'01 A4 clutch question

[Buchholz, Steven]

... I don't see any change to the design of the clutch mechanism that would
change the old standard recommendation ... leave the tranny in neutral with
the clutch engaged when you are stopped at a light.  The engine is obviously
continuing to spin while the car is stopped, and when you have the clutch
depressed the throwout bearing is being forced to turn with the engine.
When the clutch is released the TO bearing hs no load and is not spinning.  

IME Audi clutches are quite robust, and I would expect the A4 to have this
characteristic as well.  It is common to see clutches last well over 200K
miles in 4kQ's.  When I replaced the clutch on my '85 4kSQ at 206K miles it
was not because the clutch was slipping ... it was that the TO bearing had
finally worn through the fingers on the pressure plate ... who knows how
much more life the clutch proper had?  (BTW, I bought the car for really
cheap at 202K because the PO knew the clutch was on its last legs)

Another good reason to leave the tranny in neutral is ... what happens if
you accidentally release the clutch too soon?  Chances are that you are not
sitting there with the other foot on the brake, so you might just get out
into an intersection or rear end someone in front of you.  I admit that it
is a very improbable event, but why take the risk if you don't have to?  It
also allows you to sit with your left leg at rest rather than holding down
the pedal ... 

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)

>   I'm driving my first Automatic, I've always had manuals, and I tend to
abuse
> cars as well.  The bearing that your referring to is the throughout
bearing,
> and yes, IMO, I suppose it puts strain on it to hold the clutch in at
lights,
> but it's kinda like the stress you put on your break hoses when you push
the
> break petal down.  It's a wearable part, but it won't really extend the
life of
> the car by keeping the car in neutral.  The newer bearings are at the rear
of
> the tranny, and are submerged in oil, and it extends the life more then
like
> the old bugs, which were on the clutch side of the tranny.  I've always
just
> replaced the bearing when I replace a clutch, it's a cheap part, and you
might
> as well, since the tranny is already out.
> > >
> > > Just wondering something.. I've heard in the past that holding the
clutch
> > > pedal down while waiting for a traffic light is a bad idea.  They said
it
> > > was putting wear on some bearing or something.  Is this a problem for
new
> > > Audi A4s?  Is it best to shift to neutral and leave the clutch out?