[Biturbos4] Time to start thinking "new clutch"?

[Grant]

An aftermarket clutch may give you better performance and durability 
(although I dont know if, say, centerforce makes one).  But it wont 
save you much money.  About 80% of the cost is in the labor.

You might also find someone who's shop rate is less than $120/hr (my 
local dealer rate).  Its not rocket science.

Grant
On Aug 9, 2005, at 9:25 PM, Single Malt wrote:

> I've been dealing with an issue I encounter when
> shifting. Trying to gear down from a high rate of
> speed (6th gear to 4th, or 5th gear to 4th), I
> periodically am treated to gear grinding and no luck
> at engaging 4th gear (clutch firmly planted to the
> floor).  After burning some speed and shifting through
> other gears, revisiting 4th is usually successful.  I
> also find grinding on ocassion when agressively
> shifting from 3rd to 4th. Sometimes at a stop light,
> 1st gear requires a visit to 2nd gear before it'll
> completely engaged. And finally, on occasion, after
> driving for an hour or so, using reverse can be tricky
> too.  These issues are a relatively recent
> development.
>
> My recent service visit to the dealership (Audi
> Assured warranty still in effect - but not for a
> clutch) revealed a diagnosis of "needs a clutch".  The
> linkage was presumably eliminated as the issue as my
> tech (whom I've enjoyed a good rapport with) indicated
> he was able to reproduce the problem once the clutch
> was hot and even encountered slipping to a degree.
> Price with flywheel, about $3,000 ... if no flywheel
> is required then just over $2,000.
>
> So .... I'm thinking that an aftermarket clutch may be
> worth consideration.  I'm also toying with the idea of
> a lightweight flywheel, even if my stock flywheel is
> OK.
>
> The car is still driveable and the problem is not so
> severe or common that I can't take some time to weigh
> all my options. Might even get a second opinion before
> going too far, but I am starting to gather quotes.
>
> Are there any other things that need to be done "while
> their in there"?
>
> What're the group thoughts on lightweight flywheel
> replacements?
>
>
> --
> Single Malt
> '01.5 S4
> Garaged at 9200ft
> just outside Denver, CO
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
> _______________________________________________
> Biturbos4 mailing list
> Biturbos4 at www.audifans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/biturbos4
>