I know the A2/MK2 peoples are few and far between on here, but I know there's a few.

I'm curious as to how often they're swapping clutches and other drivetrain parts. I've been using Tampa Clutch Supply 4 pucks for the last couple of years and it seems once a year I have to replace the clutch disk. Now yes I'll push my car, but I don't slip and I shift slow. The last disk had plenty of beef left on the pads, but the entire disk bowled, so the splines would have no contact with the tranny shaft. Bad release bearing?

The last time I went to TCS to swap discs they said they had problems with VW clutches before, and sourced it to not aligning the tranny properly to the dowel/guide pins before fully fastening the tranny to the block. However, they must've been talking about a different generation because a 9A block has no dowel/guide pins for the tranny. There's only 4 main bolts and if they're in, it's in the right spot.

As to what happened tonight...
Driving home from work, had to stop suddenly for a changing light and heard/felt a "thunking" noise. To be honest I cannot remember exactly if it was the braking or the clutch because I do both at the same time. Clutch peddle dropped completely to the floor while shifting to neutral. That's it, no more clutch action. Had to turn off the engine, do a 1st gear & accelerator start off, try to rev match a third gear clutchless wonder to get to a gas station and wait until my girlfriend got there to tow my angry ass home.

I'll take a look at it tomorrow in the daylight. If I'm forgetting/overlooking anything help me out. Thanks.

 

I've never had a MK2, but most of the people I have known with them, had 100,000+ on stock clutches and drove them hard without issues. If I were you, I would find a different clutch supplier.

 

they should have two tubular dowels that go around the bolts at the bottom. if you dont have these then thats part of your problem. i personaly have a act 4 puc and have had no problems. i used to use tampa clutch but it got to be a hassle to go all the way out there when i can order an act for the same price and i thing they last longer.

 

Wish I could help but I'm still on what I assume is the original clutch in my car.

As far as clutch suggestions go...I can't say how good these are for the MK2 but I had great results with a Sachs OE replacement clutch in my old Focus. On top of the daily driven abuse I gave that poor car I also autocrossed it quite a few times with that clutch and a lightened flywheel (and some minor motor modifications). It took the abuse and always asked for more. Never had any issues with it.

 

Didn't have a chance to do anything today. I know it has one of those tubular dowels on the back. There's supposed to be one in the front too?

 

right at the bottom of the engine and tranny where they meat there are two ears that come out and bolts run through there. thats where the dowel should be. i have had the trannys out somany times i have nightmares. lol. sucks when the tranny breaks.

 

Ok so a few things... The bottom rear bolt going from the block to tranny was missing. Both a spring from the clutch disk was missing and the clip for the pressure plate cover was loose and floating around. Here's the million dollar question: Could the missing tranny bolt cause the carnage when all others were torqued to spec... or chicken/egg scenario (did the spring fyling out cause the ring to pop out or vice versa)?

Also keep in mind this happened under braking, not accelerating.

Clutch disk is from Tampa Clutch Supply, and they rate it for over 500hp (which I'm nowhere close to). My first disk from them completely bowled.

As far as dowels... both tubular dowels (bottom back, and bottom front to starter) are still there.

 

on the bright side... this time the spring went towards the tranny rather than block. The time before last it went the other way, and tore off quite a few fingers from the pressure plate.

 

What pressure plate are you running?

 

Whole clutch kit came from Tampa Clutch Supply. Last February I replaced only the disk (with another TCS) since it was the only thing with damage.