clutches for the FD
 

hey everyone! since there are so many brands and types of clutches out there, id like to get a discussion going about peoples expieriences using the various clutches. id also like to compile a good list of the diffrent clutches available.... i can add more to the pole as people mention them.

Also help me list the different TYPES of clutches as there are so many.... i can think of off the top of my head

4 puck
6 puck
twin plate
tripple plate
pull type
push type
etc..................

Please tell me any other clutches you think of and i can add them.


hopefully we can first list the options that are out there and then discuss and compare them in regards to diffrent needs people have (street, strip, high HP, etc.)

-heath :biggrin:

Welcome to last week:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=258008

im trying to bring all of this clutch info together in one thread. there are other clutches that were not discussed in that thread... basically im trying to have everyone pull all the info out there together into one thread. i feel that something like this will make it easier for people (especially newbs) to see what ALL of their options are. i know the search function is handy, but i would be nice to have all the info on one page... im not trying to double post........

check out some of the other forums, like the miata one for instance.... there is an effort to make things SIMPLE and concise for readers. :wink: -heath

Don't ever buy anything from pettit !!!! Especially something as vital as a clutch flywheel and pressureplate...

OS does it all.

yup.

that ACT clutch u have on your car is made by OS

That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. Unless ACT makes a PUSH type clutch for FD since the OS single plate clutch is a PUSH type while the ACT is a PULL type.

if u ever look at a ACT pressure plate u will see the OS Giken stamp grinded off.

ive heard nothing but good things about ATC. i plan on getting the atc ss when im no longer poor...

Hummm never heard that before.

OS has kind of its own look. Its not the prettiest clutch I have ever seen, but so far its the best in my book.

Exedy sucks--Never played with the carbon one though

HKS Hyper Single--- on FEEDs Spirit R when I went for a drive gripped very nice, granted they had a 2 way Kaaz in there too, but no problem to grip and throw us sideways with not too much power FUN!

ACT Does make a push style

Ty

I have the ACT 4 puck street and strip. The only thing that I have found bad with it is you cant really slip it at low rpms. ie in a parking lot. All in all Ive had no problems with the clutch.
Its about 30% stiffer for clutch pedal feel.

I have run it at the track many times and on the freeway high speed rolls. No problems at all.

Ditto. It's great, holds well, I haven't had any problems with it. But the engagement is NOW. No slipping allowed, it's either in or it's out.

how about the bonez stuff from rx7.com?

Liar ! :rlaugh: I said that in a previous thread and you called BS on me, I just couldn't prove it, so I didn't precist :D

clutches
 

Originally posted by mazdaspeed00:
Almost all high performance pressure plates are re-manufactured. The core that was used to make an ACT (or any other mfg) may have started using the cover plate and other major components from another manufacturer.

Has any body used the Exedy 3 puck clutch or any other 3 puck what do you think.

Cusco makes clutches for our cars...so does FEED.

FD's use a pull Type clutch and FC's use a push style, most manufactures make both because they have to. Just like the MKIV Supra's use a pull type also, that is why Centerforce clutches suck for the FD's and Supras, because Centerforce usually uses weights on their pressure plates with cintrifugal force to clamp hard. On pull type clutches the weights would fight the grip of the pressure plate instead of help it, that is why they don't make them with the weights, and never by a centerforce for an FD because I've had them slip on mildly modded cars.

Anyway, I use RPS MAX series and ACT 6 Puck and they seem to be working very well, I've pulled a 1.6 60 foot with the RPS and a 1.7 with the ACT, and the RPS has a sprung and is more street friendly.

hmmm good info here so far! ok i have a few questions...

1) it seems that we are all in favor of pull type... anyone disagree and if so why?

2) can anyone who has driven both compare a 6 puck, and a 4 puck (i suppose ACT is the most popular)

3) in regards to OS Giken... would anyone like to talk about the 2 plate, and 3 plate (i think they make those) clutches? advantages/disadvantages? do multiple plate clutches allow more or less slip than say one of the ACT street stip clutches? (im assuming that MOST readers need something that is able to be used on the street/highway) also the 2/3 plate clutches must weigh more and add to rotating mass correct or no?


thanks for all the great responses so far.... keep em comin :biggrin: -heath

PS should i add anything to the poll?

Ty yes they do that is why my ACT is a push style on my FC and Tim has the SIX PUCK ACT on his FD and it is a Pull but one thing we had a problem with in the past is the ring that is inside the pressure plate the clips onto the throw out bearing was to small for the pressure plate so we had to use the stock one we took off the first time so make sure all your parts work before you start tearing into things guys.

Has anyone experienced a collapsed/weakened diaphragm on the ACT extreme pressure plate.

You can't really be in favor of either. Either you have a FD or an FC, like I said, you have to go with a pull type if you own and FD, unless you want to swap to a FC tranny, and vise versa. I haven't really heard of any advantages of either, unless your going to go with a Carbon Carbon from like RPS, because I think they only make the Carbon Carbon for the pull type clutches, but I may be mistaken. I've installed plenty on supra's and haven't found a better clutch, but they are pricy, they help with not breaking your transmission also because they slip a little when they are cold like it would be in first gear so you won't have that huge shock to the tranny, then when they get hotter they grip better. I should check to see if they have made one for the FD yet, last time I checked they didn't, but it's been a while.

I dont have any experience with the 6 puck ACT but was told and read that the clamping pressure is in creased and will hold more HP and more torque. Plus it is supposed to disapate heat better just because it has more surface area. I didnt go with the 6 puck because I wasnt going to be putting out huge numbers and I says its not for street use. I guess that they would know better than me so I took the 4 puck

Here is some info on the 4 puck

The ACT clutches are one of the most popular choices for the RX-7. The Racing 4-Puck
version (ZX3-HDR4) clutch has an upgraded HD Street Disk with Heavy Duty Pressure Plate over the factory clutch. The HD improved disk and pressure plate provides a new torque capacity of up to to 514 ftlbs, and the pressure increase being 40%.

oh, also i was looking on the rx7store website and they didnt mention the difference between the 4puck regular, and extreem..... it looks like all their pressure/holding specs are the same, just the price is different.

personally i am on a quest for a clutch that i can use on the street or in traffic if the need arrises... but im also going 20b, so holding capacity will come in to play if i swap the ecu to an aftermarket one.... but it wont matter when i first get it going. im trying to find a nice balance between drivability and holding capacity.

jt-imports... can you tell me more about your expieriences w/ the OS twin/tripple plate clutches? whats the advantage over say an ACT 4 puck?

Edit: I just did a search for the OS twin plate clutch.... one website wanted $1800!!!! if this is the going price then OS is out!

Hummm yeah... I thought you said ACT makes OS and I called BS though. hummmm maybe I need to go check again.

Bu............................t You did say "havent you ever looked at a ACT clutch you can see OS gieken scratched ok" Right? That would be good proof....hehe

Strange that the OS Giken super single clutch and the ACT extreme engage differently...I've seen the ACT up close...when it's done....it's done. With the OS Giken, even if the disks are past their wear thickness, the plates can be reused as long as they are in tolerance. I've had my OS Giken for a LONG time(2 1/2+ years). I rebuilt it with new plates/disks about 2 years ago and it's still holding strong....I'd like to see a daily driver ACT extreme go thru the same abuse I put my twin thru AND last that long.

Funny, I had a similar problem with my ACT SS clutch, except the ring was too big so the pressure plate wouldnt securely attach to the throw out bearing.

ACT regular 4 puck VS extreem 4 puck??? they both have the same holding specs...... whats the difference

I think they messed up on the specs, where did you see these specs? The only diffrence between the regular and the extreme is the pressure plate, the discs are the same, the extreme pressure plate should hold more than the regular, the regular is more commonly used in the street and strip applications, if your going to go 6 or 4 puck, then you will probably want the clamping force of the extreme.

check out rx7store.net there is no distinction between the 2. im not sure shich one would be best for me... when my motor goes in it should be putting out at least 350 ftlbs.... the strength of hte pressure plate is what determines pedal feel?

Yeah, Jason might just have it mislisted on his sight.

Re: clutches
 

Thank you. I was getting a good laugh with all the speculation on this. On the pressure plate we start off with new Exedy stock units and totally tear them down, replace the diaphragm, do some tricks, paint it, put it together, balance it and certify it to SFI specs. The reason you will find push type aftermarket clutches for the FD to replace the superior pull type is simply because Exedy has a patent on the release bearing design. Adapting to push type avoids patent problems. Since we purchase Exedy parts to begin with we don't violate their patent.

We grind the Exedy identification off the part, not to hide the fact that it starts off as an Exedy part, but to reduce liability for Exedy since they have no control over us and therefore cannot control their risk. It's keeps the lawyers happy. To tool up for producing a pressur plate like a stock one from scratch costs $100, 000 minimum. I know because we have done it, just not for the RX7. Unless there is some huge reason to improve the design, it's just not worth the investment.

By the way, ACT is not OS Giken! Any questions?

thanks ACTman. i was partcially right. the clutch is created by OS Giken but then redesigned to ACT specs.

Damn and my thoughts of ACT just went down. Maybe I need to drive one with it sicne EXEDY is POOP!

"By the way, ACT is not OS Giken! Any questions?"

No need for me to hear that haha, I know they are FAR from different even though the best clutch only got 5 votes hehe

Guess I was right...ACT clutches ARE NOT OS Giken. I've driven ONE Exedy clutch FD...it drove very similar to my friend's ACT FD....but drove nothing like my OS Giken.

please tell me which OS you are using... and how much you paid. how is pedal feel , and can you slip it at all (is it streetable)

OS Giken twin plate B type. Slightly harder pedal feel than stock. EASILY streetable. I think the full OS Giken kit costs around $1500(don't quite me though...) which includes push/pull adapter, flywheel, birdcage, 2 X plates, 2 X disks, clutch cover. Rebuild kits costs ~$600.00 which includes 2 Disks, 2 plates and clutch cover bolts.

Here's a pic of the ones that originally came in my FD. As you can see...they're toast.:eek:

clutches
 

Originally posted by ACTman:
You're welcome. Also, in support of the excellent performance of the ACT Extreme that I installed along with my most recent (up to three now) engine tran$plant- I previously had a replacement stock Mazda clutch and PP installed, which lasted about 9 months, then upgraded to a Mazdaspeed PP and Ferodo disc which also lasted less than a year. The ACT Extreme handles the additional torque of my RSR stage II motor and Pettit turbo with no indication of any slippage or wear. I am able to take thousands of miles of rubber off my rear tires at a moments notice. ;)
Ron A.

wow, this is the clutch i want ! the only downside is it costs 3X as much as the ACT....

....and will last longer than ANY ACT clutch.

i think i read somewhere that the giken twin plate should support something like 700HP! i want one badly...if only it was slightly cheaper... i cant justify spending 1500 on a clutch

ACTS come with Flywheel and counterweight? humm

OS just isnt a pretty clutch, not bright yellow even though it will never be seen. Its the best working clutch so far........That I have experienced. I have drove their triple in my buddies GTR a while back, just the same only quite a bit tougher to push in.

I said I overhauled my OS CLUTCH a while back, but I didnt say why. Well I overhauled my engine and I was being such a baby with it, I burnt up the clutch bearing, it seazed and blamo, on the way to the shop I lost the pressure plate and diapram of course, hints I just did a complete overhaul.

OS clutches, you can always get them USED, then do the overhaul, so now you would have a BRAND NEW clutch for usage wise, for half the price.

no, the act's (no flywheel/counter weight) are in the range of $400-500.... and who out there is worried about how your clutch looks???? im definatly not!

maybe you can get them used in japan, but most likely not out here. how much would you sell a used one for if you can get your hands on it... im interested. and its 600 for the overhaul you say??

thanks heath

If you get ahold of a used clutch with 2 good plates, you can just order the disks for $300 and have a "new" clutch basically.

Jason, how much are the pilot bearings? I think mine's bad now:(

You can't say the OS Giken or any of the multiple plate clutchs are apples and apples comparison to the single plate clutches like ACT or Bones.

If you see a OS Giken twin plate or Exedy triple plate clutch for say around $1500, it's not exactly triple or double the price as you may think compared to other clutches.

For example, if you buy an ACT clutch and pressure plate, that's all you get for about $500 or so.
Throw in the lightened flywheel and you're easily paying a total of $1k or so.

The multiple plate clutches come with a flywheel since the flywheel has to be manufactured in a way to hold all the clutch discs.

So if you're comparing prices for the clutches, consider also what you get in each package. If you buy Exedy, ORC, OS, etc, then all you really need is the counterweight to install the flywheel.

J

"The multiple plate clutches come with a flywheel since the flywheel has to be manufactured in a way to hold all the clutch discs" <- are you sure this is true????? im kind of skeptical of the flywheel being included.... someone want to confirm? if so what is the weight of the OS twin disk flywheel?

also, are you able to slip a twin disk any more than say an act 4puck? im thinking about if you got stuck on the highway in stop and go traffic with a 500HP FD.... id like to be able to use the car in almost any situation if need be without destroying the clutch.

heath

just a guess but one probably has a sprung hub while the other does not regular being sprung and the extreme not

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/tech...placement.html interesting info on clutches (for a supra i believe, but whatever)

and can anyone answer the q's i posted 2 posts up?

The flywheel IS PART of the assembly that holds the clutch together. The clutch cover and flywheel sandwich the clutch plates together. These parts are typically not interchangeable with other vendors (i.e. Vendor A's clutch discs will not fit Vendor B's flywheel and clutch assembly).

For more info on pricing and specs, do a search on google or hear for triple plate clutches. If you see a picture of the multiple plate clutch kits, you'll see that each one has a custom flywheel to accomodate the clutch disc housing.

Weight varies and you'll need to consider all clutch discs, pressure plate, flywheel, and counterweight when comparing.

You probably won't be able to slip the multiplate clutch unless you get certain clutch disc materials that allow more slipping.

Steve Kan just put the Exedy triple plate on his FD and he tells me the engagement is linear and the pressure isn't too bad. I'm told that the Exedy triple is more streetable than some of the ACT 4-puck configs out there.

Why would you have a 500hp FD in traffic??
*question is meant for thinking, not answering*
Mine is going to see more track time than street.

J