Clutch dead (MK4 Golf 20vt). Likely cost? Worth upgrading? What needs replacing?

[Stormster]

Hi guys.

My car is a 1999 VW Golf MK4 GTI, 1.8 20v turbo. AGU engine so ko3 turbo, engine wise it's mostly standard bar an APR stage one remap, platinum NGK plugs and a stealth subtle backbox.

Anyways, not long had a service, oil, air filter, coolant, new plugs etc.. car seems a lot more pokey when it comes on boost, feels much torquier. Lately with the damp weather, if I've been pressing on, it's been spinning up a bit in third gear with the sudden power increase! It has been accelerating well in all seriousness. But, today in 5th I overtook someone but put my foot down to get past fairly quickly without changing down and the revs flew up till I quickly let off the throttle. Now in third, fourth and fifth it does the same if it comes on boost fairly hard (I had to try, to make sure and of course quickly let off as soon as revs increased).

Long and short is definite clutch slip, so it's gonna need changing. Now I am not a mechanic, it would without a doubt be going to a garage to be fixed, but I'm after an idea of cost from people who may have had their clutch changed on such a car?

Also interested in what exactly is involved, i.e. a brief rundown of parts that'd need swapping. I'm assuming the Golfs use a dual mass flywheel (whatever it does technically I've no idea) - would this need replacement?

Does gearbox oil need draining etc with a clutch swap? And also will the clutch and brake fluid need draining? I wanted to get it all flushed soon anyway so may do this at the same time if neccessary?

Any recommendations of worthy garages within Stoke-on-Trent if anyones local? I was considering giving PSI tuning a call... I have my usual mechanic to ask too. Suppose I could always ask the local stealers too?

Thank you for any guideance, just wanna prepare my wallet for it, timing is terrible TAX, MOT due, just booked a holiday, then a borked clutch lol.

Cheers guys.

Dave

 

[Stormster]

Yeah been very quickly looking into that too, VR6 clutch and G60 flywheel, sachs stuff like you say...

I'm hoping for a £300 quid max job, from speaking to a couple of local people with Golfs who've had the conversion done it should be easily doable for that money, if not less, which is made of win really.

Haven't heard many complaints from those who've done the conversion personally, but never religiously looked into it. You heard much with folks with Octys?

 

[Stormster]

One chap claims it's likely there would be loads of vibration at idle with a single mass solid flywheel? Again I'm no mechanic but I don't want anything like that going on..

 

[Stormster]

I am 95% sure I'm gonna swap to a G60 single mass flywheel and VR6 clutch kit (sachs).

If I go brand new the parts are gonna cost me approx 250 quid. Loads of people just say find a 2nd hand G60 flywheel, but I'd rather pay 140-150 quid to VW for a new one to be honest.

Labour is gonna be about 100-150 quid.

Been asking on owners forums who've done the conversion and noones really had a bad word to say. The myths of vibration did worry me but no one claims to experience any differences bar a much lighter clutch pedal.

 

[Stormster]

Booked it in today at a local specialist, G60 flywheel, VR6 clutch, slave cylinder, labour, £295 all in.

Not too shabby.

 

[Stormster]

They wanted about 800 quid for clutch and flywheel and that was converting to single mass stuff! Jokers.

Clutch alone would probably be that much... but dual mass flywheel at 133k, not worth taking a chance by not swapping

So, swapping the lot for a very cost effective solution which'll do for the next year or so I intend to own the banger lol. Should do for a lot longer of course but I won't have to worry about it when the time comes should I say.

 

[Stormster]

It is cheap, good job I live in the middle of the Bronx, cheap labour! lol, everythings included in that price

I always get good deals, I had my cambelt, tensioners (including hydraulic tensioner not included in cambelt kit), waterpump, thermostat & seals, coolant flush and change, fuel filter, aux belt and labour done for £300 not long back.

Oil and filter, air filter, spark plugs done for £20 labour as I supplied the bits etc.

Don't like paying over the odds, me!

 

[Stormster]

Just low labour rates! All they do all day every day are clutches.

A friend of mine has had the same conversion done to his golf at the same place, but provided bits himself. They charged him £70!!! labour. He used a 2nd hand G60 fly, a sachs clutch kit (£90), some bolts from VW for a tenner. Cost 230 quid all in. I wanted to lay full blame on them for parts & labour combined.

People shouldn't be so quick to assume. I've NEVER paid a lot for labour on anything, it's called shopping around and bartering. I often pay £20 an hour labour to my usual mechanic, but wanted someone to do the clutch conversion who's done plenty before. They may not use shiney immaculate workshops, but thats why they're cheap IMO, and I don't mind that if the work is good. I've had no issues since I had a load of work done with cambelt etc, and that involved taking an engine mount off, loads of boost pipes, nevermind the thermostat, hoping the coolant would hold etc lol - I expect the worst... but why pay 900 for the same thing at VW for example?

I'm no mechanic, I don't know the in's and out's of what they're doing. Just going off word of mouth and trusting them, they certainly knew what I needed on the phone.

Soon see a week on monday, if it blows up you can say you told me so I will call them tomorrow to ask what bits they're using. I'll guess it's around £80-100 labour.

 

[Stormster]

You're a positive chappy aren't you. lol, don't be patronising, it aint big and clever.

The Clutchman
Tel: 01782 286587

Unit 4, Far Green Industrial Estate, Chell St, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire ST1 6AZ

Feel free to give him a call.

 

[Stormster]

All I can say Matt, is give 'em a bell and ask for a price

 

[Stormster]

lol, well thats a thread I started, but yeah they have done a number of them in the local area.

 

[Stormster]

I think it's gonna be a valeo solid flywheel and clutch kit, he mentioned a concentric (? lol) slave cylinder, and those use them... about 220 quid from euro car parts retail so I'm assuming they'll pay trade and charge approx £100 labour.

 

[Stormster]

Forgot to post here, confirmed that it's a valeo flywheel/clutch kit, new slave cylinder for the price.