Clutch and Dual Mass Flywheel Conundrum.

Slime

Slime

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Hi guys
I have an Altea 1.9 tdi that needs a clutch.
It's not slipping, but it has a very nasty and noisy release bearing.
My mechanic says the car has a dual mass flywheel and he very strongly suggests replacing that whilst fitting a clutch.
Is this correct?
If so it'll push the price towards £800 as the flywheel is very expensive.
Thanks for your time,

Slime.
 
Slime said:
Hi guys
I have an Altea 1.9 tdi that needs a clutch.
It's not slipping, but it has a very nasty and noisy release bearing.
My mechanic says the car has a dual mass flywheel and he very strongly suggests replacing that whilst fitting a clutch.
Is this correct?
If so it'll push the price towards £800 as the flywheel is very expensive.
Thanks for your time,

Slime.
Click to expand...

All depends on mileage and how much to drive, how you drive and the quality of the parts.
Dual mass flywheels are the devils work but if you don’t get it done and it does go (no guarantee it will) it will cause major problems.

If there’s any “looseness” in your gears then the DMF is on its way out. If you are north of 80k miles then without a doubt it’s best to get it done.

Some aftermarket specialist produce kits to replace the DMF with a single, lighter flywheel which you don’t really notice the difference except in cost later down the line.

It’s all down to the above factors and whether you can afford to get it done or run the risk of it going later.
 
Slime said:
Hi guys
I have an Altea 1.9 tdi that needs a clutch.
It's not slipping, but it has a very nasty and noisy release bearing.
My mechanic says the car has a dual mass flywheel and he very strongly suggests replacing that whilst fitting a clutch.
Is this correct?
If so it'll push the price towards £800 as the flywheel is very expensive.
Thanks for your time,

Slime.
Click to expand...

From my limited knowledge of motors, the clutch and DMF work together.

I would be inclined to take the advice and get it done for the sake of £800.

Can you do without the motor should the DMF go in 6 months time and its likely to be more expensive as it'll be another job.

You do know if you ignore the experts advice it will come back an bite you on the arse dont yer?
 
Slime said:
Hi guys
I have an Altea 1.9 tdi that needs a clutch.
It's not slipping, but it has a very nasty and noisy release bearing.
My mechanic says the car has a dual mass flywheel and he very strongly suggests replacing that whilst fitting a clutch.
Is this correct?
If so it'll push the price towards £800 as the flywheel is very expensive.
Thanks for your time,

Slime.
Click to expand...
Being an ex cab driver I've gone through more clutches than I've had birdies. My advice is absolutely do the dmf at the same time. If you don't the new parts will show up any weakness in the flywheel and it will fail meaning you have to pay for the whole job all over again.
I have replaced one in the past with a single mass conversion which saved a lot of money. There are mixed opinions on these, personally I had no problems with mine but other people say different.
 
GreiginFife said:
All depends on mileage and how much to drive, how you drive and the quality of the parts.
Dual mass flywheels are the devils work but if you don’t get it done and it does go (no guarantee it will) it will cause major problems.

If there’s any “looseness” in your gears then the DMF is on its way out. If you are north of 80k miles then without a doubt it’s best to get it done.

Some aftermarket specialist produce kits to replace the DMF with a single, lighter flywheel which you don’t really notice the difference except in cost later down the line.

It’s all down to the above factors and whether you can afford to get it done or run the risk of it going later.[/QUO
Click to expand...


The car's done towards 75,000 miles.
I tend to drive it pretty enthusiastically and it's been remapped to 170+bhp. (Maybe I should have mentioned that).
The clutch has to be done before the release bearing finally gives up.
 
Slime said:
The car's done towards 75,000 miles.
I tend to drive it pretty enthusiastically and it's been remapped to 170+bhp. (Maybe I should have mentioned that).
The clutch has to be done before the release bearing finally gives up.
Click to expand...

If you have had it mapped then you are putting more stress on the clutch and the flywheel. Driving enthusiastically (although not sure how much enthusiasm 170 brake raises ?) will also make the stresses on it higher.

At 75k I’d be looking to get it done at the next clutch change for sure. Alternatively check Seat forums and the like for DMF conversion kits.

I had an Alfa GT 2.4 that had a ropey DMF and got it converted to a single flywheel and it felt much smoother and the clutch felt much lighter.
 
Defo do the DMF.
Changing to a normal flywheel might well be cheaper, but will give you more vibration through the box and pedal, and possibly be heavier to.
If I assume your engine is a PD 1.9, then I would guess it must be about 300nm now, so that just reinforces my thoughts to replace the DMF at the same time:)

I used to use Briskoda, and whilst the badge is different, the mechanicals are almost identical;)
 
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I'd say the job will cost £500 without doing the dmf. If it goes it will be that again minimum assuming it doesnt do any other damage. Worst case scenario is a new gearbox?
 
I’ve never known a clutch being replaced and the DMF not being done at the same time. Expensive, but when the clutch went on my last car, the mechanic who I had used and trusted for nearly 20 years told me not replacing the DMF at the same time was not even a matter for debate - it had to be done. Cost me north of £900 but I didn’t question it.
 
Billysboots said:
I’ve never known a clutch being replaced and the DMF not being done at the same time. Expensive, but when the clutch went on my last car, the mechanic who I had used and trusted for nearly 20 years told me not replacing the DMF at the same time was not even a matter for debate - it had to be done. Cost me north of £900 but I didn’t question it.
Click to expand...

Happens a lot, the clutch might get replaced at 30k and not need the DMF doing as there isn’t any significant wear on the tension springs. No point in doing it then other then the garage making an extra few hundred out of you. Having been a mechanic in my previous life, I know not to implicitly trust everything without questioning it.

Once you get up to and over 80k ish then the wear on the DMF is going to be significant and it’s then a good idea to get it done at the next clutch change.

Of course, it’s your car and you are entitled to do any remedial work that you see fit.
 
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