Make a donation

Author Topic: BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?  (Read 2415 times)

Offline AdamGwynne

  • Can't Read PM's Yet!
  • *
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 1
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 7
    • Email
BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?
« on: December 18, 2019, 01:07:23 pm »
Hi all,

I am now thinking about a stage 2 RTECH remap for my BWA Manual MK5 GTI. I have been doing a bit of reading about and I have not seen any definitive answers to if i need an uprated clutch for stage 2. If i was to have a lower torque map for the time being on the OEM clutch until that gives out, then Helix/Sachs after and tweak the map would this be the way to go?

Any suggestions/recommendations welcome  :popcornsoda:

Cheers, Adam.

Offline colesey

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 6
  • -Receive: 89
  • Posts: 1019
Re: BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2019, 06:34:42 am »
There isn’t a definitive answer to this as it will really depend on the condition of your existing clutch and, as you say, the torque can be tamed a little to give it a fighting chance. Since you say Stage 2 and not 2+, then you may be ok.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2019, 09:04:32 am by colesey »

Offline AdamGwynne

  • Can't Read PM's Yet!
  • *
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 1
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 7
    • Email
Re: BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2019, 11:51:21 am »
There isn’t a definitive answer to this as it will really depend on the condition of your existing clutch and, as you say, the torque can be tamed a little to give it a fighting chance. Since you say Stage 2 and not 2+, then you may be ok.

Thanks Colesey, think i will budget for it just for when it does need doing maybe select a lower torque map when starting to slip. Now to start saving  :party:

Offline neilw

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 16
  • -Receive: 26
  • Posts: 385
Re: BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2019, 12:55:08 pm »
My standard clutch ok at the moment with 320hp/350ft/lb R-tech stage2

I'll replaced it if/when it fails.
Edition30 #0002 R-Tech Stage2

Offline Second

  • Just Arrived
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 0
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 18
Re: BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2019, 03:56:55 pm »
When R-Tech tuned my BWA to stage 2 with 336 ft/lb, the clutch completley failed the following day and there were no signs of it slipping during mapping. Definitley budget it in!

Offline colesey

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 6
  • -Receive: 89
  • Posts: 1019
Re: BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2019, 04:00:39 pm »
When R-Tech tuned my BWA to stage 2 with 336 ft/lb, the clutch completley failed the following day and there were no signs of it slipping during mapping. Definitley budget it in!

How many miles old was your clutch?

Offline Second

  • Just Arrived
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 0
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 18
Re: BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2019, 07:03:21 pm »
When R-Tech tuned my BWA to stage 2 with 336 ft/lb, the clutch completley failed the following day and there were no signs of it slipping during mapping. Definitley budget it in!

How many miles old was your clutch?
Approximatley 80000 miles.

Offline Ricky123

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 3
  • -Receive: 27
  • Posts: 377
  • My Ride: http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,98436.0.html
Re: BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2019, 07:49:20 pm »
All depends on the mileage/condition of your current clutch. An oem Sachs clutch kit was absolutely fine on my old stage 2
56 mk5 ed30 3dr
57 mk5 1.9 TDi match
22 a3 s-line competition 45 tfsiE
09 Suzuki GSXR 1000 (road going track sl*g)

Offline pudding

  • Global Moderator
  • Just look at my post count
  • *
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 2
  • -Receive: 690
  • Posts: 8353
Re: BWA Manual Stage 2 Will i need a new clutch?
« Reply #8 on: December 24, 2019, 06:34:13 pm »
Mine slipped on the dyno at exactly 300lbft. 80K miles old.  I had to stick a Helix kit in to hold stage 1, let alone stage 2/2+ !!

The OEM clutch is only rated to 280ish lbft, so remaps will kill them off pretty quickly, especially if half worn or more.

Where you will notice it the most on the road is giving it the beans up a hill in 4th, around 3000rpm.  If the revs rise sharply but the car doesn't accelerate.....new clutch time.

Get the Helix kit with the recent billet cover from AKS Tuning.  DO NOT get a Sachs sporting kit, or an early Helix kit that uses the Sachs sporting cover plate.  They are bloody awful.


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D