Clutch Masters 00-02 Audi S4 2.7L / 00-03 Audi A6 2.7L / 00-04 Audi A6 Quattro 2.7L / 01-05...

Clutch Masters FW-029-SF is a lightweight steel flywheel for the 2.7L twin-turbo V6 Audis: the B5 S4 and RS4, the C5 A6 and A6 Quattro, and the allroad quattro. Owners usually shop for it when the clutch is coming out anyway and the old flywheel is scored, heat-checked or noisy, or when a turbo upgrade has made the engine feel lazy coming back on boost between shifts. Order it with the clutch so the transmission only has to come out once.

What the flywheel does in a 2.7T Audi

The flywheel bolts to the back of the crankshaft and gives the clutch disc its rear friction face. Every bit of torque from both turbos passes through that face, so flatness, surface finish and runout decide whether a new clutch engages cleanly or chatters from day one. It also stores rotating energy: a heavy flywheel smooths idle and pulling away, while a lighter one lets the engine gain and lose rpm faster.

Clutch Masters describes the FW-029-SF simply as a lightweight steel flywheel. The company machines its flywheels from billet steel or billet aluminum depending on the application, balances them and certifies them to SFI standards. It recommends steel over aluminum for any car that sees street miles, because steel produces less gear noise and is more pleasant to live with, and a steel friction face can be resurfaced at the next clutch job instead of being thrown away. For a turbo engine, Clutch Masters points out that less rotating mass reduces lag.

Symptoms that point to a flywheel replacement

• Chatter or shudder on takeoff that a new disc alone did not cure
• Blue heat spots, cracks or deep grooves on the friction face once the transmission is out
• A burnt smell and slipping after hard launches, with glazing on both the disc and flywheel
• Rattle or knock at idle that changes when you press the clutch pedal
• Vibration that rises with engine speed in neutral, a sign of runout or a damaged flywheel

A manual clutch or flywheel problem will not set a transmission trouble code, so the diagnosis is done by feel and by inspection.

How to confirm before you buy

Most of the evidence is only visible with the gearbox out, so plan the flywheel and clutch as one job. Before you start, do a high-gear load test: in fourth at low rpm, go to full throttle and watch whether rpm rises faster than road speed. Our slipping diagnosis guide covers that test and how to separate clutch slip from other drivetrain faults. Check the clutch hydraulics too, since a weak slave cylinder or a pedal that does not return fully can mimic a worn clutch, and look for oil from the rear main seal, which ruins any new friction surface.

Fitment

Clutch Masters lists FW-029-SF for the 2000-2004 Audi A6 and A6 Quattro 2.7L, the 2001-2005 allroad quattro 2.7L, the 2000-2002 S4 2.7L B5 and the 2000-2001 RS4 2.7L B5, all with the manual transmission. Our listing title shortens that list, but the part number is the same. These cars are old enough that many have had transmission swaps or earlier clutch upgrades, so match what is in your car and send us the year and VIN if anything has been changed. You can see other 2.7T parts in our rebuild kits and clutch section.

This is a single-disc flywheel. Clutch Masters lists it under the same five applications as its single-disc 02029 kits, such as the FX400 8-puck kit rated at an estimated 450 ft-lb and the milder FX250 02029-HD0F at 315 ft-lb. It is not the flywheel for the FX850 Strapped twin disc, which requires the dedicated FW-029-B-TDS twin disc flywheel.

Install notes

• Use new flywheel bolts, clean the crank flange and bolt threads, and torque to the Clutch Masters instruction values in a crisscross sequence.
• Clutch Masters offers a Flywheel Friction Lock shim, about .010 to .012 in thick, to stop fretting between flywheel and crank.
• Wipe the friction face with brake cleaner before the clutch goes on, and center the disc with the alignment tool.
• Replace the pilot bearing while the flywheel is off; a slide-hammer pilot bearing puller makes that easy.
• Bleed the clutch hydraulics with the fluid marked on the reservoir cap.
• Expect a little more gear rattle at idle and less flywheel inertia when pulling away; a few more rpm on takeoff fixes stalls.

Which Audis does FW-029-SF fit?

Clutch Masters lists it for the 2000-2004 A6 and A6 Quattro 2.7L, 2001-2005 allroad quattro 2.7L, 2000-2002 S4 B5 and 2000-2001 RS4 B5, manual transmission. Send us your year and VIN if the car has had a transmission swap.

Will it work with a twin disc clutch?

No. It is a single-disc flywheel. The Clutch Masters FX850 Strapped twin disc for the 2.7T requires the separate FW-029-B-TDS twin disc flywheel.

Steel or aluminum for a street car?

Clutch Masters recommends steel for street-driven cars because it makes less gear noise and drives more smoothly than aluminum, and the steel friction face can be resurfaced later.

Will it make noise?

Any lighter flywheel can add some gear rattle at idle compared with stock. Clutch Masters notes the lighter the flywheel, the more gear noise, which is why it steers street cars toward steel.

What should I replace at the same time?

The clutch kit, pilot bearing, flywheel bolts and release bearing, plus any leaking rear main seal. Bleed the hydraulics with fresh fluid when you are done.

• How to Diagnose Transmission Slipping
• Shift Flare vs. Slip: How to Tell Them Apart
• Automatic vs. Manual Transmission Repair Cost