DMF - convert to Single Mass or not?

[Jon Tilson]

Hi all

Our Golf mkV 1.9. tdi (105) is displaying signs of DMF failure at about 150k miles.

Reading around some say going for the single mass conversion kit is a good idea. Others say not.

Any thoughts from the assembled wisdom of the forum?

Seems like 150k miles is pretty good for a DMF...

Jonners

[Galileo]

Never owned one, however chap at work swapped his Ford Mundane to a SMF after 130k and complained that it wasn't as smooth, which is a bit of a facepalm moment considering what the entire reason in the first place for a DMF is. He might as well have put another DMF in considering the likelihood of scrapping it well before it hit 260k miles, and as it turned out his ECU went so he bought another entire car. And some call me a mug for having old cars in general and a 40 year old car as a summer daily driver!

[SprintMWU773V]

Keep as a DMF. They drive horribly without one and it won't do your gearbox any good either. Really no good reason to swap out.

[Carledo]

I have just done an 07 Passat with PD diesel and replaced the knackered (124k) dual mass with another dual mass - and been somewhat ridiculed by a couple of my trade colleagues for doing so as the SMF conversion is apparently about £100 CHEAPER than a DMF/clutch kit and in their words "makes no discernible difference to the driving characteristics"
Let us be clear, I thoroughly dislike the idea of the DMF, it seems to me that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. But I am also aware of the inherent weaknesses of the VW gearbox and wouldn't like to shorten its lifespan further for the sake of a miserable hundred quid when even a good used 'box (this one was a 6 speed) is well over £200 + the labour to fit it. And I hate doing the same job twice! Had it been a petrol car I might have thought twice but a diesel with its greater torque and inherent vibration makes the DMF the sensible choice.

Steve

[Jon Tilson]

Thanks for your thoughts guys...

Its a pretty difficult decision. The car is now down to "banger" level and is worth max 1200 quid with the clutch done and a full ticket.
Ive read around and apparently the valeo conversion kit involves a clutch plate with pretty long rotational cushion springs that do most of the
work of the DMF and thus preserve the gearbox.

Lots of folks on various skoda or seat forums are saying this kit is the way to go....some of them octavia owning taxis.

But then like Steve says - its only about 100 quid difference so why not stay as intended?

Decisions decisions...

Jonners

[Carledo]

If its of any interest, I paid £384 (VAT incl) for a reputable make of DMF/clutch kit for the Passat from my local factors and it took me a bit over 4 hours to do it (on a ramp and with all necessary special tools to hand) The smaller Golf is a bit tighter for access than the Passat, but not drastically so. A couple of nice points is that the driveshafts bolt on so there is no loss of oil of need to drain (though the bolts are VWs favoured 12 spline things) and the o/s balljoint and wheel can remain undisturbed.

Steve

[SprintMWU773V]

My Dad had the DMF replaced on his 54 plate Focus late last year and he kept the old one. It was interesting to see how it had failed. The rubber element had basically disintegrated and it wobbled about all over the place. He had it replaced with another DMF and it's fine now. It hadn't done loads of miles, 60k perhaps but inevitably as the rubber ages they can fail. Although the car doesn't have a huge value he figured it was worth spending the money as relative to the cost of buying another car it was pretty good value, plus he likes the car.

Whatever you choose you should definitely keep the old unit for inspection and interest.

[Carledo]

I changed one on an old, but very tidy and low mileage (55k) Focus Diesel last year - and I have just bought the car for £100 cos the turbo has failed now! More bangernomics in action methinks!

I have an empty shell of a Puma in my yard where I save all my scrap till the price goes up a bit. there must be 20 dead DMFs in there along with a hundred or so old brake discs and uncounted broken coil springs. I'm gonna need another shell soon cos this one is up to the roof in dead metal!

Steve