The Octy has quite a soft clutch bite and it can be difficult to judge at roundabouts leading to what I think is excessive slip. Mainly happens when I'm trying to dash for a gap on a busy roundabout. The whole clutch assembly was replaced around 3-4k ago which improved matters but compared the the Fabia it has a really soft bite and doesn't seem to give much feedback. If you bring the clutch up a bit fast in the Fabia you get a kick as it bites. In the Octy it just sort of smooshes together. Is it just the difference between a diesel clutch and a petrol clutch or is there an underlying issue (ie me lol)?

I always used to get this too. Especially when trying to pull away quickly. The biting point goes all vague, and it feels like it slips a bit. It's almost as if the biting point moves. It's really weird and rubbish anyway. I always put it down to the dual mass flywheel.

Since changing to a single mass unit, the bite feels correct again, like a clutch should feel. Like you say, if you take your foot off the clutch quickly, it just slams the pressure plate closed and grips hard and instantly, with no strange feelings.

When I had the DMF removed the guy did say it was pretty worn out, as I could rotate the inner friction piece by hand (beyond it's normal free-play). He also commented that the clutch didn't look too bad. So I've come to the conclusion that the problem was the DMF.

Do you still have the original DMF fitted? How many miles has the car done?

I always used to get this too. Especially when trying to pull away quickly. The biting point goes all vague, and it feels like it slips a bit. It's almost as if the biting point moves. It's really weird and rubbish anyway. I always put it down to the dual mass flywheel.

Since changing to a single mass unit, the bite feels correct again, like a clutch should feel. Like you say, if you take your foot off the clutch quickly, it just slams the pressure plate closed and grips hard and instantly, with no strange feelings.

When I had the DMF removed the guy did say it was pretty worn out, as I could rotate the inner friction piece by hand (beyond it's normal free-play). He also commented that the clutch didn't look too bad. So I've come to the conclusion that the problem was the DMF.

Do you still have the original DMF fitted? How many miles has the car done?

Nope, I had clutch and flywheel done a few thousand miles ago because I was getting vibration back through the clutch pedal when pulling away onto roundabouts and whilst it wasn't slipping it wasn't the positive bite I was used to in the Fabia. Whilst the vibration has gone it's not brought the improvement in clutch feel I was hoping for! The cars done 105k.

Hmm that is strange then. Did you have another DMF fitted, or did you convert it to single mass?

It could just be a characteristic of the type of DMF used in the Octavia, compared to the Fabia. I'd imagine the Fabia DMF might be different, as it has to deal with more torque, lower rotational speeds and more vibrations. Dunno though.

If your clutch is slow on the return, then I suppose it could be a hydraulic issue (the most common one is the slave cylinder failure, causing the pedal to get stuck to the floor). I'm just thinking along the lines of what could reduce the speed at which the clutch engages after you've released the pedal. Such as a sticky release bearing.

I suppose the only way to really dismiss it as a characteristic of the car is to compare your car to another vRS with the same clutch/flywheel setup.

I've got the standard original LUK clutch and DMF kit from my car sat at home (with 108k on it), so if you need any photos or details off the original parts just give me a shout.

Hmm that is strange then. Did you have another DMF fitted, or did you convert it to single mass?

It could just be a characteristic of the type of DMF used in the Octavia, compared to the Fabia. I'd imagine the Fabia DMF might be different, as it has to deal with more torque, lower rotational speeds and more vibrations. Dunno though.

If your clutch is slow on the return, then I suppose it could be a hydraulic issue (the most common one is the slave cylinder failure, causing the pedal to get stuck to the floor). I'm just thinking along the lines of what could reduce the speed at which the clutch engages after you've released the pedal. Such as a sticky release bearing.

I suppose the only way to really dismiss it as a characteristic of the car is to compare your car to another vRS with the same clutch/flywheel setup.

I've got the standard original LUK clutch and DMF kit from my car sat at home (with 108k on it), so if you need any photos or details off the original parts just give me a shout.

I had another DMF fitted.

The pedal itself feels fine and the clutch responds to what I want it to do. I was thinking more about it being something to do with clamping pressure but since the whole assembly was replaced I can't see it being that and like you say I'd have thought any issue with the hydraulic side of things would slow the action down. I'm guessing that it auto-adjusts with wear and that nothing needs resetting once it's been changed but the work was done by Unit 18 so they know what they're doing.

Yes, hydraulic clutches self-adjust.