an natural frequency where at a certain speed the vibrations will be at the worst. This may cause a less than perfect adhesion between two spinning masses and cause the judder.

[mattross]

This might help in your diagnosis. 403 Forbidden, 403 Forbidden, http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-...utch/ES261038/
Did you use a Non Dampened flywheel?

[mattross]

This might help in your diagnosis. http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-...utch/ES261036/, 403 Forbidden, 403 Forbidden
Did you use a Non Dampened flywheel?

[mb1907953]

I just had the old (presumably stock) flywheel resurfaced. They are single mass, not dual mass like the 1.8Ts so I don't think they are dampened. However I don't believe this should cause an issue considering the car was designed originally with a single mass.

Unfortunately that is for the 2.0L, I should clarify I'm talking about a vr6 here.

APpreciate your help though mate. Anything else is a bonus so thanks for that. Car should be going back in tomorrow

[HaydEn]

New OEM LUK Intermittent Clutch Judder

Interesting. Mine was flawless. Except I pretty much wore it out in 8,000km's.

Re surfacing might not have been done correctly. Or dodgy clutch disk.. Many variables.

Mine never juddered with shagged engine mounts, crank pulley did scrape on the rails though shot sparks everywhere.

[mb1907953]

Gearbox out etc.

Hot spots all over the pressure plate. I have also been told they were all over the flywheel as well but (contrary to what I requested) he sent it off to get machined again before I could have a look. Interestingly he used a different person to machine the flywheel this time, so I'm thinking whoever do it last time ****ed it up... I called the shop that did it this time and he said it was glazed up and that could potentially be causing the issue. BUt didn't want to comment on whether or not the previous guy had done a good job or not.

But he doesn't want to admit anything and is trying to put the blame on me for not bedding it in properly, even though it shuddered from the day I picked it up. All a bit suspicious really, but I can see that I will be shelling out some dough no matter what happens if I want my car back.

[HaydEn]

Get fair trading involved. Hate to see you pay for another clutch install when it isn't your fault. Bedding in a clutch or not won't have big of an effect.

[mb1907953]

Get fair trading involved. Hate to see you pay for another clutch install when it isn't your fault. Bedding in a clutch or not won't have big of an effect.

Cheers mate, will resort to that if need be but hoping this can be sorted in another way. I think its really suspicious that he wouldnt wait to show me the flywheel and also got a different guy to machine it when he has "never had a problem with the usual guy, he's done all my flywheels with no issue".

I don't really know how I'm meant to prove anything though, because he sent it off whilst I was at uni waiting for the phone call to come and look. SO I don't have any proof the previous job was dodgy. It's pretty much my word against his and im guessing he/ the clutch supplier will just claim I didn't bed it properly hence the small hot spots and glazing. Problem is, like i've already said, it was shuddering from the beginning.

[HaydEn]

If you write all that down in your claim, they'll consider it. Fair trading gives you the benefit of the doubt and requires the mechanic to show adequate proof.

[mb1907953]

Well faith in mechanics has been restored. I went to pick up the car and he just handed me the keys no questions asked, free of charge. Car runs beautifully now and the clutch is quite possibly the best I have ever felt (in my limited experience) in terms of grip, ease of use and smoothness.

I still suspect it was a dodgy previous flywheel machining as he clearly decided not to muck around this time and sent it of to Clutches Direct.

WIll be going back there and recommending his services, he confused me in the middle there but the fact he warranted his work and I now have an extremely well performing new clutch gives me faith in the work he does.

It has been a week now since I got it back and all is going well! ABout to finish the break in period so will give her a real whirl soon enough.