XClutch 94-98 Volkswagen Jetta GLX 2.8L Stage 1 Sprung Organic Clutch Kit
The XClutch XKVW23002-1A is a Stage 1 street clutch for the third-generation Volkswagen Jetta GLX with the 2.8L 12-valve VR6 (engine code AAA), 1994-1998. Owners find it when an old VR6 starts slipping on the highway, the pedal bites at the very top of its travel, or the car shudders pulling away from a light. The same part number also covers the Mk3 Golf GTI VR6, the Passat GLX and the Corrado VR6 and SLC, so it is one of the more widely used clutch kits for the early VR6 cars.
The VR6 makes its torque low and keeps it flat, and the five-speed manual in the GLX sends all of it through one 9 in disc. The pressure plate clamps that disc against the flywheel; the release bearing pushes the diaphragm fingers when you press the pedal so the disc can spin free for a gear change. XClutch's Stage 1 keeps the feel close to factory while adding clamp load: it lists a 28 percent clamping force increase and a 350 ft-lb torque capacity including its safety factor, which is well above what a stock or lightly modified 12-valve VR6 makes. The disc is organic with a sprung hub, the most forgiving combination in the XClutch range, so takeoff stays smooth in daily driving.
Published specs for XKVW23002-1A: 9 in organic sprung disc, 7/8 in input shaft with 28 splines, flywheel step -0.488 in, recommended use street. The kit includes the pressure plate, disc, release bearing and alignment tool. No flywheel and no pilot bearing are included.
Do the load test first. In fourth gear at about 2,000 rpm, press the throttle firmly. If the tach rises faster than road speed, the clutch is slipping. A soft or sinking pedal, fluid around the slave cylinder or a clutch that drags with the pedal on the floor points to the hydraulic side, and a new clutch will not cure it. Our transmission slipping diagnosis guide covers how to separate real slip from other drivability faults, and the manual transmission repair cost guide helps you budget the job before the car comes apart.
Our listing is for the 1994-1998 Jetta GLX 2.8L. XClutch's compatibility table for this part number also lists the 1995-1998 Golf GTI VR6, 1993-1997 Passat GLX 2.8L and 1992-1994 Corrado V6 and SLC, all with the AAA engine, plus the 1990-1993 Passat GL and CL 2.0L (9A). It does not list the later 24-valve VR6 or the 1999-up Mk4 cars, which use different clutch parts. Mk3 production changes and engine swaps can mix parts, so compare the old disc's spline count and diameter with the specs above, or send us your year and VIN and we will check it. More clutch kits, flywheels and hydraulic parts are in the rebuild kits and clutch category.
Have the flywheel resurfaced or replaced; a new organic disc on a glazed or cracked surface will chatter from day one. Clean the friction faces, put a light film of high-temperature grease on the input splines, center the disc with the supplied tool and tighten the pressure plate bolts evenly in a crisscross pattern. XClutch reminds installers to check the rest of the release system, including the fork, pivot and hydraulics, because worn actuation parts ruin clutch feel. Bleed the hydraulics with fresh brake fluid of the grade on the reservoir cap; a Mityvac vacuum bleeder kit makes it a one-person job. Balancing a VR6 gearbox on your chest is not fun, so a 450 lb manual transmission jack is worth having. Refill the gearbox with the manual transmission oil Volkswagen specifies for your car and drive gently for the first few hundred miles while the disc beds in.
| Brand | XCLUTCH |
| Part number | XKVW23002-1A |
| Fits | XClutch 94-98 Volkswagen Jetta GLX 2.8L Stage 1 Sprung Organic Clutch Kit |
| Vehicle fitment | Volkswagen Jetta Glx (1994-1998) |
| Type | Clutch Kits - Single |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Yes, XClutch lists the 1995-1998 Golf GTI VR6 with the 2.8L AAA engine for XKVW23002-1A, along with the Jetta GLX, Passat GLX and Corrado V6. Send us your VIN if the car has had an engine or gearbox swap.
No. The 1999-up Mk4 VR6 cars are not on the XClutch table for this kit. Look for a kit listed for the Mk4 VR6 instead.
Pressure plate, 9 in sprung organic disc, release bearing and an alignment tool. A flywheel and pilot bearing are not included, so plan to resurface or replace the flywheel.
XClutch rates XKVW23002-1A at 350 ft-lb including its safety factor, with 28 percent more clamp force than stock. That covers a stock or bolt-on 12-valve VR6 with room to spare.
Slightly. Clamp load is up 28 percent, but the organic sprung disc keeps engagement smooth. XClutch notes that any performance clutch can change noise and vibration a little compared with factory parts.
Resurface or replace the flywheel, inspect the fork and pivot, and check the master and slave cylinders for leaks. Bleed the system with fresh brake fluid when the job is done.
