Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch

[D.Hearne]

The weight thing is pretty much a marketing gimmick. They are supposed to help the plate clamp up better at higher RPM's.

Have you ever had a clutch that slipped only at higher RPM's?

Unless I miss my guess, the weights have another, just as valuable function (which I really appreciated in my Ranger) and that is they lessen the pedal effort. It's certainly easier than the stock heavy duty 94-95 Stang combo I had used before switching. So, they're not a gimmick.

 

[dennis112]

Not to start a flame war here but most clutches (Borg-Beck and Long) have used weight assisted fingers for 40 years.
You may know more than all those guys but I don't. And I HAVE had clutches that slipped at higher rpm.

Gee sorry I touched a nerve. No flame war here--I never said that I know more than the CF engineers. I just made a mention of one of the items that they are most proud of and that they use on all their product lines. Other companies make great clutches too.

Why can't we all get along??

First, I never said that they originated the weight design, only that they heavily market them. As to what the weights do, I will save that till later in the post.

The DF is not the end-all ultimate clutch. As I stated above, I really like the DF, but it is not up to the task of serious drag racing with slicks. This is my actual experience and CF even supports this theory with this statement from their website:

"While the Dual Friction has been engineered primarily as a street clutch it can be used in mild competition applications."

This was the point of my whole post.


The DF uses carbon composite on the flywheel side. CF's NEWEST clutch, the DFX uses sintered iron technology. It was not available when I first researched and bought the DF. If I was going sintered iron, McLeod would be my choice.

Unless I miss my guess, the weights have another, just as valuable function (which I really appreciated in my Ranger) and that is they lessen the pedal effort. It's certainly easier than the stock heavy duty 94-95 Stang combo I had used before switching. So, they're not a gimmick.

As far as the weights and what they do -(again ripped from the CF site):

"CENTERFORCE WEIGHTS

Additional clutch torque capacity by harnessing centrifugal force as engine RPM increases. Using centrifugal force and leverage on the clutch diaphragm the Centerforce weight system actually increases clamp-load with engine speed and power."

And

"The centrifugal assist offered by the weights is a direct function of rpm. "

This is the basis of all the information that they have provided about the weights.

The internal design of the plate leads to the easier pedal action. Some models of CF use ball bearing action. From the CF site:

"BALL BEARING

Centerforce provides innovative leadership in clutch technology by creating patented processes like their ball bearing pressure plate designs. When possible, Centerforce uses ball bearings as a fulcrum (pivot) point for the pressure plate diaphragm spring. By utilizing this unique system, Centerforce can increase clutch holding-capacity and keep the pedal effort low. This also allows Centerforce to increase the quality and repeatability of each clutch developed with this process."

None of my posts are here to cut down CF and my experience is specifically with the DF. Even though I have not had a positive experience with the DF with my chosen combination and goals, I feel CF makes a good product.

We do not know exactly what the original posters goals and objectives are. If he wants a primary street car, the DF may be what he is looking for. If he is going to put on full slicks and go racing each weekend (or has a full on race car,) then I would not recommend the DF.

Cheers!

 

[dennis112]

Has anyone here tried a McLeod Street Twin Clutch?

I'm trying to decide between the RAM Street Dual Clutch and the McLeod Street Twin clutch. One advantage to the McLeod is that it can be purchased with a 0 oz imbalance (my crank is internal balance) where as the RAM would need to be special ordered for 0 oz imbalance. I have decided that I want to go with a twin disc clutch setup because it will offer more than enough holding capacity for wherever I want to go, which could possibly be forced induction somewhere along down the road, and the pedal effort will still be silky smooth and not an on-off switch.

Sorry that I do not have actual usage of either of those, but have you checked out the cost of either of those clutches? The McLeod is around $1800 and the Ram, I believe, is around $900.

 

[Gailahan]

Sorry that I do not have actual usage of either of those, but have you checked out the cost of either of those clutches? The McLeod is around $1800 and the Ram, I believe, is around $900.

The RAM is ~$1300 while the McLeod is ~$1000. If you can have a 1200 horsepower monster and still have a featherlight pedal I think they're worth that much.

 

[Gailahan]

We do not know exactly what the original posters goals and objectives are. If he wants a primary street car, the DF may be what he is looking for. If he is going to put on full slicks and go racing each weekend (or has a full on race car,) then I would not recommend the DF.

Cheers!

I plan on doing autocross racing and the occasional 1/4 mile. However, I do plan to drive this car on the street, which is why I'm looking for a clutch that is not an on/off switch and I'm also looking for something that has more than enough holding capacity for my application and will not wear out after limited use.