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Show off your projects here! / Re: Project Lucille -- EVW VR6 Manual Conversion
« on: August 15, 2015, 09:20:52 am »Clutch woes -- need some advice.
3. Use a 12v VR6 Clutch kit: NEW SMF flywheel and pressure plate, NEW 228mm clutch disc
PRO: Lots of choice, easily available and cheaper. Upgrades to 228mm
CON: SMF could induce wear on an already used and rare transmission. Possible issues dealing with higher output of 24v?
Perhaps this is a moot point now with your recent 240mm no-go discovery, but what exactly do you mean by "could reduce wear on an already used and rare transmission"? The DMF is inherently "softer" under foot (ie clutch pedal) than SMF options. The DMF is also weaker and prone to failure with higher output engines. This may sound counter intuitive but the first big mod necessary on a high torque TDI eng build is to ditch the DMF setup and use a SMF setup which can handle the 300+ ft/lbs torque levels no prob.
Does the Trans really care about the type of clutch/flywheel? Not that I know of, when the clutch isn't depressed the eng/trans are linked together. I can see the logic that with the DMF there is some rubber dampening the eng pulses but I've heard nothing regarding inherent problems with the age old single mass flywheel clutch system in this regard. Remember instead of squishy runner there are springy springs dampening.
The useage and adoption by VW of DMFs is mostly for the "smoothness" and feel not for prolonged tranny life. I think if they really cared about that they would have had a different AT oil/filter change interval :-).
Justin
2000 EVW 5-spd TDI