Picking a new clutch

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

I am in the market for a new clutch!

There are a few options on the JHM site so I was hoping for feed back.

I have settled on getting the JHM LWFW so picking a clutch is the last thing on the check list.

Currently I have most of the bolt on power adders; trexturk down pipes, magnaflow cat back (all 2.5" per Justin’s post), the JHM ECU remap, the JHM intake manifold, and the light weight crank with updated pulley.

I plan to supercharge te car next year for a February 16’ project, for now I plan to track the car both at our local circuit as well as the strip. I also do some auto x.

So what should be the deciding factor between the R series and the other performance clutch combos ?

Cheers

#2

3R

#3

I also think the 3R will be perfect for your needs. It’s truly a great product.

#4

Thank you gents! (Jake you can ignore the PM i just sent on AZ)

#5

If you sent it to me, I didn’t get it!

#6

I’m running the 5R with basically the exact same mods and am very happy with it. It took quite a while to break it in but after that its been smooth, predicable and has put up with plenty of abuse. It’s definitely more aggressive than my Stage IV set up but I like the slightly heavier pedal feel. I do get some chatter from time to time but that doesn’t really bother me. I’m sure you couldn’t go wrong with a 3R as well.

#7

Thanks for the feedback. What made you choose the 5 over the 3?

In what cases do you pick the 5 over the 3?

Cheers

#8

Many went with the 3 because the 5 wasn’t available. It’s kind of the best of both worlds. It should handle anything you throw at it with a Stage 1 kit. The only guys who probably need the 5 R are the stage 2 guys.

#9

Good to know! This site has been great for help, I appreciate it.

This is some crazy timing as I just splurged on a bunch of parts for the S4 from JHM and ecs and got bit by our shitty dollar, so I am now caught in a position of shelling out another $2k for a clutch kit :frowning: FML

Oh well, gotta pay to play (and go fast)

#10

3 or 5 you can’t go wrong. Go 3 if you don’t have any major plans or 5 if you just want to get ready for any possible big power mods in the future. They are both great. Break them in well and you will be all set for whatever you can throw at it.

#11

I went with the 5 because it was $100 cheaper and at the time readily available

#12

how does the 5 drive for a daily? I hate to say it, but I might have to buy it because it is $150 cheaper haha. I do have big plans for the future

Thank you guys for the help, I am scrambling to free up funds to cover the cost and I have yet to hear back from the shop about when they can fit me in.

#13

I’ve gotten totally used to driving the 5r on a daily basis. It takes some time but now it’s like a stock clutch for me, except I can launch the car without worrying about it breaking.

#14

So, $100 is the difference in the preferred clutch but in 8 months $10k+ (ie supercharger) is a reasonable investment? Sorry, it’s your personal business, but that’s hard to follow.

#15

Why doesn’t it make sense? Today is not 8 months from now. It’s just cash flow timing at the moment as I do have a life outside of pissing money into my S4 haha Also, I’m in Canada so that $2000 clutch costs me %23 more due to the dollar then I get hit by retarded amounts of shipping and duty. If I can save a few dollars to get my car back on the road quicker with a slightly more aggressive clutch that will also handle all future improvements… Why wouldn’t I save the $100 ?

#16

how much would it save you to ship it to someplace near the boarder and pick it up

#17

I do this all the time, then take the gf down for a weekend vacation and pick up the parts on the way back into Canada, I always declare what I have but the bonus is sometimes depending on how long your gone/how much that border guard cares, you can get through paying no duties.

#18

The duty was ~ $480 for my JHM intake manifold order last month so I think it will be about the same as they are comparable prices

The closest US crossing for me is Maine, there used to be a guy there who would let Canadians ship to his house for a flat fee of $25, from what I was told he closed up.

The shop my car is at wants it soon, and that is even a more complicated as I was on a road trip when my cars clutch let go which ended up in a $300 bill to flatbed the car 130kms to Halifax , which is another 100 kms from where I live. I was just planning to buy the clutch and ship it directly to the shop.

I guess I’ll pony up for the 3 r I just didn’t know if I could get way with a more aggressive clutch for a bit less money, JimS4 got the idea in my head

#19

You are the one that needs to decide if you really want MORE aggressive. It is really dependent on who else may drive your car, what type of driving you normally do, and what your future mod path may be. I knew for my RS4 I planned to go full bolt-on for now and the 3R would be the best of both worlds (still comfortable to DD, but also able to hold the added power). If I choose to supercharge in the future my plan is to ride the 3R until it gives up on me and then go to the 5R. At that point I’ll already have the LWFW, so I can just replace the insert and I’ll purchase the 5R disk and a new PP, which should be around $1000. But the 3R could hold up fine and it will cost me nothing.

#20

I went with the stage 1 because 3 wasn’t available. >:(

With a little over a year on it, daily driven, I’ve let it out at 3500 rpms quite a few times and it hasn’t let me down.