Need some opinions

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

So, I’m torn with what I really want to do next.

Right now, my car has right around 82k miles. My original flywheel has been replaced within the last 10-15k miles(can’t remember exactly when) due to that whole annoying vibration issue.

My clutch currently does not slip at all, and I have little to no issues with it at this time. I have been unable to find if it has been replaced at any point, so I’m guessing it hasn’t. I drive pretty tame most of the time with the occasional hard driving.

So, heres my dilemma, I feel my clutch is fine, but I’m considering replacing it now with a JHM stg4/LWFW.

The other thing I’m considering is doing JHM Tune/Trexturk catless dps/some other minor maintenance items

Would I be better off doing the 2nd set of things and waiting until I actually need to replace my clutch, or should I do the clutch now and do the rest of the stuff later in the year? Either way I’m planning on doing these things this year, just can’t decide which I should do first.

#2

DP’s probably have to come off to do clutch (they have to come off for the S4’s at least). So they should be done with the clutch. If you do clutch & DP’s then Tune is needed to prevent CEL and actually get gains.

So either to it all at once, or do tune, then follow up with DP’s and clutch/fw.

#3

Here are my thoughts. If you do the LWFW your not going to get all the gain out of it due to the ECU limiting the power and acceleration. So in that case getting the Dp’s and tune is a better idea. From there get the clutch idea is great down the line. The LWFW is great

#4

I have the same mods. My clutch broke 3 months after doing DP’s/exhaust. I asked JHM when ordering my clutch what was worth doing at the same time as the clutch/LWFW - downpipes and short shifter. If you are not doing the work yourself you will save in labour as you will have the dp/exhaust off only once. If you are doing the work yourself, you will save time.

Do you have a B6? Do you drive it like you stole it? Do you go to the 1/4 mile?

#5

Yeah I have a B6. I do intend on getting some 1/4 runs in at some point, and there are occasions where I drive it like I stole it.

I have no issue doing labor myself, however I’ve never done a clutch and I’m not too sure I’d want to do one on jackstands.

Would doing the clutch only require to drop the trans and not pull the engine? If so then it seems slightly more possible to do on jackstands.

#6

Yeah the motor does not need to come out to do the clutch. The bozos at GRD tuning felt it necessary to drop the motor a few inches to get to the top bolts, but from what I have gathered, it’s not necessary. Also from what I hear, getting the trans out is the easy part, getting it back in/lined up is the hard part to do on jackstands

When you drive my car this week, you won’t be able to not get the downpipes and tune done. It’s a completely different experience compared to stock.

#7

Really? Everytime i have seen a transmission come out (twice) it was pretty much just 1 man in baggy clothes picking up the whole unit from the ground and lifting it up into position while 3 guys scrambled to get the first bolts in! (NO JOKE!!)

But seriously unless you have CV doin the lifting it really MUST be a bitch to line up!

#8

x2. Just got my JHM tune and its as good as everyone says it is. Car is much more responsive across the entire RPM range. Its not just some glamor dyno’d peak HP tune. You can feel the tune’s improvement over stock during everyday driving. Makes a big difference.

#9

Hahaha, yeep, same here. Count made it look easy, I had a bitch of a time getting it lined back up and installed WITH THE MOTOR OUT! (but I’ve never done clutch work prior to that, crash course solo if ya will)

That fucker is heavy, and Count picked it up and hoisted it over his head while coughing from phenomena. . . I’m just thinking shit, none of us can help, trans jack is broke, and if Count keels over, I’m screwed in the middle of Michigan haha.

#10

Yeah, who cares if Count keels over while holding a tranny, getting stuck in Michigan is WAY worse! :slight_smile:

#11

if Count keels over this hole operation is over. I would kill Madison if he killed Count, we still need him!

#12

…and CV is a great person and that would be terrible. Selfish prick^^^

Madison…so he did it then on your car too? That’s nuts. He did it with the RS4 as well when we were there for the S5 meet. I was laughing so hard. Actually I wasn’t, I am laughing now thinking about it, but at the time I was saying to jaw and bora ‘holy fuck is that really happening???’

#13

By “keel over” I moreso was meaning just having a coughing episode and my transmission using the floor for an abrupt stop. Thus having a shattered trans was the “worst case” scenario in my mind, but that’s a pretty bad one in my book.

Yea Saki, trans jack was broke. . . so that meant we used CV. Other people were involved, but involved is a pretty lax term.

Just moving that thing around on the trans jack in my garage was a pain, and I’m not a “small” guy, it really put into perspective the what the count did (and as mentioned, it wasn’t the first or last time).

#14

Yep, after driving it, I got back in my car and felt like something was missing. Downpipes and tune are for sure happening soon.

#15

The good news is heaven forbid anything happens to anyone at one of these meets… we will bust any land speed recorde for a run to the hospital!

Its handy having some 12-13 seconds cars just chillin on the lot in case of an emergency ;D

#16

Is CV cheaper than a transmission jack lol.

#17

Yeah but then there would be a half hour argument of who is actually faster, you would have to compare fats 60-130 times…oh wait they would have been 4.2 cars, it would be quick draw with the 1/4 times

#18

LOL

Being serious for a second, if your thinking of doing the clutch yourself, get yourself a decent (not cheepie universal tool) clutch alignment tool (Kincrome Universal will do the trick - not a cheepie!).

Last time I replaced my clutch, spent 1/2 a day trying to get the fucking gearbox to mate up to the engine. borrowed a friends clutch alignment tool and had the damn box bolted up in 5 minutes