We call it a classic

What makes something a classic? An international soccer match between Germany and England, for sure. And definitely the VW Beetle. But opinions are divided when it comes to the Audi 80 B4 Avant. Built until the mid-1990s, the successor to the B3 series was the last generation of the Audi 80. But at the time, many didn’t consider it truly “new.”

Despite the completely redesigned rear end, which offered more space in the boot, and rear seats that could be folded down, Autobild magazine felt that Audi had only given the 80 a “comprehensive facelift.” But there was no denying that the B4 models were quieter, longer and more stable than their predecessors – it just wasn’t very noticeable. The same was true of the Audi 80's biggest weakness, its Achilles’ heel: the transmission.

This is exactly where AIC comes in with another classic: The clutch release bearing. Located in the transmission housing, this component separates the engine from the transmission, enabling the driver to shift gears. Incidentally, this is the oldest active item in our product range!

The reason why this item has been around for so long is certainly also due to another classic, the perennial favorite among typical driving mistakes: “parking” your foot on the clutch pedal – or “riding the clutch” as it is also commonly referred to as. What’s wrong with that? Pressing the clutch pedal puts pressure on the clutch master cylinder, which transports fluid to the transmission in a hydraulic system. Another cylinder moves the clutch lever and thus the release bearing forward. This then presses continuously against the clutch pressure plate, causing it to overheat and wear out. In the worst case, this completely unnecessary additional strain can lead to expensive damage to the clutch and/or transmission.

So if you’ve been resting your foot on the clutch pedal too often, the oldest AIC part number 50005 alone has been used in over 1,000 vehicle types, including applications in the VAG Group, Ford, and Mazda.