Clutch Kit - 2.0L 1998

[Mau80it]

Hi all.
I need to change the clutch on my 98 Beetle. It slides pretty bad and I would like to change it asap.
I'm thinking to buy the part somewhere and make it install.
Can you guys point me to some good sellers?
Also, I'm from Boston. Do you know any good (and cheap) garage for getting the work done?
Thanks all!

Mau

[DZLBUG]

Chris Hill has a shop down in Braintree. He does great work and has fair prices from what I've heard.

Kraftwerke Autotechnic

He could probably supply you with the parts, or if you'd rather you could buy them at www.metalmanparts.com

BTW...I personally would recommend ditching the DMF setup for a SMF setup. The DMF's lock up/fail after awhile and can eventually fly apart, often taking the rest of the transmission case with it.

[Mau80it]

Can you explain more in details the difference between DFM and SMF?
Thanks!

[DZLBUG]

Your stock flywheel is a DMF, or Dual Mass Flywheel. DMF's are a "flexible" flywheel which has springs, things, and oil in it to dampen the 90 degree power pulses of an inline 4 cylinder engine. It reduces chatter at idle and smooths out clutch engagement. A great idea, but the problem is that after awhile, these DMF's tend to lock up and eventually come apart, causing very expensive damage and carnage.

Here's a link to a 3D animation of how DMF's work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnaXB8q3uzQ

A SMF is a Solid Mass Flywheel, and it is just that...an old-fashioned piece of solid steel. Pretty hard to blow that up with just a little 2.slo engine. Clutch engagement might be slightly "rougher" and you will get some chatter at idle with the trans in neutral and the clutch out. Definitely not anything major, but a good trade-off compared to your flywheel coming apart and needing to replace the transmission. A high-quality and well-balanced SMF should chatter very little, if at all...so cheapest is not always best.