Clutch Masters 00-05 VW Jetta / 00-06 GTi 1.8T MK4 5spd FX700 Twin-Disc Clutch Kit

The MK4 Jetta and GTI 1.8T is one of the easiest cars to add boost to, and once a K04 or larger turbo goes on, the factory clutch and dual-mass flywheel tend to give up quickly. Clutch Masters 17036-TD7S-4S is a twin disc kit for the 2000-2005 Jetta and 2000-2006 GTI 1.8T with the five-speed manual. It replaces the clutch, pressure plate, release bearing and flywheel in one go, and Clutch Masters rates it at an estimated 600 ft-lb of torque capacity.

What the FX725 Street twin disc does on a 1.8T

Our listing title uses the older FX700 name; Clutch Masters now catalogs this part number in its 725 Series Street line. It is a twin disc with two 7.25 inch (184 mm) discs and a floater plate inside a billet aluminum cover. Two small discs give much more friction surface than one, which is how a clutch this compact can hold several times stock torque on a 1.8T.

The TD7S stage pairs one rigid ceramic disc with one rigid Fiber Tuff organic disc. That mix grabs more progressively than the all-ceramic TD7R Race version, which matters on a car that still sees traffic. Clutch Masters' QR quick release pressure plate uses three spring-loaded bolts so the plate releases evenly and, per the maker, cuts internal chatter by up to 50 percent. The cover is billet aluminum with Type 3 hard anodizing and roughly one tenth the flex of a cast or stamped cover. Included in the box: the 7.25 inch clutch pack, an alignment tool, a steel flywheel machined from 1045 billet and black oxide coated, and a release bearing. Clutch Masters lists the kit at 18 lb.

Symptoms on a modified MK4 1.8T

• Slip in third through fifth gear once the turbo reaches full boost
• Rattle or knock at idle that goes away with the clutch pedal pressed, a typical sign of a tired dual-mass flywheel
• Shudder pulling away from a stop
• Clutch engagement point very high in the pedal travel
• Hard engagement of gears with a worn clutch that drags

How to confirm before you buy

Log a fourth gear pull with a VAG-COM style scan tool or simply watch the tach: if rpm climbs while speed does not, the clutch is slipping. Bleed the clutch slave and master before judging release problems, and look for oil at the bellhousing seam that would contaminate any new disc. Our transmission slipping diagnosis guide covers the checks, and if you are weighing a twin disc against a sprung single, read organic vs ceramic clutch discs first.

Fitment

Our listing covers the 2000-2005 Volkswagen Jetta and the 2000-2006 GTI with the 1.8 liter turbo and the five-speed 02J manual. Clutch Masters' application list for 17036-TD7S-4S also names the MK4 Golf 2000-2006, New Beetle 1999-2005 1.8L five-speed, 2001-2002 Audi TT 1.8T five-speed, the 1999-2003 Audi A3 1.8L five-speed and the 1989-1992 Corrado G60. It is not for the six-speed 02M cars, such as the GTI 337 and 20th Anniversary editions or the VR6 six-speed, which use a different gearbox and clutch. If your car has had a gearbox or engine swap, send us the year and VIN before you order. Other VW and Audi clutch kits are in the rebuild kits department.

Install notes

• The kit converts the car from the factory dual-mass flywheel to the supplied single-mass steel flywheel. Use new flywheel bolts and torque them to the VW specification.
• Assemble the discs and floater in the Clutch Masters order, center them with the included tool and tighten the cover gradually in a star pattern.
• Fit the new release bearing and inspect the slave cylinder and clutch line while the 02J is out; a tired slave is a common cause of a soft pedal on MK4 cars.
• Bleed with the brake fluid type marked on the reservoir; the MK4 clutch shares the brake reservoir.
• Break it in for at least 500 miles of normal driving with no full-throttle shifts or engine braking, per Clutch Masters. See our hydraulic clutch bleeding guide for the bleed procedure.

Shopping for a softer street setup instead? The SPEC Stage 2 sprung kit covers the six-speed cars, and the Competition Clutch lightweight steel flywheel is an option for single-disc 1.8T builds.

Does this fit the six-speed GTI 337 or 20th Anniversary?

No. Those cars use the six-speed 02M gearbox. 17036-TD7S-4S is for 1.8T cars with the five-speed 02J manual.

What comes in the kit?

Clutch Masters lists a 7.25 inch twin disc clutch pack, an alignment tool, a billet steel flywheel and a release bearing.

How much torque will it hold?

Clutch Masters rates 17036-TD7S-4S at an estimated 600 ft-lb, far beyond what a stock or big-turbo 1.8T makes.

Why is it called FX700 in the title?

FX700 is an older name used in our catalog title. Clutch Masters currently lists this part number in its 725 Series Street twin disc line, which uses 7.25 inch discs.

Will it rattle at idle?

Twin disc clutches with rigid discs and a single-mass flywheel make more noise than the stock dual-mass setup. Clutch Masters' QR pressure plate is designed to reduce that noise, but some gear rattle at idle is normal.

Does it fit the Audi TT 225?

Clutch Masters lists the 2001-2002 TT 1.8T with the five-speed only. The 225 hp TT quattro uses a six-speed and needs a different kit.

• Transmission Slipping Diagnosis Guide
• Shift Flare vs. Slip: How to Tell Them Apart
• Automatic vs. Manual Transmission Repair Cost: What to Actually Expect