ACT 15-17 Volkswagen Golf R HD/Perf Street Sprung Clutch Kit
The factory clutch in a Mk7 Golf R six-speed is sized for stock boost. Add a Stage 1 or Stage 2 tune, a downpipe or an intake and the first thing many owners notice is rpm climbing without speed in third or fourth gear at full boost. ACT VW9-HDSS is the daily-driver fix for the 2015-2017 Golf R: a Heavy Duty pressure plate paired with ACT's organic Performance Street disc, rated at 500 ft-lb at the crank, with a lightweight flywheel in the box. It keeps the smooth engagement you want in traffic while holding the torque a tuned car makes.
The VW015 Heavy Duty pressure plate uses ACT's heat-treated diaphragm to raise clamp load and limit deflection at high rpm, which is where a stock plate lets go on a tuned EA888. The 3000703 disc is a full-face organic design with high copper content for heat transfer and a steel-backed lining for burst strength. Because the friction face is full and organic rather than pucked, take-off feels close to stock. ACT describes the feel as light to moderate pedal effort with smooth, positive engagement, and recommends it for street and race use.
The kit swaps the factory dual-mass flywheel for ACT's XACT Streetlite flywheel (601050) and includes the RB011 release bearing and the AT126 alignment tool. Disc diameter is 240 mm (9.4 inch), the input spline is 0.9375 inch and the complete kit ships at about 32.5 lb.
A tuned Golf R that slips at full boost almost always needs more clamp load, but rule out the cheap causes first. Check that the pedal returns fully and the fluid reservoir is not low or dark, because a dragging slave cylinder can hold the clutch partly released. Look for oil weeping at the bellhousing seam, which contaminates the disc. Then do a fourth-gear pull from about 2,500 rpm and watch for rpm jumping ahead of road speed. Our slipping diagnosis guide covers the checks in order, and the manual versus automatic repair cost breakdown helps you plan labor, since the gearbox has to come out either way.
This listing is cataloged for the 2015-2017 Volkswagen Golf R with the 2.0 liter turbo four and the six-speed manual. ACT's application chart for VW9-HDSS is wider and also lists the 2018-2019 Golf R and the 2015-2021 GTI manual in Autobahn, Base, S, SE, Sport, Performance and Rabbit Edition trims. It does not fit DSG automatic cars. If your car has had a gearbox swap or you want confirmation, send the year and VIN before ordering. Browse more kits in our rebuild kits department.
VW9-HDSS is the street choice. For more torque with the same smooth organic feel, the VW9-XTSS Xtreme street kit is rated at 565 ft-lb with a heavier pedal. Track cars and big-turbo builds that fade an organic disc are better served by the VW9-HDG6 6-pad race kit.
| Brand | ACT |
| Part number | VW9-HDSS |
| Fits | ACT 15-17 Volkswagen Golf R HD/Perf Street Sprung Clutch Kit |
| Vehicle fitment | Volkswagen Golf R Hd/Perf (2015-2017) |
| Type | Clutch Kits - Single |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
ACT rates the kit at 500 ft-lb of torque measured at the crank. That covers most Stage 1 and Stage 2 tunes on the factory turbo. Big-turbo builds should look at the Xtreme or 6-pad race versions.
Yes. It uses a full-face organic disc, and ACT describes engagement as smooth and positive with light to moderate pedal effort. It is the most street-friendly of the three ACT kits we carry for this car.
No separate purchase is needed. The kit includes ACT's XACT Streetlite flywheel (601050), which replaces the factory dual-mass flywheel.
ACT lists VW9-HDSS for the 2015-2021 GTI six-speed manual as well as the Golf R. Our listing is cataloged for the 2015-2017 Golf R, so send the year and VIN if you want us to confirm your car.
ACT recommends 300 to 500 miles of mild engagement, such as stop-and-go driving, before racing or spirited use. Avoid long slipping and overheating during that period.
