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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Clutch Reviews... And Rant...

  • Thread starter Thread starter GTA_V6_Mustang
  • Start date Start date Jul 3, 2012
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GTA_V6_Mustang

Active Member
Nov 29, 2004
1,326
3
39
Miami, FL
Jul 3, 2012
#1
  • Jul 3, 2012
  • #1
Ok well I have been back and forth between what clutch I may change to now. I have ready many things from many people. Dont cheap out, by a good expensive clutch, blah blah blah. I have also ready people who have cheaped out and purchased clutches such as XTD and F1 racing ebay clutches and had great experiences. So this is my story, lol. Keep in mind this is not my daily driver and will see like 1 or 2k miles a year if that.

Zoom Stage 1: $160.00

This had good driveability, no chatter. Installed with a brand new zoom billet steel flywheel. Was at the track the 2nd or 3rd time with it and actually went all day with no issues untill my last pass. Clutch exploded thru the bellhousing... Oh well, lol

Hays Clutch: 180.00

This had zero issues on motor and went the longest before any issues. Many years of motor 6k clutch dumps on slicks with no issues. When I started spraying the car it actually held for a bit then started to slip in high gear on an 80 shot and started to chatter real bad.

Ram HDX: 160.00

Had the flywheel resurfaced while I was in there. This clutch had the best feel so far. It took everything I could throw at it on motor and my 6k clutch dumps on 100 shot out the hole with slicks for a bit with no issues or slipping. Clutch was in less than a year though but saw some abuse. One day I was driving along and hit it on motor, tossed into 3rd and heard a loud boom. Clutch pedal went to the floor. Turns out the friction from the disc seperated from the rivets on the hub. Contacted Ram as this looked like a straight up manufacturer defect and there was no signs of overheat or anything on the clutch. They told me they would "re-line" the clutch for like 120 which i thought was insane since the whole kit only cost me 160.00, w/e.

Zoom Stage 2: 320.00

I figured this would end here and now. Followed the break in procedure to a T. Clutch felt fine on motor. Chattered like hell (kevlar). It has been in for less than a year and is now slipping. It does just fine on motor. It was doing find on 100 and 150 shot. Now that I got the car tuned and have it on like a 175 shot making over 540lbs of torque it wont hold worth a damn and acts as if its not even there. This clutch never even saw the slicks, just spirited street driving.

At this point I am more than a little annoyed at this. If I am going to be doomed to replacement of clutches every year no matter what stage or brand I pick I think I would just rather go with the F1 6 puck clutch from ebay that is less than all of the above. And how much worse could it really be than a stage 1 zoom or RAM hdx clutch. What do you guys think? Sorry for the long post, just a bit annoyed that I have to select yet another clutch.
 

bentley429isBAC

10 Year Member
Jul 23, 2009
922
188
84
CT
Jul 4, 2012
#2
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #2
My ram powergrip hd was great.
 

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
1,146
184
Georgia
Jul 4, 2012
#3
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #3
I had a Ram HDX that didn't last long at all. I now have a Spec Stage II, for less than $300, and it has been going strong for a year. No nitrous, but I'm not easy on it either. Spec gets my vote!

Joe
 
T

terdog

New Member
Jun 17, 2012
17
1
3
Jul 4, 2012
#4
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #4
My stocker has been good to me, but my motor is stock and will stay basically that way for the foeseeable future. I want something thats EBAY priced and tough as the stocker. I have more toys than budget...
 

ID89GT

10 Year Member
May 26, 2008
1,659
18
49
Spokane Valley, WA
Jul 4, 2012
#5
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #5
I had the King Cobra clutch in my 89, no problems at all. Was pretty hard pedal but other than that it never slipped or anything.
 

GTA_V6_Mustang

Active Member
Nov 29, 2004
1,326
3
39
Miami, FL
Jul 4, 2012
#6
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #6
I need something that can hold over 500 ft lbs of torque
 

rangerboy101

Active Member
Oct 11, 2011
310
20
28
Inwood, WV
Jul 4, 2012
#7
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #7
ID89GT said:
I had the King Cobra clutch in my 89, no problems at all. Was pretty hard pedal but other than that it never slipped or anything.
Click to expand...

I have this same clutch and like you said, it's a hard pedal but it grabs pretty hard. I like a firm pedal though.
 

GroverDill

GoldMember
Founding Member
Aug 18, 1999
5,442
1,490
214
Demotte IN 46310
Jul 4, 2012
#8
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #8
I have the Spec Stage 3+ per Kurgan's suggestion it is working out very well thus far.
 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2007
3,960
2,919
194
Middle of Maine
Jul 4, 2012
#9
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #9
GTA_V6_Mustang said:
I need something that can hold over 500 ft lbs of torque
Click to expand...
Use a Mcleod street twin disc set up, will more than hold 500 lb/ft torque and has a light pedal effort.




To the OP................you need a automatic trans...........no more clutch problems for you!
 

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end
15 Year Member
Jul 3, 2009
5,129
1,666
204
Maryland
Jul 4, 2012
#10
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #10
Twin disk! Funny thing I find is mod motor guys just go spec 3 or 5+ and have no issues... Maybe those mod motors are torqueless wonders
 

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time
15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2007
3,960
2,919
194
Middle of Maine
Jul 4, 2012
#11
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #11
srtthis said:
Twin disk! Funny thing I find is mod motor guys just go spec 3 or 5+ and have no issues... Maybe those mod motors are torqueless wonders
Click to expand...
amazing what a little displacement will do for an engine
 

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
8,909
234
Birmingham, al
Jul 4, 2012
#12
  • Jul 4, 2012
  • #12
I'm using a Centerforce Dual Friction clutch behind my "Torqueless Wonder".

I cannot testify to it's holding power, because I'm not asking it to do anything other than hook up a set of street tires, behind a weenie engine. I can say that the pedal effort is minimal.

Just my .o2 in the FWIW column.
 

89stang1

Stroked and Juiced
10 Year Member
Nov 5, 2008
730
234
74
nj
Jul 5, 2012
#13
  • Jul 5, 2012
  • #13
centerforce dual friction FTMFW!! after using many others including spec i will buy nothing but cdf!
 

ratio411

Founding Member
Apr 21, 2002
3,870
73
109
Pensacola FL
Jul 5, 2012
#14
  • Jul 5, 2012
  • #14
I love the Centerforce as well, but I have never put the squeeze on one, so I don't know about how it holds up to nitrous.
 

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?
15 Year Member
Dec 19, 2010
5,721
4,244
224
Jul 5, 2012
#15
  • Jul 5, 2012
  • #15
I've sprayed the hell out of a CDF behind a 351w and never had it let go. My current car has a kevlar stage 2 spec in it, but It's not on the juice or boost yet so I can't tell you how it will hold up. It chattered a little at first, but is smooth after break in. If you start killing high quality singles it's time to step up to a twin. They're high like giraffe pooty but they do the job...
 

ID89GT

10 Year Member
May 26, 2008
1,659
18
49
Spokane Valley, WA
Jul 6, 2012
#16
  • Jul 6, 2012
  • #16
My 85 came with a Centerforce.. I have yet to put it in yet. It is def a different design with the weights on the clutch fingers and all haha.
 

Onefine88

Previously 89SSC18
10 Year Member
Aug 3, 2006
1,422
796
154
Jul 6, 2012
#17
  • Jul 6, 2012
  • #17
I've been very impressed with the Centerforce dual friction clutch in my supercharged SSC. They've been working together since '05 flawlessly.

I've been more impressed with the original clutch in my '88 GT vert. I bought the car new. Now it has 126K miles on it and somehow the clutch still feels and operates great.
 

Rick 91GT

Mustang Master
Nov 29, 1999
9,692
95
99
PA
Jul 6, 2012
#18
  • Jul 6, 2012
  • #18
Got burned by CF twice over the years and it still lingers so I like the SPEC, McLeod, Fidanza and RAM pieces. Walt at Promotion makes some decent profiles as well... If you want something that will hold a lot of power and give the good pedal feel, dual disc is the only way to go.

My own car when it had 540RWHP/742RWTQ held just fine on a Stage 3 SPEC, the more heat I put in it the harder it grabbed.
 

GTA_V6_Mustang

Active Member
Nov 29, 2004
1,326
3
39
Miami, FL
Jul 6, 2012
#19
  • Jul 6, 2012
  • #19
I was looking at a couple of twin disc RAM clutchs on summit... I may try out a 6puck ceramic with aluminum flywheel next and if that should buy me at least another year so I can just get a t56 and 26 spline clutch setup.
 

GTA_V6_Mustang

Active Member
Nov 29, 2004
1,326
3
39
Miami, FL
Jul 6, 2012
#20
  • Jul 6, 2012
  • #20
Rick 91GT said:
Got burned by CF twice over the years and it still lingers so I like the SPEC, McLeod, Fidanza and RAM pieces. Walt at Promotion makes some decent profiles as well... If you want something that will hold a lot of power and give the good pedal feel, dual disc is the only way to go.

My own car when it had 540RWHP/742RWTQ held just fine on a Stage 3 SPEC, the more heat I put in it the harder it grabbed.
Click to expand...

742 torque with no problem, that sounds like the clutch I need. Did it see any drag launches?
 
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