B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

[Mr Baker]

After having car for four months now theres been a faint clacking/clunking sound which occurs at idle or in first/second gear not higher than 1300 RPM as any higher RPM drowns out the sound which is consistent and getting worse.

Best sound description is similar to a CV joint noise or a straw in bicycle spokes and when clutch is depressed sound is not there and unable to duplicate .

During all the investigating and hoist checks the census is clutch related or flywheel as it sounds unbalanced and noisy.Audi CPO warranty does not cover wear and tear items and during the replacement of transmission under CPO warranty the certfied Audi tech felt it was unnessacary to replace clutch kit but only the disc. Which I was told other wise. Live with this sound or tear apart.Ive also got ideas of what would be best to put in but any suggestions would be a bonus.

Anybody encounter anything like this ?
How high of HP/TORQUE is stock clutch good for?
Anybody have a aluminum flywheel and do thet chatter?
What are most of you guys running clutch wise as the torque and HP makes differance ?
Anybody have RS4 clutch kit in their car ?
Ceramic vs orangic and all that.
Theres mention of cooler line O rings which could need replacing above bell housing requireing xtra time ?

For anyone whos placed RS4 or stage clutch in their car is it considerably heavier and feel different.

Thanks guys

[turbomeyers]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

man i have looked into this and the 6spds are noisy . aluminum flywheels are worse . i have done the rs4 clutches feel amazing . but im not sure what you should go with . I might suggest getting a a4 since they are cheaper to repair perhaps even a new one to get the warranty .

[R-Audi]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

OK.. no idea about hte problems.. but here is my experiene with clutches.

Say NO to lwfw's.. they are terrible to drive with, and chatter. Never again....

I currently have the VAST ceramic clutch, and its been excellent.. easy to drive and virtually no break in.

If you dont plan on going stage 3.. stick with the RS4. I had it before my VAST, and it held up fine, and very easy to drive.

Stock is fine with stage 1-2.. but as with everything depending on how you drive.

Both have a slightly heavier pedal feel.. but I kinda liked that!

[R-Audi]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

man i have looked into this and the 6spds are noisy . aluminum flywheels are worse . i have done the rs4 clutches feel amazing . but im not sure what you should go with . I might suggest getting a a4 since they are cheaper to repair perhaps even a new one to get the warranty .

You reccomend selling his car and buying an A4 simply because of replacing a clutch?? yikes.

[LiQuus]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

I might suggest getting a a4 since they are cheaper to repair perhaps even a new one to get the warranty .

You are telling an S4 owner to sell his S4 and get an A4?? GTFO

[R-Audi]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

Maybe a TThuper TT is the bethT SoluThun?

[Mr Baker]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

Perhaps Im slow , what does hte problems mean in previous thread ? Im also not sure if I would sell car as It will cost regardless of repair or sale of car or just drive it as is.Having warranty is piece of mind. Its obvious a LWFW is not a great choice for daily driving even though there cheaper then steel, as the FW may not even need to be replaced ? How long did it take to complete clutch job for those who have completed it as the book time I beleive is 10 to 12 hrs.

[The_Jerbel]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

You say that the noise goes away when you press the clutch? I'm thinking TO bearing or a PP finger is bent and hitting something in the bell housing.

Stock clutch is good for ~300 chp. aka stage 2.

If you get the correct LWFW and correctly match it with the clutch disk and PP, then it won't chatter too much. If you don't match it up right, it'll drive you nuts.

VAST stage 3 Ceramic/Organic is definitely my top seller.

The RS4 is a good clutch kit unless you're going to go stage 3/3-

I have no idea what you're talking about regarding the cooler line O-rings.

The RS4 PP is slightly heavier than the stocker, but not by much at all. You drove my car; that is an RS4 PP.

Clutch job will take around 12 hours if you know what you're doing and have all the right tools. Count on 15+ if you're doing it for the first time.

[R-Audi]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

If you get the correct LWFW and correctly match it with the clutch disk and PP, then it won't chatter too much. If you don't match it up right, it'll drive you nuts.

Ive had two different ones that came matched as a kit on my A4.. and both were brutal. Just get your stock one resurfaced and call it a day.... (Conveniently which VAST also does)

[turbomeyers]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

i have heard this in his car it is in his transmission . it is verrrrry verrrrrry normal for such a complex transmission (i have heard it in the rs4 and a s4 v8 as well) to make a certain amount of noise when in neutral . Mr. baker is not doing his own wrenching so from a perspective of someone that pays someone else to fix stuff a b5 s4 is a bad car to have . repairs are two to three times as costly . He is verry particular about his car (good thing) and nervous because of this cost factor so a a4 is a good choice for him . the noise is not throw out bearing it is moving shafts . I am positive of this . if i was to keep said car i would drive it until the clutch goes or you are forced to remove the engine (for turbos or anything else) and replace it then . might be a while thoe . cars in good cond and clutch feels good .

[R-Audi]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

Re-reading it again.. Does the sound come out when taking your foot off the gas... and you just happen to out the clutch in as well? A little drivetrain clunk is normal.. well normal on cars that are this old. You can fix it with newer mounts (engine, tranny, rear diff etc) if this is the case..

[The_Jerbel]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

Ive had two different ones that came matched as a kit on my A4.. and both were brutal. Just get your stock one resurfaced and call it a day.... (Conveniently which VAST also does)

VAST also makes a LWFW that works really well with their 2.7T clutch kits.

[Mr Baker]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

.The noise is there as mentioned not a clunk from drivetrain , I have to feather the gas at idle to duplicate or crawling in first and second gear.Alot of quattros have diff/tranny noise , just dependent on how loud. I personally think its the FW or PP , not throw out bearing as its usually a hissing type of sound. If it is tranny its warrantied even though its 14000km old which would be ridiculous if it is.
I remember clutch feeling in jordans car felt solid , the shifting took a moment to get use to due to shortshift kit. Did it have LWFW ?
I appreciate the suggestion on A4 , not sure if Im there though.The tranny can be removed with engine in car still. Ill be sorting something out shortly .

[Mr Baker]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

Just realized if it were the tranny why would noise disipate or be diffcult to duplicate if clutch is depressed ?

[The_Jerbel]

Re: B5/S4 Clutch Issues ?

My car doesn't have a LWFW.

If the sounds goes away when the clutch is depressed, then it could be either a clutch/FW/PP problem, or a tranny problem. If the sound only appears in certain gears, then it's likely a tranny problem. If the sounds only appears when the clutch is depressed, then it's likely a clutch/FW/PP problem.