Clutch Opinions
 

I'm currently running a Fidanza 4.3 clutch. It's a sprung 6-puck that claims to be able to hold somewhere around 650ish tq. It's holding my power real well, like on a 4th gear pull. No slippage.

But today was when I really started launching with this clutch, and it did not perform anywhere near what I would have hoped. Just the slightest slipping of it on a launch, and it slips through all gears for the entire run. It can hold tons of power, but if it can't take a launch then it's not much good to me.

So here I am now, looking for a new clutch, and open to hear what anyone has to say.

I'm looking at 4 or 6 puck ACT 2600's, 2900's, Competition stage 5, Clutch Master stage 5.

Keep in mind, that I do NOT want to go with a twin disk, so don't go there.

I'm thinking about going with a non-sprung hub. It may be a little bit rougher on the street, but I think the lack of a sprung hub may help avoid slipping it off the line, which should hopefully reduce the chances of me running into the issue I am.

What clutch was Shane running when he ran his 10?

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

My vote goes for the Comp Stage 5, or the Fidanza 5.4 if you want a solid hub.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

I would go 2900, 3200, or Twin disk at your level, imo

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I typically try to avoid ACT. Just haven't been all that happy with them in the past. But I may call them and ask them about their 2900 PP. I heard a couple people mention something about them having a new design on the 2900PP that allows for a lighter clutch pedal.

Twin disk is still something I'm really not interested in going with at this point in time.

Also that Fidanza 5.4 is a sintered iron disk. I've never felt one, but they sound harsh, so I'm a bit hesitant on that one.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

The 5.4 would definitely be rough on the drivetrain and not be much fun on the street.

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I have the act 2900 with a sprung 6 puck and it seems to be fairly similar to the feel of a 2600 and holds good for what I have been able to put at it so far. Not too bad pedal pressure and drivability.

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Right now I'm honestly leaning towards that, even though I told myself I was going to stay away from ACT.

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Didn't they redesign their pressure plate and clutch disks lately tho that took care of previous problems?

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I've been running the ACT 2600 with a 6 puck sprung disk for about 2 years. Been workin great for me. I say go for the 2900 with the 6 puck

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I think the 2900 6 puck combo is rated at like 595 tq as well. If you want, you can drive my car to see if you like the combo.

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I know whatever the rating is of the PP add 100tq onto it if you get a pucked disk..

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I'm in the same boat as Brandon. My 2600/street disc slips at the strip, and slips in fifth on the highway at WOT. I have an old, but brand new 2900 I was considering until I just read you guys stating that they redesigned something or another.. Can you expand on that? Wondering if I should consider using or not. Was also considering just trying a 6 puck with the current 2600 PP.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

I like my competition clutch stage 4. I have about 3k miles of very hard street driving on it and on trip to the track with 11 passes on it. Its held up great to the abuse and it was super cheap. Granted you make close to 100 tq/hp more than me I don't know if you can compare much, but I figured one more opinion never hurt.

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I might be able to vouch for the lighter pedal on the 2900. I just got my car back together and it seems to me as if it has less force to put into it than my 2600 did.

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The Comp Stage 4 or more or less equivalent to his Fidanza 4.3. Great clutch, but 2 years of use + Brandon's power was just too much for it I guess :(

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Im going to ignore what you've said and say GET A TWIN!

Way back when shane ran his 10 i think he was running an AMS twindisc if memory serves.

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Forgot about that, I think you are right.


But I agree with Brandon.. No wanty a twin.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

The iron clutches are a bit tricky to drive on the street but if you get off it quickly you should have no welding problems. Unfortunately at the power level you are at, you will be pushing the limits on any single disc setup. You just don't have enough clutch diameter to harness the torque without having to give in pedal pressure (substantially) or longevity/driveability.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

Dxd?

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

My opinion on sprung versus unsprung: If you drive it on the street more than the track, get sprung. If you drive it at the track more than the street, get unsprung. I've driven Jim's Evo on the street who had an unsprung clutch at the time and that was enough for me to decide that I'd never get an unsprung clutch for a street car.

It might be fine for you since yours is a weekend warrior, but at least drive such a car so you know what you'd be dealing with every time you sit in the seat if you haven't already.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

I'd love to drive someone's car that has an un-sprung disc if anyone would be so willing. Just to try it out. Also in my opinion, even if it's hard at first, you can typically learn to drive it smoother over time once you get used to it. Mine was reall off/on feeling at first, but now I can drive it fairly smooth.

I think I'm going to call ACT today and see what they have to say. Right now I'm leaning towards a 2900 with either a full disk or a sprung 6-puck.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

How old is your clutch? From what Ive heard puck clutch wear out faster. mabey just try a new/ different 6 puck and your pressure plate. Im running a clutchnet sprung 6 puck and a act 2600 pressure plate. I love the feel of it, I think it engages better then my ACT street disk.

I'm glad your not thinking twin disk. Twice the price and twice the problems in my opinion.

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^great sounding advice. Thanks.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

Well I just got off the phone with ACT. Just going throw these numbers up here to reference later.

2900 w/ sprung 6-puck = 590tq.
3100 w/ sprung 6-puck = 609tq.


I seen on another forum, someone utilized an ACT 2900 PP, but a different sprung 6-puck that actually shielded the springs which I'd never seen before. I thought it was interesting as every once in awhile you see springs that pop out and do some damage. But I'm also a bit concerned about using other disk's with another persons PP. Different thicknesses could create dragging issues in higher RPM's.

Anyhow, the ACT guy for the most part sounded like a 20 year old dude who didn't really know all that much. He told me the pedal pressure should be slightly more then a 2600, although I keep reading that the new 2900's have a better designed PP and the pedal pressure is actually slightly less then a 2600.

Kerry, let me know if I can ever go over there and just feel what your Pedal Pressure is like so I can make my own judgement.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

Im home now and the rest of the night so you let me know when you want to stop by.

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Thats probly the clutchnet disk that I have People love them on the link forum.

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Yup you're right, here's the picture of it.

http://dsmlink.com/forums/attachment...1&d=1237143686

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

Well I've been researching this non-stop, and at this point in time I'm pretty much sold on getting an ACT 2900 PP combined with the above Clutchnet disk.

One of the guys on the link forums, running 10's at about the same trap speed I was at, still weighing in around 3050, has been running the 2900 w/ street disk, but said it stinks pretty bad at the end of his runs, leading him to believe he was pushing that combo to the edge, and it may have been slipping slightly during his runs but not enough for him to really notice. So sprung 6-puck with that PP should be a pretty solid combo it sounds like.

Only downfall is possible dragging in high RPM'sk (which is an issue with pretty much all single disk clutches), but I honestly don't see the need for me to rev all that high considering my powerband (7500, maybe 8000rpm shifting).

Thanks for all the input, I think I got a winner.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

congrats on the decision. Now get that thing ready for the track!

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I think you'll be happy with your choice. I really like the feel of mine.

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Woot! And let's get about 5 cameras at 5 different angles of you're runs this time! Haha

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I think we proved that my car performs better with the cameras off ;)

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hopefully your master/slave/lines, etc, are all ready for the 2900!

I remember that shit.... haha. It held fine though!

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Good point. My Master cylinder was replaced just a few years ago., but not sure if I've ever replaced the Slave. The lines, well they don't leak now, and I have one of the pieces replaced with a SS line. So for now I think they're OK, but I'll have to keep an eye on them for sure.

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Yeah I'd definately watch out for the slave. I had one good/hard powershift with my 2600 after I got it and there went the seal in my slave..

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I ran a 2900 in my car with an organic disck and it did not last very long. I don't like to slip mine too much either. i am not sure why you don't want a twin disk, if you talk to Steve maybe he will let you try his out. I would let you try mine if my car was running.

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I drove enough twin disk evo's to know I don't mind them at all. 6 puck ones too. I like them, and that will be the next clutch I get. Hotter they get, the better they grab. You can also shift them faster, and with 2 disks instead of 1, you get nearly twice the grabbing force, despite the smaller size of disks..

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Most of the twin disc setups for DSMs do not drive anything like the ones for the Evos. The Evo twin disc's are usually very very easy to drive while the DSM twin discs can take a lot of getting used to. Any twin disc for a DSM or Evo will usually have a light pedal that makes shifting quick easier.

I like sprung 6-puck clutch on DSMs and Evos though. I have seen 2900s cause the throw out bearing to eat up too many tranny cases and their own pressure plates to ever run one.

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I don't want a twin disk because I've simply heard that on DSM's, they just aren't that smooth. They also cost about as much as a tranny. And I swear every time I read about someone installing them, they seem to always have issues and have to modify crap to make them work.

Re: Clutch Opinions
 

The Evo ones drive nice, but they cost even more than the ones for DSMs and they don't handle as much power as you would think. You usually have to goto a triple disc on an Evo, if you plan on making a lot of power.