CLUTCHES! favorites and ones to avoid

[Croustibat]

Originally Posted by Dr. Moreau

I'm really in a bind on what clutch I'd like to get. On eBay, the clutchmasters fx500's are cheaper than the lower stages (O.o) like more than $100 cheaper. I've got a pretty much stock s14 w/ ka. I MIGHT eventually slap a t28 on it but not any time soon. Car is daily driven and will be drifted. I'm very particular when it comes to clutches and feel. Chatter doesn't bother me. Stiffness isn't a huge deal, but I'm not trying to pull a hamstring every time I drive around town, although I do like a bit stiffer pedal feel. What I want in a clutch (what I care about) is that it grabs. HARD. I like the way pucked clutches grab, having at one time had a 6-puck clutch masters stage 3 sprung on my s13 w/ ka (nice stiff pedal feel, but not too stiff, and amazing grab). And when I went SR I had the RPS Max 6-puck, not as stiff a pedal as with the CM, but great grab.

So my question is, do I get the cheapo f1 stage 3 or 4 since I'm not looking at making enough power to really negate having a stage 5 unsprung, or do I say f**k it, and get the quality clutch for $100 or so more and just deal with whatever chatter and stiffness may come with it?

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Do you pay for labor, or can you change the clutch yourself ? If changing the clutch often is not a problem, then you could go with an ebay clutch.

If it bothers you or you pay someone to do it, then it will be cheaper to get a good one from the start.

also, there is a break in period with clutch. From 500 to 1000 miles. That in itself sucks when you spend 10% of the clutch life breaking it in.

[Matej]

All those Ebay clutches are junk (F1, Gripforce, XTD, XTR, etc.). They are made to look like performance clutches to fool people into buying them. Some of them come with remanufactured OEM-replacement pressure plates from other brands just spraypainted a different colour.
I would not trust anything other than Exedy, possibly ACT, or overpriced high-end stuff from Japan.
Mainly because I am really paranoid about clutches/flywheels shattering and cutting off my legs.

[K_style]

Originally Posted by Matej

All those Ebay clutches are junk (F1, Gripforce, XTD, XTR, etc.). They are made to look like performance clutches to fool people into buying them. Some of them come with remanufactured OEM-replacement pressure plates from other brands just spraypainted a different colour.
I would not trust anything other than Exedy, possibly ACT, or overpriced high-end stuff from Japan.
Mainly because I am really paranoid about clutches/flywheels shattering and cutting off my legs.

Worst thing other than clutch/flywheel shattering is PAIN in the ass for replacement compare to other labor you do on the car.

[dat925stunna]

Originally Posted by SLiDe_WaYz

Your recommending a eBay clutch....

Exedy, JWT, ACT. All good brands.

It works tho ? and i drive my car hard in the mountains it takes clutch kicks like no other I've owned ACT clutches and this thing grabs beast dont get sold on name brands with a stock KA lol well my s14 is stock for now untill my s13 is finished


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[RedTopKA-T]

I had both competition clutch stage 3 sprung and xtd stage 4 unsprung clutch and honestly the xtd feels and performs better than the competition ...I mean if your on a budget and need a cheap fix, for 140$ you can't beat it ....its been going strong on my ka-t with 260wtq for a little over a year and a half 0 issues and I drive the car real hard also , but if I was going to spent the money for a legit one I would definitely go wth act..I'm on a budget and this isn't a race car or drift car so I can burn 3 xtd's for the price of 1 act plus I wouldn't run any cheapo brand if I had anything more than 300wtq it gets too risky..

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[iRideFBMSR20det]

Ill never touch a eBay clutch
I love love love ACT
And I think competition clutches are great.
I'm my S14 I'm running a act 14lbs flywheel. W/ cc 6puck clutch.
It's great to drive vary stiff clutch peddle

And the sti has act clutch and flywheel all from act. I honestly like the full act set up vs act cc set up.

I'm not a fan of Exedy..
Put a 4 puc in a customer car. And did not like it at all.

[chris_240sx]

Currently using an Exedy 3 puck. It's not bad but next time around I think I might try something with more pucks or even full faced. I'm thinking ACT or Southbend.

[karkas9]

Centerforce Duel Friction on LS1 lots of grip but needs a good break in. pedal gets softer after ~500 mile but still grip hard. t56 slave cylinder is super bitchy on its fluid so get an extender bleeder to save ur time and money.

on the KA got ACT stg1 and its fine.

[AdamR]

I got a Competition Clutch White Bunny sprung 6 puck for around $270 shipped from THMotorsports. It is a lightweight RB flywheel with a Stage 4 6 puck 350z disk and pressure plate.
It actually comes out about 1 pound heavier than a stock KA clutch and flywheel setup, but it is pretty nice.
I have been using it on a T28 KA-T setup for about a year now.

[Matej]

Is Competition Clutch a reputable brand?
I have to run an obscure setup for which my only aftermarket clutch options are either SPEC (full range) or a Competition Clutch sprung 6-puck disc, and I am not too keen on using SPEC.

Also, approximately how much more power can an OEM-replacement (Exedy) pressure plate manage before needing to be upgraded as well?

[trxrx7]

stay away from those ebay clutches (f1, xtd, etc.) i'd say if you dont have enough money for os giken and exedy, get a act nothing else! i have had those clutches in three of my cars they all held up great, i got a 6 puck sprung in my ca vert right now perfect for drifting and dd.

[CoreyCarruthers]

If Im running my Ka24de with no major mods, what would be the best bet for a clutch? I had an exedy in and it's slipping really bad lately, not grabbing until about 2500.

[K_style]

Originally Posted by CoreyCarruthers

If Im running my Ka24de with no major mods, what would be the best bet for a clutch? I had an exedy in and it's slipping really bad lately, not grabbing until about 2500.

You will be fine with any OE replacement clutches if you are not planning to get more power.

Exedy, ACT, etc "Stage 1" clutches are OE replacement nothing special.

[1jz s14 zenki]

Originally Posted by CoreyCarruthers

If Im running my Ka24de with no major mods, what would be the best bet for a clutch? I had an exedy in and it's slipping really bad lately, not grabbing until about 2500.

If you are n/a I would say just get another oe replacement from exedy they are only 100 shipped if not less
And a n/a ka will deff not make more than 200

[CoreyCarruthers]

Originally Posted by 1jz s14 zenki

If you are n/a I would say just get another oe replacement from exedy they are only 100 shipped if not less
And a n/a ka will deff not make more than 200

Cool, thanks for the help!

[mr.fixit]

So I just installed my act 6 puck sprung kit with new OEM throw out bearing, and I have been reading that to break it in I slip it out a couple of times at high rpm with time to cool down in between and then dump the clutch a few times to bed it. Is that the correct way since its not an organic full face.

[jorge1190]

OS Giken Hyper Single is my favorite and current clutch. It has 4000 miles making 330 WHP 302 TQ and it never slips. It is easy to drive once you get used to it but it is a little loud when you push the pedal in.

Ive had:

Spec stage 3: Had two with problems
Exedy Stage 1: Great for stock KA
Exedy stage 2 with flywheel: Good feel, not too grabby
Competition Stage 5: On/Off switch

[Trinidrift3]

i'm on an exedy stage 2. i like the feel. it's grabby, but nothing crazy. i daily it and clutch kick a lot, and its been holding fine for 2 years

[russian]

i recommend ACT. you cant go wrong with them, they hold up great and priced very reasonably. I had them on sr/ka/LS. on LS it really shines too. Had SPEC as well.... decent clutch BUT it wears fairly quick. hit or miss imho for many.

for SR/track I love the EXEDY 3 puck. insane engagement, fine for daily, very reliable and fun. There is a reason EXEDY is OEM for many makes...

[silviaNC]

Will a act n013x pressure plate with 6 puck sprung clutch hold 450 tq? Trying to decide if I should install it on my rb26.

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[gostrider]

Good to hear all the reviews

[yomisiu]

Looking for the best options for my stock DD KA. This is the list:

OE style "White Bunny" Competition Clutch kit with brand new OEM release fork, release bearing, bearing sleeve, pilot bearing and Circuit Sports clutch pivot.

The "release bearing" is another name for the throwout bearing, right? -______-

[waxball88]

I have a Compeition stage 4 in my ka-t, built 15psi daily. 350-400hp.
It doesnt like stop and go or to be babied but it is definitely liveable

[240ss]

spec stage 3. had it for about 3 years now with multiple drift events, grabs like a beast!

[Slippin'eight-nine]

Os Giken Super Single! With flywheel. Amazing

[KevinEdgar]

ACT 6 Puck + ACT lightened flywheel on my s14 sr. Awesome rev and grab!

[g2ic02]

i have been rocking a spec stage 3/fidanza flywheel for about 10,000miles(sr20 with t28 @ 12psi) . drag raced at track with slicks quite a few times, normal beating while daily driving, plenty of stop and go in traffic, it has held up to the last two drift events I drove. I have had really good luck with mine. I would purchase again with no hesitation.

[turbob16ef]

I had a spec 3 and spec flywheel. Had roughly 7500 miles on it, grabbed awesome, never slipped; even at 400hp.
When my motor took a poop I pulled it, when I got to the clutch had alot of hot spots(clutch kicking??) got to the disc and every rivet was wallowed out. I've heard of plenty of the same issue and what not.

I now have a exedy twin disc, but not in the car yet (undergoing 2j swap.)

More just giving my review on the spec D setup.

[shogun!]

OSGiken twin plate.
Awesome clutch.

[BossHogg]

OS Giken ts2bd. Very streetable. Supra guys use their 3-4 disc clutches and say even those are super streetable.