I was on the way home tonight - line of 3 cars doing 55mph or so just heading up the hill away from Braco (1 mile long straight all uphill you can see all the way up) - could see a car coming the other way, plenty of time to get the VRS passed. Dropped down from 6th to 5th, put my footdown pulled out, got along side the 1st car and my revs kept climbing but I went slower and had to abort the overtake. When i backed off I got a big thump through the clutch pedal. Eased off from the line of cars and gave myself a bit of space and tried it again, this time I eased the power in and caught up with the line of cars, but again I got a thump back through the clutch pedal. Caosted down into the next town and tried to make it do it in every gear with - only really in 2nd & 3th especially if you floor it. I think my clutch is just starting to show wear - its on 78K and its never been changed. Is this a decent enough age for a clutch?

Whats my alternatives for a replacement? I'm probably going to be going down the road of a little extra power - probably upto 190-200bhp (not sure what sort of torque thats going to be though!) Think a std replacememnt is going to be a waste of time.

I've read about the SMF conversion for ultimate torque monsters - What does that cost and who can do it (remember i'm in Northern Scotland!)

I think my clutch is just starting to show wear - its on 78K and its never been changed. Is this a decent enough age for a clutch?

Sounds fair enough. I don't know what the kick from the pedal was though.

you,ll be looking at the best part of £1k for the parts alone :(

and then about 3 to 4 hours for fitting

Sorry, I just got to take advantage and go a bit offtopic with this one:

I've chipped my Fabia, and the clutch is slowly giving up. I've managed to purchase a SRE clutch layout from a local dealer, but the dealer only has rigid clutch discs available, which I can't use since I'm going for a one mass flywheel.

In addition, I haven't found a suitable clutch disc NOR a one mass flywheel from all of Finland so far, so if anyone has any ideas for finding those, please let me know!

The only option I've found so far is to order a full clutch set directly from SACHS, but then I'm stuck with having 2 layouts. I've sent an inquiry to SACHS about whether they could sell me only a clutch disc + flywheel or not - still waiting for a response...

I'll end the offtopic here, thanks and sorry

Mileage would suggest clutch is due for replacement. Bad news is the dual mass flywheel should be done at the same time. So expect a bill of over a grand if you stick to DMF.

Alternative would be to fit an SMF, and that would be a good idea if you are having the power increased. SMF with clutch kit can be had for about £400, so you will also save money.

The downside of SMF is it can increase gearbox wear due to the torque peaks, which the DMF filters out.

If you plan on a serious power increase, having the diff crown wheel bolted to the carrier, rather than riveted (as it is as standard) would be a good idea when the gearbox is out.

Mileage would suggest clutch is due for replacement. Bad news is the dual mass flywheel should be done at the same time. So expect a bill of over a grand if you stick to DMF.

Alternative would be to fit an SMF, and that would be a good idea if you are having the power increased. SMF with clutch kit can be had for about £400, so you will also save money.

The downside of SMF is it can increase gearbox wear due to the torque peaks, which the DMF filters out.

If you plan on a serious power increase, having the diff crown wheel bolted to the carrier, rather than riveted (as it is as standard) would be a good idea when the gearbox is out.

where are you getting a clutch and flywheel for that price :eek:

that seriously beats the prices i have found

What does that cost and who can do it (remember i'm in Northern Scotland!)

How northern are you ?

So expect a bill of over a grand if you stick to DMF.

I've not long had this done. New clutch - £86. Second hand DMF from here £80 posted. Labour £150 from my local tame mechanic. So all in - £316 + a crate of stella.

Edited 6 January, 200917 yr by djswivel

I'm in Crieff - about 50 miles north of Edinburgh

where are you getting a clutch and flywheel for that price :eek:

that seriously beats the prices i have found

Local factors do LUK kit for £400 last time I checked. (Livingston Autoparts)

i asume thats for a standard replacement and not an uprated clutch kit that the op will need if he wants up to 200 bhp

I'm in Crieff - about 50 miles north of Edinburgh

Ah, when you said Northern Scotland, i thought you meant right up North.

You'd be best going to Star or something like that...not too far at all from you.

i asume thats for a standard replacement and not an uprated clutch kit that the op will need if he wants up to 200 bhp

It's the LUK SMF flywheel with suitable clutch kit (clutch has damper springs). Suitable for a mild remap to about 160BHP I believe. If you want to contact them, ask for Peter in parts department.

For 200 bhp id want to fit a clutch that used a SMF... as the DMF isnt the best.... i know theyre are different opinions etc but this is my view... Ive been running a Helix clutch with an SMF for 30k now and its all good.

Best place for me was MardiGras Motorsport. they deal direct with Helix and are the cheapest in the UK... £830 to your door (well was last year anyway)

The clutch is an awesome piece of kit... more feel than standard (stiffer) and the bite is like nothing else.... only downside is the noise at idle but just stick your foot on the clutch and it goes

best mod i've done

i've got prices from all over the place!

Skoda stealers wants £365 fitted for a std replacement.

local factors wants £100+VAT for the kit (no DMF) or £320+VAT with DMF

C&R enterprises want £830 for a SMF with and uprated Sachs clutch and hydralic release bearing - or £930 with an even more uprated clutch! Still waiting on a price for a Sachs uprated unit for the DMF

In all honest i'm only going to remap, filter and exhaust - so i'm not doing for all out performance. its my family car and daily driver! So its needs to be quiet and subtle!

well you definately dont want a Single Mass Flywheel then...

sachs clutch and oem dmf will suffice

I've heard legendary tales () that the OEM DMF would tolerate only up to 400Nm? If this is true, all you need is to get your Fabia chipped and you can throw the DMF into a river..

My chip was limited to 163bhp/380Nm because of the clutch, and when I get (hopefully/finally) a new clutch kit and install it, I'll take my Fabia to the chip shop and have it re-programmed, which should get it to about 190bhp/450Nm(?)

Give Jabbasport a Ring, They will Provide and Fit a Sachs Uprated Clutch and a Jabbasport/Sachs SMF for £1000. With that fitted then you can add on a filter and exhaust then get it remapped with some wicked Torque and Power.

Give Jabbasport a Ring, They will Provide and Fit a Sachs Uprated Clutch and a Jabbasport/Sachs SMF for £1000. With that fitted then you can add on a filter and exhaust then get it remapped with some wicked Torque and Power.

In an ideal world thats maybe the route I would do incase i go further with the tuning - but do you have £1000 to spare? No! neither do I!

I'm going to stick with DMF & sports clutch

I'm sticking pure OEM on mine.

OEM Sachs clucth, OEM replacement DMF.

Mine is remapped, and lasted 122k (albeit it's slipping) so i see no need in shelling out thousands on an uprated clutch for the driving i do.

Also i believe Star Performance ran theyre fabia at 210bhp and 300+ torque on oem clutch for over 20k... its all in the driving... but i like to use it low down so went the full whack

What power do people run on the standard OEM DMF setup?

I know what i'm like! I'll get use to the power of the remap and want more!

Had a quote of £508+ VAt of a Sachs 4-paddle and cover plate. Also whats the best DMF to use with it. Slave should be done at the same time!

Must you change the DMF when you do the clutch as the main dealers never mentioned it!?!?

No you dont have to.

There is no reason why you cant put a new clutch on an old DMF providing it is in good order.

However it is a good 4 hours labour to change so if 10k later you find the DMF craps itself the box has to come out again. But its all down to driving, I have seen some people who have no idea how to drive one of these cars kill a DMF within 30k, changing up early and in 6th by the time they have hit 40mph, then flooring it to get up some speed to overtake and wonder why the whole car is shaking. Yet cars on here that are over 100k on a map and still running the original one.

I tend to accelerate through the gears. I change upto 5th at about 50-55 then upto 6th when i'm upto 70-75. I also own a mk2 golf GTD and this is almost exactly the same gearing as my VRS. The clutch doesnt slip in any other gear otherthan 5th & 6th - I've tried being as harsh as i dare with the other gears (15mph in 3rd with my foot to the floor)

If it was your car what would you do? just replace the clutch with a std OEM one? I always tend to get power hungry after a few months and can see myself getting a stage 2 turbo and FMIC along with a remap somewhere along the road!