clutch question

[George Selby]

At 08:33 PM 12/8/04, you wrote:
>How urgent is this job? Can I leave it for a while or should I get right on
>it? I can live with the noise for a while, but it's been a few months
>already and I'm concerned that leaving it will compound the problem and/or
>make the fix more expensive/difficult.
>
>How important is it that I do the complete job vs. just the bearing?

The longer you wait, the more likely there is to be damage to the fingers 
on the clutch pressure plate, so if you wait long enough it answer to your 
question will become academic, as you will have to replace the clutch 
assembly anyway.  The more clutch engagements you do, the shorter it will 
last.  I wouldn't sit at light with the clutch pressed in, either.

That being said, you have one heck of a job laid out for you (quattro trans 
removal.)  I definitely would not want to do it twice in a short period of 
time if I didn't have to.  If you have seen my recent posts regarding 
transmissions, I tried every way possible not to have to pull the trans out 
of my non-Q 80 again do to a CV mismatch, but it looks like I will have to 
anyway.

Here's what I would do.  First off, while you specified the old clutch 
lasted 105k miles, you didn't state the current mileage.  So if you have 
less than 35k miles on the new clutch assembly, I wouldn't replace anything 
unless it looked bad when I took it apart (which probably means grease/oil 
running off it, as I probably wouldn't take the pressure plate off the 
flywheel.)  If this is the case, however, I would wonder why either a. the 
new release bearing failed so soon (they usually last longer than the 
clutch) or b. (and more likely) why you didn't change out the release 
bearing when you changed the clutch at 105k miles.  If (b) is in fact the 
case, you are merely paying now for failing to do the job right the first 
time.  If you car has between 35k and 70k miles on the new clutch, I would 
take off the pressure plate (make sure you get a installation tool before 
you to this, they are typically only easily available with complete clutch 
kits;) and replace the clutch disc only, provided all the fingers on the 
pressure plate were OK and the surface wasn't excessively worn.  Over 70k 
miles and I think you should just go ahead and replace the clutch unless 
you are planning on selling the car within 20k miles.

George Selby