Mk7 Golf Manual Clutch Issues, Discussion and Questions

[stellio78]

Hey mate. What's your vin number and where are you located? If you want I can have a chat to our warranty admin and see what the go is with clutches. Yes they generally are wear and tear items but 45ks，to me，is unreasonable for a clutch to wear.

This one went at 28,000 km and they only covered the parts and not labour
Manual clutch failure

[stellio78]

@ Stellio - My issue is that once I bring it in, they pull it apart, I have to pay them for pulling it a part and putting it back together right?

That's why I said have a chat with them, don't give them your car unless you are satisfied with what they tell you about the chances of it being covered under warranty.

Have a read of the link above. Basically 28,000 km clutch dies, they can't see why and cover the parts only and the labour was paid by the owner.

[liljohnny19]

This one went at 28,000 km and they only covered the parts and not labour
Manual clutch failure

I did read through this - and its a Golf R, is there much difference between the setup on the manual transmissions on the GTI vs R?

[jamesdavid]

Without seeing the technical literature in an ssp it's hard to say. I would hazard a guess that internally it would be much of a muchness and that perhaps the outer design (mounting points，port location etc) would be a little different.

[stellio78]

You can use that example as a reference to what you can expect from VW with regards to your issue, low KM with clutch slipping. I don't think it would make a difference if you have a GTI or an R.

[stellio78]

Do you still have the clutch delay valve fitted?
Clutch Delay Valve Removal – MK7 Golf – AutoInstruct

[SimonJe]

My APR Tune and New clutch story (and I have a used clutch is anyone wants it)

Hello all. I don't really know what I'm talking about that much so sorry if you read something that is not 100%.
I did a lot of research on Stage 1 tunes with the help of all the good folks on this chat forum. So I thought I better pay back the flavors and tell everyone of my remap / clutch investigations.
I actually tried a BlueFin superchip remap, but could not get the tune to stick - this is due to my Mk 7 GTI being made in May 2015 and VW did something to make it hard to remap the chip. The Aust / NZ dealer was very very helpful and I had no problem with the company but seems Bluefin just can't work on my GTI.

Anyway I got a APR stage one tune. It is totally sick. I mean the power and torque increase is outrageous. The only trouble is my clutch started to slip when the turbo started to boost hard. I read one website where the writer, in big red letters notes "APR Tune plus 520 Nt M torque = new clutch". I think the OEM clutch is rated at 350 Nt M so no wonder. So if you are getting an APR tune, make sure you consider that a new clutch is needed soon. You can always drive it easy like a granny, but then why get a tune?

So I did a lot of research with clutches, even checking Holden and Ford sites. Now everyone on this site knows about SACHS and Southbend clutches. I ended up getting onto a company here is Brissy called NPC clutches. They recommended a 600 Nt M clutch they have that includes a solid mass flywheel. The guys on the phone were really helpful and did not mind the fact that I'm no clutch expert. They had a clutch kit and SMF that included a slightly different activator gizmo so it was not harder to use.

They recommended a couple of guys who could fit it so I went with Harding Performance (at Cooparoo) who have access to a workshop - Prestige Performance. The guy at HP was also very helpful and knowledgeable (Byron). The guys at Prestige Performance also very professional and helpful and gave me some tips on how the new clutch would feel. I'll defs take my car back there for servicing.

Anyway when they were fitting the clutch they found the rear main seal leaking a bit (maybe this was causing some slip? - not sure) so they replaced that.

So how is it going ? - so far so good. The clutch is actually a touch lighter than the OEM one. Maybe because of the different activator gizmo. I stomped it on the Western Freeway in 5th gear. No slip. Insane acceleration once the turbo boosts up.

Also there is no chatter in neutral like some of the other clutches seem to get (check it on you tube). So that is good. The only thing is that I've got this slight rattle/buzz noise under acceleration at about 3,000 RPM. It sounds like an old pedestal fan that has not got the cover clipped on properly. My wife asked if someone left a spanner sitting on the engine or something. It is not really a big deal. Just interesting. I think when I take the car in for its 45,000klm service I'll ask the guys to check it out. Maybe a loose guard on an exhaust pipe or something I don't really know about.

Finally - I cleaned off the OEM clutch with CT18 to check it out. It is stacks of meat on the plate, and the double mass flywheel does not look stuffed or burnt at all. So if anyone wants a free OEM clutch, let me know and you can come and pick it up.

So.......in conclusion - if you want an APR Stage 1 tune, sure you can cover the cost of a new clutch and poss a main rear seal. Thanks everyone who has ever posted on this site so that blokes like me can figure stuff out.

p.s. - I got the resonator taken off by Mr Muffler at Sumner Park. Really neat job. Sounds awesome without droning you out on the M1.

[SimonJe]

Hi liljohnny19. I just posted something about my clutch story but I have a tune. I had a crack at the warranty thing but was told in no uncertain terms it was not covered. If you read my story (next on the posting list) you see that when the gearbox was off they discovered a leaky rear main seal. I wonder if this is a factor with your clutch? Maybe someone who knows a bit about mechanics can advise how to detect this leaky seal before the gearbox is pulled off. If yours is leaky, you might have a case for warranty. My clutch was 38,000 klms but I had no trouble until I got the tune.

[liljohnny19]

Hi liljohnny19. I just posted something about my clutch story but I have a tune. I had a crack at the warranty thing but was told in no uncertain terms it was not covered. If you read my story (next on the posting list) you see that when the gearbox was off they discovered a leaky rear main seal. I wonder if this is a factor with your clutch? Maybe someone who knows a bit about mechanics can advise how to detect this leaky seal before the gearbox is pulled off. If yours is leaky, you might have a case for warranty. My clutch was 38,000 klms but I had no trouble until I got the tune.

Im going to wait for JamesDavid response to see if he has any info in anyway - Get advice from the ACCC on what actions to take and then go from there to be honest. I'll read through the story thanks for the heads up, im glad to see theres been someone else in my situation, even though you are tuned.

Curiosity, did they refuse warranty because of the tune? because this is the main reason why I absolutely refused to do anything to my car whilst it was in warranty.

Do you still have the clutch delay valve fitted?
Clutch Delay Valve Removal – MK7 Golf – AutoInstruct

My car hasn't been touched other then a 15k, 30k and 45k kms service from VW. So... if thats a standard thing then its still there...

[Paul_R]

Clutch is expressly not covered by warranty. Just like tyres. 45k is a bit short for a clutch so ask nicely and see what VW say. If they take it apart and decline to help with the cost of the parts, at least get them to put an aftermarket uprated one in.

[Transporter]

The reason why the clutch is a wear and tear component (applies to all car manufacturers) is that there are many drivers who don't use the clutch correctly, and I saw the clutch to wear out at 25,000km on the non performance car. In these circumstances the early failures would have always telltale signs on the parts of the clutch.

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying the OP isn't using clutch correctly.

[mrmomoz]

Morning

I bought my 7R in June 2015, and tuned it with APR Stage 1 at 7,000ks..
By 12,000ks i had cooked my stock clutch, and required a change.
I did lots of research back then, and was only able to speak with Southbend, and opted for the STAGE 3 DAILY Clutch Kit.
Being the first 7R to cook its clutch so quick, that the route i took. $3,500 later, it was installed, all bushings and bearings changed, coupled with an APR short shifter kit, it was perfect harmony. APR then heard about this, and remapped their manual tunes, to introduce a low torque tune.

60,000ks later, and 2 years on, the southbend is still holing strong, even now with the revised stage 1 tune. Prior to the Revised Tune, my 7R ran 224awkw on a HUB DYNO. i am yet to have a re run done, with the revised tune, to see power gains.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, regarding mods / whatever you like, as many many manuals, have followed my steps, since day 1 when it came to Clutch Kits.

NPC are good, they are rated high also,
Sachs im yet to hear about,
Southbend i recommend highly due to my driving style / abuse that it takes from track days

cheers

-mo

[mrmomoz]

cooked mine at 7,000ks only cause i tuned it

[liljohnny19]

Guys... You wouldn't believe it - the whole way to work today I was trying to make the clutch slip (foot down in 4th to 6th) and it would not do it....

I'm so confused right now haha.... In saying this it wasn't too cold today. Do you think the issue is more prevalent on colder days? Potentially boost higher causing more slipping? Now I don't know whether to bring it in or not or wait to see if it happens over this week again

[liljohnny19]

Guys... You wouldn't believe it - the whole way to work today I was trying to make the clutch slip (foot down in 4th to 6th) and it would not do it....

I'm so confused right now haha.... In saying this it wasn't too cold today. Do you think the issue is more prevalent on colder days? Potentially boost higher causing more slipping? Now I don't know whether to bring it in or not or wait to see if it happens over this week again

Oh nope - I lied.... It still slips. I'll grab some footage tomorrow

Footage:
VW Golf GTI MK7 Clutch Slip - YouTube
VW Golf GTI MK7 Clutch Slip 2 - YouTube