Racing Beat = Success! Clutch slipping now?
 

So, last Saturday I was able to put on the whole exhaust system (the old rusty system looks nice on my deck!). Afterwards we took it for a drive... absolutely amazing. However, later that night I went up to my girlfriend's house near Chicago and it seemed like whenever I tried to accelerate (and the turbo would start to spool) the clutch was slipping and the car vibrated pretty bad. I have an FCD so I know it's not fuel cut, because whenever I first drove the car after putting the exhaust on it seemed like I was speeding up for takeoff. It still idles beautifully and it starts 'slipping' after about 4500 rpms or so when the turbo really starts to spool. Also, I have a blowoff valve and whenever I let off the gas after this slipping it doesn't sound as loud as it usually does so I know it's not spooling as much as it did. Any ideas? My AE has 45,500 on it as we speak.

Thanks.

uhh, yes thats clutch slip, you should park it and drive something else, 45k miles. it had only 12k, are you nutS! my AE is at 125k i cant but help to drive it :)

Thanks for the quick reply. I bought the car five years ago and have been driving it regularly. I'm in college now so I don't get to put that many miles on it. However, I'm expecting to put a few miles on it in two weeks going to Deal's Gap Rotar Rally!

hurry and get a new clutch! lol dont wanna have it slippin during the trip!

I've been happy with my ACT street/strip clutch kit. Has taken a good beating past few years, still no signs of wear.

So I'm about to order a new clutch. Should the OEM one (looking to buy through Mazdatrix) be good enough?

Oh yeah, and do I need to replace the pilot bearing too or just the release bearing?

t24u already covered it. Very happy with my act street/strip clutch kit.

Mmmyeah... but after spending $1000 on the RB funds are running a little low...

you might want to consider what other mods you plan to do in the future when replacing your clutch. the stock one will only hold so much and therefore even a stock replacement wont leave you much if any headroom. its kinda one of those things you only wanna do once if you can.

please please please please please... do something to add more fuel if you haven't already. These things like to go lean with just exhaust and an FCD.

Yeah, I don't think I'm going to do anything too drastic anymore, my AE needs to last me a while until I get a job and can afford a more practical daily driver. Right now i'm looking at some pretty good prices on ACT clutches on clutchandflywheel.com.

Any opinions on Centerforce I and II clutches?

Anybody got an opinion of a Centerforce II? Come on... I need to get this replaced quick before DGRR next weekend!!!

Two things will happen before replacing the clutch:
You will learn throttle control
or
Your clutch will burn in Hell