ACT 2012 Audi A3 HD/Perf Street Sprung Clutch Kit
A 2012 Audi A3 2.0T with the six-speed manual is a common car to tune, and the factory clutch is usually the first thing to complain: the tach jumps on a third-gear pull, the engagement point creeps toward the top of the pedal, or the car shudders pulling away on a hill. ACT VW8-HDSS is the daily-driver fix. It pairs ACT's Heavy Duty pressure plate with a sprung, full-face organic street disc and a matched Streetlite flywheel, and ACT rates it at 395 ft-lb at the crank, about 30 percent more than the original clutch.
The clutch is the only thing coupling the turbo four to the gearbox, so once a tune raises boost the stock clamp load is no longer enough and the disc starts to slip and glaze. The VW016 Heavy Duty pressure plate uses ACT's own diaphragm design, heat treated in four stages, to raise clamp load and reduce diaphragm deflection. ACT describes the pedal as light to moderate; its FAQ puts the typical Heavy Duty effort increase at 15 to 40 percent depending on the car.
The 3000702 Performance Street disc is the part that makes this kit easy to live with. It is a full organic lining with high copper content for heat transfer, bonded to a steel backing for burst strength, with a sprung hub that soaks up driveline shock. ACT calls the engagement smooth and positive with gear rattle close to stock. The kit also includes the 601301 XACT Streetlite flywheel (ACT requires its flywheel with this clutch), the RB3743A release bearing, the AT126 alignment tool, M10-1.0 x 22 mm flywheel bolts and M7-1.0 x 18 mm pressure plate bolts. The disc is 240 mm (9.4 in) with a 0.9375 in input, and the kit weighs about 30.6 lb.
Do a simple slip test with the car warm: in fourth gear around 2,500 rpm, go to full throttle and watch the tach. If rpm climbs quickly while speed does not, the clutch is slipping. Before ordering, check the hydraulic side. On these cars the clutch draws fluid from the brake reservoir, so confirm the level and look for a slave cylinder leak or a pedal that is slow to return. Oil at the bellhousing seam means a rear main or input seal leak that will ruin any new disc, so fix that in the same job. Our slipping diagnosis guide and the flare vs slip explainer walk through the checks.
This listing is cataloged for the 2012 Audi A3 2.0T with the six-speed manual. ACT's chart for VW8-HDSS also covers the 2008-2013 A3, the 2008-2014 GTI, the 2008-2018 Jetta 2.0T and GLI, the 2009-2016 CC, the 2009-2011 Eos and the 2012-2016 Beetle Turbo. It does not fit S tronic or DSG cars, which use a dual clutch inside the gearbox. Engine and gearbox codes varied over those years, so match the transmission code on your gearbox or send us your year and VIN before it ships.
Plan on dropping the transmission. Clean the crank flange, install the Streetlite with new bolts, and center the disc with the supplied AT126 tool; a clutch alignment tool kit is handy if you work on more than one car. Draw the pressure plate down evenly in a star pattern, then bleed the slave with fresh brake fluid of the grade on your reservoir cap. Break in an organic disc for 300 to 500 miles of gentle stop-and-go driving before hard launches, as ACT recommends; our break-in guide covers what to avoid. If you plan more power than 395 ft-lb or regular track days, the VW8-HDG6 6-pad race kit uses the same pressure plate and flywheel with a ceramic disc. To weigh a clutch job against other drivetrain bills, see manual vs automatic repair costs.
| Brand | ACT |
| Part number | VW8-HDSS |
| Fits | ACT 2012 Audi A3 HD/Perf Street Sprung Clutch Kit |
| Vehicle fitment | Audi A3 Hd/Perf (2012) |
| Type | Clutch Kits - Single |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
ACT rates it at 395 ft-lb measured at the crank, about 30 percent over the factory clutch. That covers most tuned A3 and GTI 2.0T cars on stock-frame turbos.
Yes. It uses a full-face organic disc with a sprung hub, so engagement is smooth and gear rattle stays close to stock. Pedal effort is a little heavier than original.
No. ACT requires its own flywheel with this clutch and includes the XACT Streetlite (601301) in the kit, along with the release bearing, alignment tool, flywheel bolts and pressure plate bolts.
ACT lists VW8-HDSS for the 2008-2014 GTI and 2008-2018 Jetta 2.0T and GLI with a manual gearbox, among others. Our listing is cataloged for the 2012 A3, so send the VIN and we will confirm before it ships.
Both use the same Heavy Duty pressure plate and Streetlite flywheel. HDSS has an organic street disc rated at 395 ft-lb; HDG6 has a 6-pad ceramic race disc rated at 505 ft-lb with more aggressive engagement.
ACT recommends 300 to 500 miles of mild engagement, such as city driving, before racing or spirited driving. Avoid overheating the clutch in that period.
