Clutch Failure: Common Causes & How to Fix It

Hello.

My clutch is broken again. I only had it replaced about 1.5 years ago and after driving approximately 40,000 km.

The symptoms were the same again today! While driving, the engine suddenly revved up. And now the clutch isn't engaging properly, but it's also not disengaging correctly. It was exactly like that last time.

'Back then, the pre-tension spring on the clutch plate had broken! What could have caused that? I suspect it's the same problem this time, as I haven't removed the clutch yet.'
Or could it be something else?
Would you install a performance clutch? Or an aftermarket clutch? If so, which one? Or would you go with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) clutch?

Audi 80 B4 TDI, manufactured in 1994.

Thank you in advance!!

Best regards,

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

'Didl' is a German word that means 'a small amount of something.' It can be used to describe anything from a tiny speck of dust to a large pile of sand.

Here are some examples of how to use 'Didl' in a sentence:

* There was only a didl of sugar left in the jar.
* The children were playing with a didl of sand on the beach.
* He had a didl of money saved up for his trip.

I hope this helps!

Hello Didl,

I would advise against a sports clutch. I had one, and it lasted only 30,000 km. } That was probably because I drive in the city every day, with traffic jams and stop-and-go conditions. } But even if you don't have an extremely high-performance car, I wouldn't do it. } It's also healthier for the rest of the drivetrain.

"Why don't you try a clutch from a G60 or VR6? I did that too, because that was the only one the VW dealer had in stock."

Greetings.
Thomas.

I also have the G60 clutch installed. I've also done some more aggressive tuning. And so far, nothing has slipped. It just jerks when starting occasionally .

Does the G60 clutch also fit the 1Z engine?

Can I use a complete clutch kit from a G60 there? Including the pressure plate, friction disc, and release bearing?

Hi,

Yes, you can. It all fits.

By the way, with a sports clutch, you would also need to replace the flywheel because it is externally threaded.

Greetings,
Thomas.

Don't I just need to replace the friction disc and pressure plate there?
Why?

Hello.

At Sachs, I was told that there is no sports clutch available for my car.
But they also said that a trailer hitch has to be able to withstand more stress!

They believed that an imbalance was more likely to be responsible for the damage.
So, I probably need a new flywheel.
How can I tell if it's really the swing that's the problem?

Should I perhaps completely convert to a G60 system?
Does all of this make sense? Is the revving speed of the G60 engine not lighter than that of the TDI engine? Because if it is, wouldn't that reduce torque, or what?

best regards

'didl' remains 'didl' in English. It's likely a nonsense word or a term specific to a particular context that doesn't have a direct translation.

Hello,

Since the clutch isn't disengaging properly either, I suspect...
This happened because oil, likely from a faulty crankshaft seal, leaked onto the clutch discs, causing them to stick together to some extent.

Yes, but the strange thing is that it happened so suddenly while I was driving.

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

'Hi,'

At a friend's place, a torsion spring in the clutch plate once broke. It then jammed between the clutch plate and the release levers, making it impossible to engage or disengage the clutch because the spring was obstructing the release levers. Depending on the position of the spring, the clutch either wouldn't engage, wouldn't disengage properly, or both at the same time . Normal driving was no longer possible. If it didn't separate: you had to start with the starter motor, and when shifting, you had to 'find' the correct RPM again to 'engage' the clutch... ...that was fun . This could also be a cause, but 40,000 km should be a blink of an eye for a standard clutch (and its springs), even in normal city traffic.