MK7 Golf R Southbend Stage 3 Daily - Break-in Overview

2016 MK7 Golf R 300 miles into break in of new SBC Stage 3 Daily. Nothing but good things to say so far, very positive and solid engagement, easy to handle, very minor noisy in-cabin. Check out video for details, leave comments if you have any questions.

[@jake0869]

Are you still liking it 1.5 years later? I am about to go this route for my golf r as well. Currently stage 2 and my release bearing went out, so I am going to do a clutch job as well.

[@Diminish12]

Man, I'm about to purchase my MK7.5 GTI next week. I got a good deal on an SE manual white Silver but I'm afraid of the clutch issues. Seems you must upgrade clutch, plus other things to make the clutch pedal feel good. Thinking maybe just get the DSG cause it can Big turbo Power with just a tube and chatter or getting used to stiff stage 3 clutch. If you were to do it again would you still get manual or get the DSG?

[@therealpickleahoy]

I would never get the DSG, but I am not your average buyer. I think MK7 Golf Rs were designed with DSG in mind first, hence the much faster 0-60 times and robust transmissions. If I were to buy an R again it would be stick regardless of how annoying it is for the clutch to need to be replaced with any power mods. If the car had disappointed, I would have just bought another non R manual car.

[@gregprevite8548]

The work is worth doing. With the right mods the gti and r are really fun manuals to drive

[@projectneverending4538]

Im currently running the same clutch on my mk7.5 gti. Def enjoy the clutch and I did the fluidamp as well. Id say on mine at around 200ish miles the extreme pedal pressure softened up. Wondering if you noticed the same during your breakin?

[@therealpickleahoy]

It definitely got more modular and happy to slip, together with a slight reduction in pedal pressure, but the clutch is stiff regardless. No regrets though, this thing is holding up like a champ and grabs hard while sticking to the "daily" part with no noises on slip or shuddering. Noise-wise it got way louder. Unlike the quietness of the video, the clutch now makes that typical SMF audible chatter noise all the time regardless of rpm or engine load.

[@ThePedalDance]

@@therealpickleahoy interesting. Does it continue to make a lot of noise still? Currently cross shopping Sachs kit vs Southbend Stage 2 Daily with Fluidampr. I commute in this car, not a ton of stop &!go traffic but it happens. With the increased noise, are you still happy with the clutch? 2018 Golf R. 25k miles. Unitronic Stage 1 now but will go to Unitronic Stage 1+ with new clutch.

[@therealpickleahoy]

@@ThePedalDance Still happy with the clutch. specially since it's been holding full STG 2 power from an EQT OTS COBB tune. The clutch makes quite the racket at idle with the AC on, but without the AC its not that noticeable. The noise can be drowned with the audio system anyway. If you ever plan on doing downpipe and STG2, I suggest you bite the bullet and go Stage 3 daily or you will slip once you make close to 400 crank HP.

[@alfredorivera7795]

Hy Do you think that daily stage 3 is better than endurance?

[@groundkramer]

Is there supposed to be a break in period for this clutch? mine is getting put in today, wasn't planning on babying it as haldex szn is around the corner.

[@therealpickleahoy]

Yes, the included instructions explicitly ask you to break it in by avoiding high RPM or high throttle for a while. Its worth the wait to not have to do this expensive job again for a good while!

[@groundkramer]

@@therealpickleahoy how many kms did you wait?

[@MosPhed]

@@groundkramer southbend recommends 750 miles.

[@jerberr93]

I have a GTI, with stage 3 SB daily the chatter sounds like diesel truck until I get to 3,000 rpms

[@gassypepsi]

Is that normal ?

[@gassypepsi]

While driving ?

[@ibecirovic97]

Same thing here, 18 GTI, normal

[@jerberr93]

one yr in and I still find it annoying but I love being able to apply the power, so it is what it is

[@solsykness]

Didn’t notice in your video but it seems like taking off in first gear isn’t too bad. I’m currently breaking in a stage 3 DKM twin disc on my 16 R and it does not like to be slipped in first. It’ll “shudder”?? But it doesn’t always happen. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to take off in first but it makes me cringe every time lol. Other than that I love the DKM so far. Can’t wait until I finish the break in so I can really see what the clutch and new tune can do.

[@therealpickleahoy]

It's hard to pick up with the mic inside the car, but there's a good amount of chatter noise on take off compared to dual mass flywheels. No shudder at all in the car though, the engagement is progressive and can be slipped just as much as the stock clutch. Only difference is that if you let off too quickly the clutch will engage immediately and you get the engine judders if your revs aren't where they are supposed to be. Sounds like the DKM does not like to be slipped!

[@solsykness]

Pickle Ahoy it definitely doesn’t like being slipped! It seems to engage more smoothly if I don’t have it in race mode, which engages the pops and bangs feature on the APR stage 2 tune I have. So weird, but I’ll just have to deal. I’m almost to 750 miles on the clutch so soon I’ll be able to give it the beans and see what it’s really like. Haha.

[@yomanjoseph4528]

Jus installed my stage 3 daily sbc an I hear no chatter.