Clutch Wear, Stock vs Tune

[flat6]

Hi All

Just got the beast back from volkwerke after the 73k service and queried the difference in clutch weight on my car compared to my mrs car (stock standard GTI with 90k), have heard these things last up to 120k in these cars.

Mines notably heavier with 20k less on the clock, he mentioned its possibly due to my clutch aging faster, interestingly our driving styles, habbits and trips are almost identical as we swap cars fortnightly to make the same trip, driving style is clutch friendly but we do deal with a lot of traffic.

Have had my car chipped since 7000kms, does the tune notably shorten the life of clutch?

[Yagadan]

You've had your car tuned for 70000km and haven't needed a new clutch yet? Damn you lucky son.


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[sambb]

I'm in the same boat. I'm a bit scared for my bank balance when it happens because I don't think I could do just the clutch if it all has to come out. I think I'd sell the tinny and put it all back in with LSD and lightened flywheel. Mine has had the juddering on clutch engagement from standstill thing since I bought it and it feels weak. I'm super careful with it - rev matching and heel and toeing just about everywhere but with 80k km's on it and tuned for 60 of those, I'm wondering how much mine has left too!
I don't think you can run say 30% more power and nearly 50% more torque and not shorten its life, but by how much I have no idea. If you have mechanical sympathy then you should be in a better spot than most in the same position though I'd think.

[h100vw]

You've had your car tuned for 70000km and haven't needed a new clutch yet? Damn you lucky son.


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I don't think it's that hard to believe, vwthunder runs a stock clutch and has a Frankenturbo he isn't frightened to use.

You cannot put a mileage on a clutch, my polo does 80 km a day on the highway, so 20 changes give or take depending on traffic lights each way, home to work.

Driving to the shops, 6 sets of lights, each way over 5 km. 3 roundabouts and 2 stop signs. Which is the worst journey for the clutch? Also my brake pads last ages, in mileage terms for the same reason.

I think 100k is a minimum to expect really.

[sambb]

"I think 100k is a minimum to expect really."

good to hear

[Bora Sport]

My Polo has over 165,000k's on it and has been tuned since 39,000k's. I only replaced my brakes 10,000k's ago.

[louis19]

The previous owner did mainly highway kms from new to 130k kms then I've had it tuned stage 2 and 3 since then. Now at 165k kms on the standard clutch and it's shown no signs of fatigue as of yet. *touch wood*

[sambb]

Anyone know what the actual cause of the juddering of the clutch on take up at traffic jam speeds is?. I've read a few other comment on it. Its a pain in the arse. Is that just something inherent to dual mass flywheels?

[h100vw]

Could be the dual mass, warped flywheel or cover. Also the release bearing grabbing

[seangti]

Anyone know what the actual cause of the juddering of the clutch on take up at traffic jam speeds is?. I've read a few other comment on it. Its a pain in the arse. Is that just something inherent to dual mass flywheels?

Is it only when the car/clutch material is cold, or does it all the time?

My Subaru started doing this, it was to do with the material, wear and being dual mass if I recall correctly. It only happened when cold. It was more so annoying/embarrassing shuddering off on a cold start than anything else. It was doing it at around 80,000km. I sold it at 125km and the clutch had only slipped a few times. I was still tracking it regularly throughout. Throw out bearing was also making a noise on high rev shifts.

[sambb]

No it happens hot or cold. Its when you're going through the bite point in 1st, say in traffic. If you deliberately add 50-100rpm more on take up it won't do it. Apart from that there is no other time when any issue is evident. There is no clutch slip, no vibrations etc. I had read that dual mass can be prone to this. I've read in a few random spots over the years that other Polo peoples had experienced this. Hopefully it is just an inherent thing that can raise its head in different cars and not an issue. But that is one of the reasons in the back of my mind why I am always thinking ahead to gearbox/single mass flywheel/VR6 clutch and hopefully LSD!! $$$

[flat6]

Thanks for the feedback fellas, just forked out a fair bit on both services including timing belt, was hoping the clutch wasn't going to be next or the idea of upgrading to a Golf R might just happen.

Feels fine to drive on but having both cars, you tend to notice a lot of things usually happen around the same time, except for this.

[JustCruisn]

For what is it worth on my Mk4 I tuned it at 35,000km and the clutch just made it to 100,000km, I replaced with standard and it had no signs of slipping at 220,000km when I sold it.

[Blue9N3]

I would have thought that so long as it doesn't slip on boost and you don't fry the Clutch doing big launches, life should be the same tuned or not.

Driving style would have a much bigger influence than whether the car is tuned or not




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