Clutch Replacement Questions

[salguod]

After 261K miles, the factory clutch in my ti is finally giving up. Actually, the clutch is still fine, I'm getting noise when the clutch is depressed (a sh-sh-sh-sh-sh sound) indicating throwout bearing failure. At any rate time for a new clutch & I have a few questions:

1 - Should I be replacing the flywheel? It's the factory dual mass now, with 261K on it. Searching here finds some saying it's crutial others saying they didn't and it was fine. I'd like to spend as little as possible on this.

2 - The Bentley indicates a couple of special tools are required. One to hold the flywheel while removing the clutch components and two for replacing the pilot bearing. Do Need the special tools?

3 - Clutch kits on Rock Auto are very cheap. The LuK kit is under $100, the Valeo is about $160. (If I need the kit with the flywheel, it's a bunch more.) Any reason to stay away from the LuK kit?

This is a daily driver with stock engine. I'm not looking to mod it in the future or autocross it or anything like that. Just need to keep it running.

Thanks