Clutches – What is the difference between the type 1, type 2 and type 3 clutch kits sold on your website?

Thanks for your question.  So, in the VW world, when someone says Type 1, 2, or 3 they usually are referring to a Bug, Bus or Square Back.

Bug, Beetle, Ghia, and Things are all Type 1

Bus is a Type 2

Square Back, Fast Back, and Notch Back are all Type 3

I think what you are referring to is stage 1, 2 or 3 clutches.  If this is the case, Kennedy Engineering was the first to call their pressure plates by this terminology.

A stage 1 pressure plate is approximately 1700 lbs, a stage 2, 1900 lbs, a stage 3 is 2100 lbs and stage 4 is 2300 lbs.

All of this poundage rating is the pressure that the pressure plate will generate in clamp force as it is applied on the clutch disc.

This being said, bigger is not always better.  Many car builders believe that a clutch should be a week link in the drive train.  A bigger pressure clutch is harsh on the transaxle and other components.  A softer clutch is more forgiving.

There is a lot to think about here, but hopefully, this will get all the readers thinking about the decision process when it comes to choosing the right clutch for each one’s application!