JakeFromStateFarm
Ready to race!
- Location
- Denver, CO
I'm not much of a writer so I'll try to keep this short.
Install/break-in/wear:
I had the clutch and a Peloquin LSD installed this past february by a VAG shop I've been going to. I was told to go easy on it for 750 miles (!) and to be extra careful about excessive heating during that time. I never went full throttle during break in, but I did probably 8/10 and never once had the clutch slip. The install apprently was straightforward with no issues to speak of.
Feel:
Initially, the clutch felt outrageous. It was extremely heavy, the friction point started just a hair off the floor, and the engagement was very short. The mechanic said he'd be surprised if I never stalled it lol (I never did). My first few drives were really rough with shifting. Don't plan on driving passengers for a bit. Everything loosened up a lot in the first few hundred miles. Now the feel and engagement is very much like stock. Granted I haven't driven a stock clutch since the install, but it drives how I remember the stock clutch feeling. It is heavier, maybe 30% or so but I only ever notice it when starting from a stop. During normal shifting, the weight increase doesn't register at all. Engagement is a little shorter, but this is definitely no race clutch. Starting from a stop is just a smooth as stock. Overall I'm very happy with the feel.
Noise:
Much quieter than I was expecting. I do almost all my driving with windows down and the radio off so I think I would notice noise more than the average person. During break in, there was about as much noise as I was expecting for a SMF, but it's quieted way down since then. With AC off, the clutch is totally silent during idle nine times out of ten. And I mean totally silent. Once it a while it inexplicably can be heard but it's still pretty quiet. With AC on, it ticks a bit but still not as loud as during break in. Probably not even noticable to someone that doesn't know what a SMF sounds like. Then there's the other mechanical noise. Under load while below 2k rpm, you get some noise and on heavy engine breaking (deccelerating above 4k rpm) you get the same noise. These are probably only audible with windows down and radio off. So overall, yeah there's a bit more mechanical noise but like I said, it's a lot less than I was expecting.
Lightened Flywheel?:
I was really looking forward to the car revving faster because of the lightened flywheel but if it is faster, it's not at all noiceable. What IS noticable though is when you let the clutch out too early or too late. The engine is much happier changing speed to match the transmission. It's less jarring than stock.
Overall I'm really happy with it. No slipping ever, quieter than I was expecting and feels good. I'd be happy to recommend the same one for anyone thinking of going IS38.
Install/break-in/wear:
I had the clutch and a Peloquin LSD installed this past february by a VAG shop I've been going to. I was told to go easy on it for 750 miles (!) and to be extra careful about excessive heating during that time. I never went full throttle during break in, but I did probably 8/10 and never once had the clutch slip. The install apprently was straightforward with no issues to speak of.
Feel:
Initially, the clutch felt outrageous. It was extremely heavy, the friction point started just a hair off the floor, and the engagement was very short. The mechanic said he'd be surprised if I never stalled it lol (I never did). My first few drives were really rough with shifting. Don't plan on driving passengers for a bit. Everything loosened up a lot in the first few hundred miles. Now the feel and engagement is very much like stock. Granted I haven't driven a stock clutch since the install, but it drives how I remember the stock clutch feeling. It is heavier, maybe 30% or so but I only ever notice it when starting from a stop. During normal shifting, the weight increase doesn't register at all. Engagement is a little shorter, but this is definitely no race clutch. Starting from a stop is just a smooth as stock. Overall I'm very happy with the feel.
Noise:
Much quieter than I was expecting. I do almost all my driving with windows down and the radio off so I think I would notice noise more than the average person. During break in, there was about as much noise as I was expecting for a SMF, but it's quieted way down since then. With AC off, the clutch is totally silent during idle nine times out of ten. And I mean totally silent. Once it a while it inexplicably can be heard but it's still pretty quiet. With AC on, it ticks a bit but still not as loud as during break in. Probably not even noticable to someone that doesn't know what a SMF sounds like. Then there's the other mechanical noise. Under load while below 2k rpm, you get some noise and on heavy engine breaking (deccelerating above 4k rpm) you get the same noise. These are probably only audible with windows down and radio off. So overall, yeah there's a bit more mechanical noise but like I said, it's a lot less than I was expecting.
Lightened Flywheel?:
I was really looking forward to the car revving faster because of the lightened flywheel but if it is faster, it's not at all noiceable. What IS noticable though is when you let the clutch out too early or too late. The engine is much happier changing speed to match the transmission. It's less jarring than stock.
Overall I'm really happy with it. No slipping ever, quieter than I was expecting and feels good. I'd be happy to recommend the same one for anyone thinking of going IS38.
My DMF TDi makes more noise than this Golf R did.