[A4] clutch noise

[Peter Kirby]

Update:

The noise turned out to be the engine side of the flywheel rubbing on a 
thin piece of metal that goes between the bell housing and the engine 
block.  It is cut to match the shape of the bell housing.  I am sure 
that when Audi changed the engine under the oil sludge program, that 
they mis-installed this metal "shim".  The thing was quiet as a mouse as 
long as the car was cold but got progressively louder as the car heated 
up and louder still when the clutch was pushed in.

The bad news when we opened it up was that the free-play of the 
dual-mass flywheel ($650 CDN) was out of spec (spec is 20 mm and mine 
was at 24 or 25 mm) and the clutch disk was almost at the rivets.  The 
pressure plate was worn and slightly burnt, and the release bearing was 
in two pieces.  The replacement clutch kit was $500 CDN.  Add another 
$750 labour and taxes....

I have a feeling that the PO was informed of the worn clutch when the 
engine was out and opted to sell the car soon after that....oh well, at 
least now I know I have a new clutch.

If I were to do it again, I would get rid of the dual-mass flywheel and 
install a single-mass flywheel and a non-Audi clutch.  Neuspeed sells a 
kit that includes all the necessary bits.  The only reason I didm't go 
this route was that the car was apart and needed a quick solution.  The 
Neuspeed kit would have saved me about $200 and would be more reliable.

Peter
2001 1.8tq (with a new clutch!)

Peter Kirby wrote:
> I wondered that too but the noise is not a whine (as I'd expect from a
> release bearing) but more like the sound you would get if you stuck
> something into the blades of a fan.   It is completely silent until
> the car has been running for about 20 minutes.
> 
> Peter
> 
> On 5/12/06, sdewitt at stx.rr.com <sdewitt at stx.rr.com> wrote:
> 
>> The noise it probably eminating from your release bearing, or your
>> pressure plate.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Peter Kirby <4pkirby at gmail.com>
>> Date: Friday, May 12, 2006 7:48 am
>> Subject: [A4] clutch noise
>> To: A4 list <A4 at audifans.com>
>>
>> > There seems to be a ticking or rattling sound that is related to
>> > engine RPM coming from my A4's clutch when the car is hot (it is
>> > completely quiet when the car is cold).  At first I thought it was a
>> > heat shield on the exhaust but it is clearly engine speed related:
>> > noticeable at idle and increasing loudness and frequency with
>> > increasing engine RPM.
>> >
>> > If I press the clutch in, the noise is louder.
>> >
>> > Other than the noise the clutch feels 100% normal: no slipping, no
>> > chatter, smooth engagement.
>> >
>> > Any thoughts on what this noise could be?  I saw on the SJM site that
>> > earlier Audis (200TQ) had a service bulletin out for rattling of the
>> > clutch disk.
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance.
>> >
>> > Peter
>> > 2001 1.8T A4 (123000 km, original clutch)
>> >
>> > --
>> > ps my peterk at nrs.mcgill.ca account will be dead soon.  Please make
>> > sure to use my 4pkirby at gmail.com address in the future.
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>> >
>>
> 
>