Spec 99-02 VW 2.8L Stage 2+ Clutch Kit
The SPEC SV363H is a Stage 2+ clutch kit for the 1999 to 2002 Volkswagen Golf IV and Jetta IV with the 2.8L 12-valve VR6 and the five-speed manual. Most people land here because the original clutch is slipping in third and fourth, the car now has a chip, intake or supercharger that the factory clutch cannot hold, or a worn clutch is chattering on takeoff and they want something stronger that is still easy to live with in traffic.
The narrow-angle VR6 makes its torque low in the rev range, and on a 15-year-old Mk4 that load has usually glazed or thinned the stock disc. SPEC rates the SV363H at 403 ft-lb of torque capacity and lists the kit at 15 lb. SPEC describes its Stage 2+ disc as a multi-friction design that keeps the street manners of its Stage 2 while adding roughly 15 to 20 percent more holding power. In practice that means a pedal and engagement that still suit a daily driver, with headroom for bolt-ons or a mild forced-induction setup.
It helps to see where the kit sits on SPEC's ladder for this exact car. The SPEC application page for the Jetta IV VR6 2.8L 12V lists Stage 1 SV361 at 316 ft-lb, Stage 2 SV362 at 360, this SV363H at 403, Stage 3 SV363 at 429, Stage 3+ SV363F at 498 and Stage 5 SV365 at 603. If the car is close to stock, the SPEC SV361 Stage 1 kit is the gentler pick. If you are making serious boost and accept a grabbier six-puck engagement, the SV363 Stage 3 shares this application list.
Rule out the cheap causes first. On these cars the clutch master cylinder draws fluid from the brake reservoir, so old or aerated fluid can make a good clutch feel bad; a bleed using our hydraulic clutch bleeding steps is worth doing before ordering. Then do a fourth-gear pull from about 2,500 rpm and watch the tach against the speedometer. Our slipping diagnosis guide explains that road test, and clutch slipping symptoms covers oil contamination from a leaking rear main seal, which will ruin any new disc if it is not fixed at the same time.
Our listing covers the 1999 to 2002 VW 2.8L, which SPEC lists as the Golf IV VR6 12V and the Jetta IV VR6 2.8L 12V five-speed. SPEC's same part number also appears on Mk3 Golf and Jetta 2.8L, Corrado and VR6 Passat applications, and on Mk4 1.8T and TDI five-speeds only when they run a 228 mm billet single-mass flywheel. The 2002 to 2005 24-valve VR6 with the six-speed is a different clutch and does not take this kit; those cars use kits such as the SPEC SV873H six-speed kit. Mid-year changes and swaps are common on these cars, so match the old disc and pressure plate or send us your year and VIN before ordering. More options are in our rebuild kits and clutches category, and VW Jetta transmission problems covers the wider picture.
The SV363H is new, in stock and ships the same business day from the USA with a 1-year warranty.
| Brand | SPEC |
| Part number | SV363H |
| Fits | Spec 99-02 VW 2.8L Stage 2+ Clutch Kit |
| Type | Clutch Kits - Single |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Not the 24-valve VR6 with the six-speed. SPEC lists the SV363H for the 12-valve 2.8L VR6 in the 1999-2002 Golf IV and Jetta IV five-speed, plus older Mk3, Corrado and Passat VR6 cars. Send us your VIN if you are unsure which engine you have.
SPEC rates the SV363H at 403 ft-lb. That is above its Stage 2 SV362 at 360 ft-lb and below the Stage 3 SV363 at 429 ft-lb.
Yes. SPEC describes Stage 2+ as keeping Stage 2 drivability with 15-20 percent more torque capacity. It is a full multi-friction disc, not a puck disc, so engagement stays smooth enough for traffic.
At minimum the friction face should be resurfaced or replaced. SPEC pairs this application with its SV82A aluminum or SV82S steel flywheel. A heat-cracked or out-of-spec flywheel will cause chatter and shorten the new clutch's life.
On Mk4 cars the clutch master shares the brake fluid reservoir, so bleed it with fresh brake fluid of the grade printed on the reservoir cap.
