Clutch Input
 

So im looking to order a clutch for forced induction, can anyone here thats put a clutch in their car provide some input? Experience, feel, would you buy again exc exc?

I'll start driving the Clutchmasters FX300 this weekend. Will input feedback here ASAP.

i've been looking for the same info.

i have the fx400 drove it for about 100 miles before motor gave out.

short time driving it,,,feel was good clutch pedal was a little bit stiffer than stock but wasnt to to bed. it is LOUD on deceleration. driving in town stop and go traffic wasnt bad either other than how loud it is but nothing you can do about that other than crank up the volume on stereo and just smile when ppl look at you like your car is about to fall appart like they did to me. on stock tires the fx400 will spin tires like no tomorrow even with me taking off slow i could feel tires wanting to break traction.

Seems most have the Clutchmasters FX400 or the ACT 6 puck sprung. From the reviews I have read they both perform very similarly. Don't let anyone tell you they are "just like OEM" or have "OEM drivability". They don't. My ACT 6 puck is pretty in or out. There is very little slip and you need to have the RPM high enough because when it grabs it takes about 1000 RPM with it and you will stall if you try to let the clutch out just off idle. Then there is the chatter at lower RPM like when you have your A/C turned on and are idling. If you have moderate power goals, then I would stick with an ACT full face or a Clutchmasters FX300. Will be interesting to see David's review.

how much torque does the fx300 hold?

345 WTQ

We use the Exedy Stage 1 Clutch on our 345whp, 257wtq FR-S. We can tell you with certainty, that it is the closest that you'll get to the stock clutch, in terms of range of modulation and overall feel. There is a little bit of clutch noise when idling in neutral, but it's very minor compared to most other aftermarket clutches. This clutch is 100% parallel parking friendly.

Please contact us, if you'd like any additional information.

When I replace my clutch, which is an inevitability, I am probably going with the FX350 which is more aggressive than a single element clutch, but not as rough as a puck style clutch. I originally went with the FX400 due to most clutches being rated to hold "up to 300 ftlbs" of torque which is quite a bit lower than my goal and the FX350 hadn't been developed for the FR-S yet.

The FX400 isn't horrible, the clutch pedal effort is higher than stock but not that bad. The noise gets worse as the clutch breaks in and ages. I figure that I'll put another 10k miles on this clutch and then I'll swap it out, kinda curious how well it holds up and what the pucks will look like when I do!

The FX350 has no plans to be developed for the FRS (at least when I bought mine 2 weeks ago, that's what I was told). That's why I went with the FX300. The FX300 holds 345 wtq. (I called and asked).

I'd like to see how the exedy goes over time it sounds better than the other 2 main ones going round, I was going to go exedy but at the time they weren't available to me so I opted for the ACT 6 puck sprung with pro lite flywheel and it is pretty chattery/rattley on decel or idle... I'm also not sure if its a touch noisier due to my fluid choice (redline MTXL) I think it may be a little thin? I wanted the MTX not the L but its what was given to me when I ordered and didn't have time to take back and swap :s

http://clutchmasters.com/shop/?page=...195&AppID=5310

The VividRacing FR-S had one in it way back when...at least they claimed that they did.

Yes, I've seen it on the website too. I called and was told what I said (maybe the guy tending my call had no idea, had a 300 ready to go and wanted to push me to it or wanted to get off the phone quickly).

But anyway, the 300 and 350 are rated for the exact same torque.

Well if that's the case that kinda sucks...

345 WTQ is not enough for you? (Honest question).

Or what is it that sucks?

Edit: I find it interesting that on he site the FX300 is n ot for sale, and the FX350 says "new".


I should have a pic of mine soon to try and determine what is it that I really got :)

No...the car is likely going to be pushing near 400Wtq, not crank torque which is the measurement the manufacturers claim as holding capacity. I'm currently finishing some cosmetic work on the car before I turn up the boost and start replacing internals and such. I want to be running about 450-500WHP and 400+ ftlbs on pump gas after I finish the engine. I figure that that is doable, but I have been putting it off until a few shops start getting reliable numbers from built engines and give some insight into why they chose some of the components they decide to use. For now though I will just push my boost up to 12PSI or so and be content until i have some free cash for some forged bits ;)

I never take the manufacturers claims to heart when it comes to clutches. I had a sintered iron FX500 that didn't even hold over 420wtq. Whenever someone tells me what their capacity is, i just subtract about 80ftlbs just for good measure.

I can't even begin to think the torture this transmission is going to go through at 400wtq. But my predictions are that the manual will not support that power level indefinitely. Fine for a weekend warrior. But I cringe to think of someone making that power with an aggressive clutch setup.

The gears in this transmission are pretty small. Big torque will be destroying these transmissions. But I do wish you the best of luck and look forward to the craziness!

Isn't the stage 1 rated at around 240tq?

There are a lot weaker links in the driveline than the gears. Gears are freaking stout no matter how small they appear they take a lot to break. I'd bet on axles being the weak link in any highpower/high traction enviroment.

It's rated at 319TQ.

Glad to read this. I want a combo withflywheel but i dont want thr crazy nouses like clutch master. Hopefully act isnt as bad...

I don't see the gears in this tranny being any stronger than the SR20 6 speed boxes I'm used to. And they break at 400wtq all the time. I've pushed 1" axles to 600hp without fail on a daily driven car. But somehow, gears seem to be more prone to fatigue over time. I've shattered many gearboxes in the past, so my approach is... different.

well its been already proven that the axles are a weak link, Fullblown want to upgrade theirs before running it around the strip and so. E.kanoo from bahrain who owns the 2jzgte +v160 gearbox swapped gt86 snapped his axles as he dragged the car with 500sh wheel hp.


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUp8-vKt6Ug"]2jz Toyota GT86 breaking an axle - YouTube[/ame]

The axles and trans are weak links. But surely I'd expect axles to break with a 2jz hooked up. But at only 500whp? Must be really sticky rubber.

I don't expect the transmission to break 1-3rd. 4-6th are small though.

combination of some sticky rubber and a hard launch i guess.

i do agree both are the weak links, id bet axles before trans though. But if somebody decides to flat foot shift 1 to 2 on even 300 wheel with an aggressive clutch i bet he'd break it too :)

I find that strange, because most axles this size hold up to much more power. A 2-step can break them, but I wouldn't imagine 350-400whp causing much issue. I guess we'll just have to see in a year which one has more failures huh?

Torque and shock break axels, not rated on horsepower. if your running a solid centre button clutch heaps of torque and load the girl up and drop 2nd... Expect something to give

From an ACT owner review, the ACT is worse than the Clutchmasters for driveability because their flywheel is even lighter the CM and because of this the car about stalls everytime you put it in neutral.

Thanks a lot im not getting it lol

Im narrowing it down to the excedy stage one or the clutchmasters 300

My final choice was exactly between both :D

im curious on how its drives as well the reason im not on higher boost because i rather get a clutch first :) im in tune for your review

You can't beat the pedal feel of the exedy stage 1. When I say the pedal pressure feels like stock, I really mean It literally feels like stock. Even with 345whp(DD) there's no clutch slippage and no heavy-ass pedal pressure that can kill your master/slave cylinder.

MrC

That bad really? Kinda concerning since that is what is being installed on my car as I type this. Oh well, I'm up for a learning curve I guess. On the plus side though, if its that light it must rev pretty quick and feel very responsive.

Do you know which ACT flywheel they used (11.8lb or 10.5lb)? Also do you by chance know the Clutchmasters flywheel weight?

The 3 streetlite (11.8lb) setups I have sold with the SS street disc the customers have been very happy with. Just a bit more aggressive than the stock clutch.

I have another guy who has a Clutchmasters FX400 which doesn't stall, but it makes a whole bunch of noise with the clutch in, or when taking off from a stop sometimes.

I am trying to figure out what should be the go-to clutch for this car. I have no brand allegiance's. For the past few years ACT has been on there game, and I had planned on putting either a street or 6 puck sprung ACT in our car when I install the turbo kit.

Adam
Adam

Please, take my word with a huge grain of salt, as I have not driven it, but just relay information a friend who drives it told me.


I believe it was the 10.5 lb and I believe that is the main culprit. The 11.8 should be noticeably better. Also it was a modified car with LW Pulley too.

I will let you know as soon as I'm driving the clutchmasters how good/bad it performs (FX300).

I was leaning heavily towards Exedy. Three things swayed me towards CM:

1) Reviews for both online were more favorable towards CM (not on our cars, but any car in general).

2) Exedy was not yet available at the time so I would have had to wait a bit.

3) The torque rating was higher for the CM.


I think they are both awesome clutches.

Have had good luck with this clutch on WRX/STI, but in this case, the stage 1 for BRZ/FRS is only rated at 203 wheel torque, so I feel like it is only a matter of time before it calls it quits in a turbo application.

Specs:

Disc Size 225mm
Spline Teeth / Major Dia24T / 25.2mm
Clamping Force/Load exerted (lbs)1652
Disc Material Organic
Number of Disc Single
Type (Push/Pull) Push
Sprung Center (D-core) Yes
Clutch Torque 319
Torque Capacity at Wheels 203
Torque Capacity at Flywheel 254
Flywheel Weight FF503

So, it seems you were right. It LOOKS like i got the FX350, not the FX300.

EDIT: Box says FX300 :iono:

Look at the face of the disc I got:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T...0/IMG_6874.jpg

Now look at the face of the FX 350. Look closely at the friction surface, even though its different colors, it is the same shape and size. The small contact areas are completely separated by themselves.

http://clutchmasters.com/images/FX350kit.jpg


Now look at the FX300 face and see how instead of being completely separated per contact area, there is still a little bit of material on the edges to connect the whole contact area as one.

http://www.clutchmasters.com/static/content/kit3.jpg


Reviews to come as soon as I am able to drive it!

I have the ACT 6 puck and lightweight flywheel. I hate it but hopefully I can get a more streetable disc like the FX350 later on. Just need to give manufacturers time to catch up.