MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Kregiel on February 02, 2012, 11:49:57 pm

Title: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: Kregiel on February 02, 2012, 11:49:57 pm
Hi Guys,

My clutch started to slip and now I am considering my options.

Reading the forum most popular would be Sachs, South Bend and Helix.... Which one to go for? Also SMF or DMF using the standard one? Using DMF is obviously cheaper but DMF is much less durable then SMF. SMF could be noisy but it's really car specific.

I am tempted by South bend SMF but welcome all thoughts.

Paul
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: fab5freddy on February 03, 2012, 07:32:59 am
I'm in the same boat  :sad1:

Friend of mine put in the Helix, said it's a good clutch but the customer service and waiting time for it was shocking
(like you and i, in Ireland) took 5 weeks to get sorted, sent the wrong clutch and were slow to get it sorted. That stuff can happen but he said the customer service was bad.

That kind of rules out Helix for me anyway.

So who's got what and how do you rate so far?

SMF or DMF?

 :drinking:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: SteveP on February 03, 2012, 07:44:25 am
I have a South Bend clutch with SMF and really rate it, pedal isn't too heavy and has no issued running stage 2+ power. Also got rid of the issue with the pedal sticking with fast gear changes I had with the Sach clutch before.
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: stealthwolf on February 03, 2012, 08:08:10 am
I heard the SMF gives you a rattle. Is this true?
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: s3dubbin on February 03, 2012, 08:49:37 am
Huge rattle if mounts are fitted. Good little write up on USP Motorsports page about the s.bend. They now sell smf "silent" clutch kits. S.bend is amazing I love mine, soon to be tested on stage4 s3 8p. Cheers, Stevie.
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: fab5freddy on February 03, 2012, 08:59:46 am
I have a South Bend clutch with SMF and really rate it, pedal isn't too heavy and has no issued running stage 2+ power. Also got rid of the issue with the pedal sticking with fast gear changes I had with the Sach clutch before.

Is that a southbend SMF Steve? Where did you source it? and do you get the rattle?   :rolleye:

What's the story with the silent SMF, do you lose any performance with this?

Sorry for all the questions
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: SteveP on February 03, 2012, 09:00:58 am
Yes I have the Southbend SMF too, yes it's rattles a but on idle when the car is warm but not massively noticable inside the car.

I got mine from JBS  :happy2:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: fab5freddy on February 03, 2012, 09:07:08 am
Paul sorry for taking over your thread  :innocent:

Really not keen on the idea of rattles  :fighting:

more research/comments/views needed me thinks


Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: berg on February 03, 2012, 09:15:46 am
Statllers fitted Sachs clutch with my Wavetrac diff and maintained the original DMF, Steve Jr says he has never seen one thats needs replacing yet (although this may depend on how long/hard you drove your car with the original slipping as to whether you damaged your flywheel)

Even though mine is DMF is does rattle when car is idling when clutch is not depressed, but no complaints about the clutch seems to be handling stg 2+ well  :happy2:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: E30Dom on February 03, 2012, 09:34:05 am
Had the Sachs one fitted at APS yesterday with a new LUK DMF as my DMF had alot of play in it... will stick a video up... It's alot quieter on idle now and doesn't slip and feels great, heavier yes, but fine for a daily...
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: gazon69 on February 03, 2012, 09:34:52 am
Had my sachs fitted with single mass flywheel down at statllers 6 months ago. Done around 5k. Slipping already. Personall i wouldn't entertain another. Goin southbend next time around. Spoke to steve jr and he tells me he has 2 waiting to go back to be inspected. He says all sachs come back and say is its been abused.
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: E30Dom on February 03, 2012, 09:36:17 am
Was that the 350ftlb one or the 400ftlb rated one? Also as an 'organic' clutch I believe they can glaze over if abused, but a good deal of reserved driving can restore them...
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: gazon69 on February 03, 2012, 09:40:49 am
Tbh dom i really dont drive my car hard at all. It was the 350ftlb one. My bro in law ripped the centre shaft from his. Hiw he managed that no one knows
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: fab5freddy on February 03, 2012, 10:31:16 am
Had my sachs fitted with single mass flywheel down at statllers 6 months ago. Done around 5k. Slipping already. Personall i wouldn't entertain another. Goin southbend next time around. Spoke to steve jr and he tells me he has 2 waiting to go back to be inspected. He says all sachs come back and say is its been abused.


Gaz what state of tune are you at?
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: gazon69 on February 03, 2012, 10:32:47 am
2+ only a gti tho. Around 320-330ftlb
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: fab5freddy on February 03, 2012, 10:39:28 am
 ^^^^^ :happy2:

So will that be covered under a warranty, hasn't done it's job at all  :mad:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: berg on February 03, 2012, 11:57:53 am
does not sound good, mine is fine on the ED30 maybe rated to 400lb though?
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: gazon69 on February 03, 2012, 12:21:55 pm
Problem with a warranty claim is i have to have the clutch removed and  another fitted all costing time and money, then sent back to germany for testing just for them to tell me its been abused or its just genaeral wear and tear. The thing is how do you put warranty on a clutch. All i do know is i wont have another, new south for me next.
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: Kregiel on February 03, 2012, 01:17:30 pm
Exactly! the warranty on clutch is really pointless unless it covers subsittute car for the whole period and all work related to removing and refitting it... I heard great news on south bend and not so great unfortunately on sachs.... Obviously the users sample would be bigger with Sachs I would assume but still...

The rattle doesn't really bother my as with THS all mounts it's really rattly as it is but only on idle. It's always the trade off between comfort and driving experience and comfort vs reliability as DMF was introduced to make diesels smoother..... but more expensive due to relaibility of DMF vs SMF

Come on guys, more opinions welcome. How many memebrs we have here - almost 5000 thousand and majority with mapped cars!

Thanks for all the replies so far
Paul
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: fab5freddy on February 03, 2012, 08:55:03 pm
Problem with a warranty claim is i have to have the clutch removed and  another fitted all costing time and money, then sent back to germany for testing just for them to tell me its been abused or its just genaeral wear and tear. The thing is how do you put warranty on a clutch. All i do know is i wont have another, new south for me next.
Exactly! the warranty on clutch is really pointless unless it covers subsittute car for the whole period and all work related to removing and refitting it... I heard great news on south bend and not so great unfortunately on sachs.... Obviously the users sample would be bigger with Sachs I would assume but still...

The rattle doesn't really bother my as with THS all mounts it's really rattly as it is but only on idle. It's always the trade off between comfort and driving experience and comfort vs reliability as DMF was introduced to make diesels smoother..... but more expensive due to relaibility of DMF vs SMF





Come on guys, more opinions welcome. How many memebrs we have here - almost 5000 thousand and majority with mapped cars!

Thanks for all the replies so far
Paul

Some really good info in here http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12080.45.html (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12080.45.html)

Also one of the lads did get his kit replaced for being faulty. Don't think you should just roll over and take it  :booty:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: martziniuk on February 03, 2012, 10:59:18 pm
I've got a Sachs fitted, I went for another DMF as I didn't want any rattle. The clutch is stiffer than stock but you don't notice it in everyday driving but in heavy start stop traffic it hurts my knee a bit  :ashamed:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: DanGB on February 04, 2012, 11:24:48 am
I have a Southbend with SMF in mine. Yes is does rattle, but I dont see why its an issue?

A stage 2 friction plate was fitted when my Stage 3 was installed(!), but that started slipping after 2 years, so changed to a stage 4 metallic friction plate. Tad more aggressive but not an issue at all.

I tried two newer Cupra's with a Sachs and a helix I think, and I am sure the pedal was ligher on mine.

EDIT: looking at soundbend's now, looks like they have changed the 'stage'  numbers. I am sure Stage 4 uesd to be 400something ftlb
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: fab5freddy on February 06, 2012, 12:44:00 pm
I have a Southbend with SMF in mine. Yes is does rattle, but I dont see why its an issue?



Kids & missus  :mad:  :signLOL:


@Stevep which kit did you go for? I've been looking at JBS and Darkside Devolpments

Trying to source the "slient" kit, but nobody so far seems to know about it  :confused:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: s3dubbin on February 06, 2012, 02:32:48 pm
Did you mail USP? They will get back to you very quickly Jeff is sh*t hot with info, the clutch will be on your doorstep within 2wks and probably cheaper than you can get them here inc tax. Cheers, Stevie.
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: s3dubbin on February 06, 2012, 02:50:35 pm
Jeff@uspmotorsports.com worth a chat see what he can do for you.  :drinking:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: fab5freddy on February 06, 2012, 03:38:42 pm
Jeff@uspmotorsports.com worth a chat see what he can do for you.  :drinking:


Thanks Stevie  :happy2:

Yeah had a look at the web site, no mention of "silent" SMF kit

Just getting prices in and working out whose cheapest

I'll drop them a mail  :drinking:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: berg on October 23, 2012, 04:19:14 pm
Jeff@uspmotorsports.com worth a chat see what he can do for you.  :drinking:


Thanks Stevie  :happy2:

Yeah had a look at the web site, no mention of "silent" SMF kit

Just getting prices in and working out whose cheapest

I'll drop them a mail  :drinking:


James , did you get one from USP. Can you PM me with your experiences ta
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: JamesG on October 23, 2012, 05:57:45 pm
I have a sachs smf fitted which was supposed to be the silent type/revised (or so the advert said) but on fitting the dealer phoned me up straight away and said we've just test drove your car and theres a rattle on over run from the clutch so i called the company i bought it from and they said that it needed beded in for 300 miles then get back to them if not happy. To be fair it has quitened down dramaticly but i can still hear a little bit of chatter when wynding down after giving it some beans, but on idle and day to day driving it's silent and so far so good. (5 months on)
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: danishmkvgti on October 23, 2012, 07:13:41 pm
I have had the Sachs uprated with SMF for 3 years and wouldn't recommend it to any as it won't let me shift fast and at high rev.
I would consider the LOBA clutchpack with their own SMF, it's also 33% cheaper than the Sachs SMF solution.
Some here in Denmark has bad experiences with the Southbend clutches, so i would avoid that.
My next clutch will be the SPEC eventhough VrsAlex has had some bad customerservice, BNAutoteknik has a good line of communication with them.
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: berg on October 23, 2012, 08:19:08 pm
I have had the Sachs uprated with SMF for 3 years and wouldn't recommend it to any as it won't let me shift fast and at high rev.
I would consider the LOBA clutchpack with their own SMF, it's also 33% cheaper than the Sachs SMF solution.
Some here in Denmark has bad experiences with the Southbend clutches, so i would avoid that.
My next clutch will be the SPEC eventhough VrsAlex has had some bad customerservice, BNAutoteknik has a good line of communication with them.


whats the SPEC clutch jake?
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: danishmkvgti on October 23, 2012, 09:16:55 pm
I have had the Sachs uprated with SMF for 3 years and wouldn't recommend it to any as it won't let me shift fast and at high rev.
I would consider the LOBA clutchpack with their own SMF, it's also 33% cheaper than the Sachs SMF solution.
Some here in Denmark has bad experiences with the Southbend clutches, so i would avoid that.
My next clutch will be the SPEC eventhough VrsAlex has had some bad customerservice, BNAutoteknik has a good line of communication with them.


whats the SPEC clutch jake?

Holds up to 558NM

http://www.bnautoteknik.dk/volkswagen/golf-mk5/transmission/spec-kobling-stage-2-til-audi-vw-2-0tfsi-2006-2009-6g-02q-fwd-m-enkeltmassesvinghjul-i-stal-744.html

Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: fab5freddy on October 23, 2012, 09:57:42 pm

James , did you get one from USP. Can you PM me with your experiences ta

PM'd Andy  :happy2:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: gobbleplease on October 23, 2012, 10:11:37 pm
I've got the Sachs, the first day I drove the car with it fitted I was coming back from London in a 10 hour 1st gear 2nd gear traffic jam stemming over 250 miles, I was on / off the clutch that much a brand new pair of Adidas trainers soles bubbled up !, leg was like jelly when I got home couldn't even play football the next day !!

I'm used to it now though and every time I drive a normal car now I think, this car is for sissys !
( in conclusion the Sachs is quite stiff, got a very high bite point and a little noisey 

Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: ConorF on October 24, 2012, 09:34:09 am
Id stick with dual mass to tell yous the truth.  :confused:
Title: Re: Let's talk clutches!
Post by: graeme on October 24, 2012, 09:44:43 am
I have had the Sachs uprated with SMF for 3 years and wouldn't recommend it to any as it won't let me shift fast and at high rev.
I would consider the LOBA clutchpack with their own SMF, it's also 33% cheaper than the Sachs SMF solution.
Some here in Denmark has bad experiences with the Southbend clutches, so i would avoid that.
My next clutch will be the SPEC eventhough VrsAlex has had some bad customerservice, BNAutoteknik has a good line of communication with them.


whats the SPEC clutch jake?

Holds up to 558NM

http://www.bnautoteknik.dk/volkswagen/golf-mk5/transmission/spec-kobling-stage-2-til-audi-vw-2-0tfsi-2006-2009-6g-02q-fwd-m-enkeltmassesvinghjul-i-stal-744.html



I will be going with the loba clutch as soon as i scrape my penny's together, been looking at them for a while now and always seem to get good reviews :happy2: