ACT 15-17 Volkswagen GTI/Golf R XT/Perf Street Sprung Clutch Kit
The Mk7 GTI and Golf R respond to a tune better than almost anything with a 2.0 liter turbo, and the stock manual clutch is not built for the extra torque. If your 2015-2017 GTI or Golf R six-speed slips in the upper gears after a Stage 1 or Stage 2 tune, the dual-mass flywheel has started to rattle, or you are adding a bigger turbo, ACT VW9-XTSS replaces the whole assembly in one box. ACT rates it at 565 ft-lb at the crank, 79 percent more than the original clutch, using a single organic disc rather than a twin.
The kit pairs ACT's Xtreme pressure plate (VW015X) with a 240 mm (9.4 inch) Performance Street sprung disc (3000703). The Xtreme diaphragm raises clamp load and resists deflection, which is where the extra torque capacity comes from. The disc uses high-copper organic friction on a steel backing for heat transfer and burst strength, and its sprung center damps engagement so the car still pulls away cleanly in traffic. The other big change is the flywheel: the kit includes ACT's XACT Streetlite flywheel (601050) in place of the factory dual-mass unit, along with an RB011 release bearing, AT126 alignment tool, and both flywheel bolts (M10-1.0 x 22 mm) and pressure plate bolts (M8-1.25 x 20 mm). The input spline is 0.9375 inch and the full kit weighs 32.5 lb.
Log a pull in fourth gear and compare engine rpm to vehicle speed; if rpm rises faster than speed with no wheelspin, the clutch is slipping. A dual-mass flywheel that rattles at idle can be checked with the pedal test above, and excess play or rotational free movement shows up once the transmission is out. Make sure the pedal is not sticking or sinking first, since a hydraulic fault can mimic a worn clutch. Our slipping diagnosis guide covers the order of checks, and the rebuild vs replace guide helps if you suspect the gearbox itself.
Our listing is labeled for 2015-2017 Volkswagen GTI and Golf R with the 2.0 liter turbo and six-speed manual. ACT's own fitment chart for VW9-XTSS is wider: 2015-2021 GTI (Base, S, SE, Autobahn, Sport, Performance and Rabbit Edition trims) and 2015-2019 Golf R. It does not fit DSG cars, which have no conventional clutch. Golf R owners at higher power should note the Golf R makes more stock torque than the GTI, so leave headroom in your planning. Send us your year and VIN if you are unsure and we will confirm it. Other choices are in our clutch and rebuild kits.
Removing the transmission on these cars is a lift job. Replace the dual-mass flywheel with the supplied Streetlite and torque the new M10 flywheel bolts to spec in sequence, then center the disc with the alignment tool and draw the pressure plate down evenly with the supplied M8 bolts. Inspect the slave cylinder and replace it if it is weeping, since the release bearing is new. Bleed the hydraulics with fresh fluid of the type on your reservoir cap. Expect some changes: ACT lists moderate to heavy pedal effort and OE to mild gear rattle, and Xtreme pressure plates typically add 50-80 percent pedal effort. Break the clutch in over 300-500 miles before hard launches. If the pedal weight worries you, the ACT VW9-HDSS Heavy Duty version uses the same flywheel and disc with a lighter plate rated at 500 ft-lb. A Clutch Masters FX350 kit is another route for Golf R builds.
| Brand | ACT |
| Part number | VW9-XTSS |
| Fits | ACT 15-17 Volkswagen GTI/Golf R XT/Perf Street Sprung Clutch Kit |
| Vehicle fitment | Volkswagen Gti/Golf R Xt/Perf (2015-2017) |
| Type | Clutch Kits - Single |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
No. It is for six-speed manual cars only. DSG cars use a dual-clutch unit inside the transmission and need different parts.
Yes. The kit includes ACT's XACT Streetlite flywheel (601050), which replaces the factory dual-mass flywheel, plus flywheel and pressure plate bolts.
ACT rates VW9-XTSS at 565 ft-lb at the crank, 79 percent over the original clutch.
ACT's chart lists 2015-2021 GTI and 2015-2019 Golf R. Our listing is labeled 2015-2017, so send us your VIN for a later car and we will confirm before it ships.
ACT describes OE to mild gear rattle. Going from a dual-mass to a single-mass flywheel usually lets a little more gear noise through at idle.
ACT lists moderate to heavy pedal effort and says Xtreme plates typically add 50-80 percent over stock. The HD version, VW9-HDSS, adds about 15-40 percent.
