JHM's B7RS4 Stage IV Clutch & Flywheel combo - experience / satisfaction poll

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

The goal of this thread; to share experiences regarding the combo kit in one single location for members to peruse through for knowledge. We all know the wild success this product had for the B6/B7 S4 community but we’ve been hearing all sorts of negative information and stories regarding the B7 RS4’s combo kit lately. So, why not poll B7 RS4 owners who actually own the kit and let them tell us their unbiased opinion on their experiences to date with the kit? I’m in the market and I will most likely buy the kit but I like to hear positive and negatives before making a purchase. THen I decide if I feel it is a gamble or not.

We know where Mick and Gibson stand. That’s two for the “I don’t like it, mine failed” category. I believe Mick feels his pressure plate failed. Gibson…I think said it was his flywheel? Either way I like specifics and then the reasons behind those determinations.

I think each owner should provide the following info:

Car year:
How many miles:
Combo kit Purchase date:
ANy other additional drive line components installed:
Combo kit Installed by:
Installation instructions followed:
Tips or suggestions during kit install:
Break in procedure followed:
Tips or suggestions during break in:
If not, what was your break in process if any:
How many miles used for break in - include city vs. hwy miles:
Describe issues or failures if any in detail:
Describe positives or likes if any in detail:
How many miles on the kit now:
Attend track days:
Attend 1/4 track days:
Describe behavehior of kit during and in the days after attending either of the above two events:
DD characteristics positive or negative:
Chatter at what RPM if any:
Do’s and don’t’s:
VIbration or sounds present vs. OEM:

Feel free to make suggestions or edits to the line items I quickly came up with. I tried to include what I would want to know and include topics that have been brought up recently and argued about.

I know of two B7 RS4 owners who are totally satisfied with their combo kit. I will ask their permission to use their names prior to putting them in this thread.

#2

I don’t think enough B7 RS4 owners on this site actually have the kit. Hopefully some guys will share experiences.

There appears to be a couple of guys on quattroworld who had problems. One of them being Mick, I can’t really take anything he says seriously. He has made it clear he wants to lie to hurt JHM in the public forums, so that’s a massive credibility killer. He was raving about the kit and defending it as recently as a couple of months ago. Now that he’s on team ebwerks he has done an about face and is claiming it failed. It should be noted his transmission was pulled a couple of times right around the time he had problems.

I know george/2000S4 had the kit on his RS4 and despite a whole boatload of transmission problems, his clutch and flywheel kit were excellent. He’s a member here but his brother drive’s the RS4 so not sure George will see this thread.

Personally I really like the idea of a LWFW however I tend to make OEM clutches last (60k miles on my B7 S4 and was still great when I sold it) so I can’t see myself needing to change anytime soon.

#3

I have 70K+ (owned the car since 24K or 29K can’t remember) on my OEM clutch and it’s performing as it should but when they did the engine swap the tech noted that there was roughly 15% life left in it so I know a replacement in is the somewhat near future. I have no slipping or any other issues (except the odd stiff clutch pedal thing / sometimes spongy that others get OEM or other) so it’s not a necessity for me right this minute.

I’m patient so I can give this thread time to build up info. Just firgured it would be a good idea to start one now. I too like the idea of a LW flywheel. My dealer won’t isntall aftermarket parts otherwise I would have taken advantage of the labor hours while they were swapping the motor…

#4

I know Rocket man has the JHM clutch and I know there have been several 11second passes on it.

Car year: 2008
How many miles: 57 if I remember
Combo kit Purchase date: ??? I know justincredible did the install not sure how long ago. year or so
ANy other additional drive line components installed: APR Supercharger
Combo kit Installed by: justincredible
Installation instructions followed: you would think so.
Tips or suggestions during kit install:
Break in procedure followed: Not sure.
Tips or suggestions during break in:
If not, what was your break in process if any:
How many miles used for break in - include city vs. hwy miles: not sure
Describe issues or failures if any in detail:
Describe positives or likes if any in detail:
How many miles on the kit now:
Attend track days: If you met the guy evbery day he drives his car is a track day.
Attend 1/4 track days: 5 that I know of and at least 3 11 second passes.
Describe behavehior of kit during and in the days after attending either of the above two events:
DD characteristics positive or negative:
Chatter at what RPM if any:
Do’s and don’t’s:
VIbration or sounds present vs. OEM:

Not sure on the reast. Maybe PM justin or ask the count I know he knows rocketman

#5

Subscribed. I have 125k on my factory clutch. Car is bone stock (JHM exhaust and tune on order) and clutch engagement is at the floor with a stiff pedal. I’m on the fence but leaning towards replacing the clutch and pressure plate with OEM parts given that they have lasted this long. It seems the JHM clutch with factory pressure plate combination is not an option, and I don’t want to add JHM’s light weight flywheel and have to replace it if I go with some one else’s system. I’m not sure I can wait to see the results of their 5r pressure plate.

#6

I think you’re overstating the apparent problems people are having with their jhm clutch. Remember that the jhm setup and lightweight flywheel are not causing the pressure plate problems people are having. The pressure plate is.

We have seen this on a bunch of cars both with jhm clutch and oem clutch.

From the looks of it there are a bad batch of pressure plates out there. This happened on the b5 rs4 pressure plates as well a few years ago.

As of now there are really NO good options other than jhm. The quattrofail crew tried to buck the trend with the clutchmasters setup but they haven’t exactly been raving about them. He rs246 guys tried the loba but it’s a fortune.

One company has sold hundreds of these setups for the b6/7 s4 and rs4 over the years. JHM. About 10-15 cars have had a problem. A couple were bad flywheels which were warranty replaced. A handful were improperly installed causing their problems. A handful more are suffering from pressure plate issues.

Hundreds are working perfectly fine.

When the bad news comes out, people paint the hundreds of successful setups as bad as well. People like flying tomatoes…and mickf29. These people are retarded for one, and they have a vendetta against jhm for two. Yet people listen to them. Makes no sense.