BABY NSX

Well it would appear that after 7 years of service my OE clutch has decided to call it a day. The symptoms began early yesterday when I noticed that it was getting difficult shifting between 3rd and 4th gears, I initially though that my syncros were going. Then I noticed that shifting into other gears was not so smooth. These symptoms quickly got worse, it wasn’t long before I was grinding gears or simply not able to shift; However, when the car was stopped (engine running) I was able to go through the gears without problems. This led me to believe that the transmission must be turning to junk.

Then I noticed that the clutch was making a slight scratching noise when I approached its friction point. As the above symptoms progressed the friction point also moved almost entirely to the end point of the clutch pedal travel (i.e. the clutch would not disengage until the pedal was nearly completely pressed). The scratching noise has also gotten much worse and the engagement feel has gone to the crapper. The clutch itself actually still grabs strong…

So it looks like a new clutch is on my shopping list. I of course turned to Honda-Tech and the information vaults to see what my best options where. I was a little disappointed with what I came up with so I thought I would ask my questions directly.

1 – I have a comptech aluminum flywheel; does anyone have any experience resurfacing these?
2 – I’ve removed my tranny before using the complete instructions in the Honda shop manual, are there any tricks which speed up the process?
3 – Clutch recommendations… For a car that does still live on the streets but plays on the tracks regularly. I don’t plan on ever making more then 200WHP so I don’t need a monster clutch. Here’s what I’m thinking so far:

- ACT Extreme Performance Clutch Kit – seems like this has more clamping force then I need.

- ACT Extreme Heavy Duty Performance Clutch Kit – seems to be a good replacement for the stock unit.

- Exedy Sport Organic Clutch Kit (Stage 1) – The cheapest option which appears to be a good upgrade from OE.

- Exedy Sport Cerametallic Clutch Kit (Stage 2) – A spring loaded 3 puck clutch which right now is the most attractive option. I’d really like to hear some feedback on this one.

- Clutchmatsters FX200, FX300, and FX400: These clutches all seem to be good options; the FX400 6 puck clutch looks very attractive. The FX300 is available locally and looks like a very streetable clutch… anyone using it?

- Other options???

Thanks,
Doug

Chris93Si

ATS carbon Or Kengs will tell you OS Giken carbon

I have the Exedy stage 1 and haven't had any problems w/ it, about 10k miles on it now.

Chris F

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BABY NSX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well it would appear that after 7 years of service my OE clutch has decided to call it a day. </TD></TR></TABLE>
I'm not sure why you'd be looking at another clutch, if this one has worked for 7 years? Go OEM!

-Chris

kepani

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris93Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have the Exedy stage 1 and haven't had any problems w/ it, about 10k miles on it now.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i'd recommend this as well. i've had mine for about 10k also without a hiccup. it's an excellent oem replacement and it has a little stiffer feel.

kepani

BABY NSX

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm not sure why you'd be looking at another clutch, if this one has worked for 7 years? Go OEM!

-Chris</TD></TR></TABLE>

While agree completely with your point, I was hopping that if I went with a clutch that had less weight it might make for smother shifting (i.e. easier on the sincros); that would be my primary reason for not going OE this time.

Bradstard

I've got an old Clutchmasters Stage 3 (FX300 today) that I've been running for about 20,000 miles. I kept this clutch when I did my big motor build and it's held up fine. I've got about 3,000 total miles on the new engine build and about half of those are track miles. So far so good

Educator

I had an ACT SS clutch for 20,000 miles and the pressure plate took a dump and went back to OEM.

I'd just get another OEM clutch/PP.

Kengs

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris93Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ATS carbon Or Kengs will tell you OS Giken carbon
</TD></TR></TABLE>

OS &gt; ATS

My friend DC5RK20A in Okinawa has a single plate carbon clutch (ORC), and says it is very easy to live with

But for your near stock application, I think you should look at the AP Racing Formula clutch; i think it's probably the best organic face clutch available - you can see the difference in the clutch disk

DC231_01

I just went with a Exedy Stage 2 Thick Matallic, and it's the best damn clutch I've ever ran. It chatters a lil' if you downshift/launch like a girl, but the pedal pressure is about twice as what it is stock but IMO it's the best $400 upgrade I've ever bought.

I'd deffinately say a matallic clutch if your planning any future upgrades that are going to require over 30% more clamping load. Whether or not it's a "Exedy" is your decision, but I've ran ACT, Centerforce, and a ATS package before and Exedy is by far top shelf.

You also said that you wanted a clutch that makes your car shift better? If you upgrade a clutch it should tighten up everything and make shifting a bit notchy. I think it actually provides a more accurate shift and the feel of a precise engagement. So I'm not exactly sure what your talking about. Maybe try a higher guality short shifter.

In other words the Exedy Stg. 2 is like this: Sorta harsh on engagement, but this is only if your a crap driver, and wear a skirt. Pedal feel is twice that of stock, but very pleasent and not a total work out for you calf's. Shifts are by far more notchy and precise, making you smile everytime you shift and your last name turn into andretti. Traffic is "do-able" not the best, but not a major pain. GREAT IMO!


Modified by DC231_01 at 11:06 AM 7/1/2006

RagingAngel

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BABY NSX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

1 – I have a comptech aluminum flywheel; does anyone have any experience resurfacing these?

- Exedy Sport Cerametallic Clutch Kit (Stage 2) – A spring loaded 3 puck clutch which right now is the most attractive option. I’d really like to hear some feedback on this one.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

If the bolt pattern on the flywheel is the same as the Fidanza flywheel, you can get the replacement friction disc for as little as $45.00usd shipped:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1640660

Otherwise you will have to contact Comptech and see how much their replacements costs.

I really do not recommend the Xtreme pressure plates from ACT as it's a nice way to cause fatigue on track. It was a great clutch when we used it for drag racing and coupled with their S-Organic disc, the engagement was smooth enough for daily driving, but damn the pedal pressure.

Their HD pressure plate is very livable however.

If you daily drive your car, the Exedy 3 puck may not be advised simply because the friction material is very thin and will wear rather quickly if you do a lot of stop and go. But if it's more your weekend fun car, you might like it very much simply because the disc is very light and makes for awesome engagement while taking some load off your syncros. Wai is using it in the SpoOm car. It might also take some getting used to since the engagement can be rather abrupt - though it's nothing violent.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris93Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ATS carbon </TD></TR></TABLE>

Prospec 1300kg fTW!!...I hope to try this someday very soon and give some feedback to the community. The only other person who I know who has this clutch is Imola-DC2 and IIRC zygspeed used it before his car was taken from him

88 rex

I have ACT HDSS and haven't had any problems yet. The feel is great, and there have been no issues on a DD on my application.

B/W all the brands out there, I would say all will work. Some prefer brand x over y and someone else will prefer the opposite. I'd find whichever is cheaper and go from there.

DC231_01

Thin? LOL. My Stg. 2 looked like a damn 3 puck brake pad! You sure your not talking about the Thin Stg. 2 and not the Thick?

RagingAngel

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DC231_01 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thin? LOL. My Stg. 2 looked like a damn 3 puck brake pad! You sure your not talking about the Thin Stg. 2 and not the Thick? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I wasn't aware you could order two variations of this disc.... I stand corrected

I just held what I thought was the only version and I was thinking whoa.... this is not going to last...and sure enough it didn't....only 1.5yrs and unfortunately 95% of the wear was caused by lots of stop and go.

Good info.

DC231_01

It's cool man, thanks for the props. I think that the Thin Stage 2 is a solid hub also right, because of the lighten hole cuts in the disk itself?? BTW it's alot thinner, in which you where deffinately right about it not lasting long.

94rs-turbo

iTrader: (6)

act street strip disk and exteme pressure plate it what i use daily

dlxcupid

I've stayed with the Clutchmasters FX300 twice with the TODA Flywheel. First one on my Turbo LS and now on my 01 ITR. Loved that setup. Very streetable and very track-worthy. Pedal feels just like stock but grabs alot earlier vs. half point. Good Luck on your decision.

Aquafina

iTrader: (3)

Action Clutch 1MD clutch grabs hard and feels like stock when you're not slamming gears. Good price for Expo peeps too... I can do better on Action Clutches than you can do for Exedy clutches on ebay...

RCautoworks

I run act on all my cars, never once ever had an issue with them.

ProjektR

Exedy spung 3 puck. Using it in my B-swapped Civic. Very streetable. I kinda wanted to try the stage 1 though on my ITR when it's time... just wanted to see if it gets closer to stock feeling with stage 1.

96ls

i just put the exedy organic stage 1 clutch kit with a 7.5pound fidanza flywheel in my civic si. i love it. the pedal feels very close to stock, but it grabs considerably harder.

Tweakmeister

The Comptech flywheel is great.

As for the clutch...in my experience (and I'm only a fraction of a percent of all users), the Exedy made OEM Clutch is not very well designed. It sounds like the disk broke (probably right around the springs), which has happened a few times as documented on here.

I'm currently running the Kevlar Action 1KS. It's a strong clutch with better engineering in terms of the amount of metal they use (especially around the springs and pressure plate). The kevlar will literally last forever too.

The downside to the 1KS is in the clamping force...it holds very well, but the initial bite isn't as rough (for instance, I can no longer chirp second gear).

Since seeing a couple of Exedy designed clutches fail, I'm a bit turned off by them (even if they are the OEM).

Haleiwa-Brando

If this is your DD, why not keep the OEM flywheel in there?

This is simply my opinion, but now that I don't track my car anymore, I find the aftermarket flywheel to be irritating.

MK Ultra

I've got close to 90,000 miles on my ACT HD/SS setup with no trouble at all.

It's not the only good clutch out there, but it is entirely usable on the street, grabs smoothly, offers good pedal feel, has more clamping force than I need, and is reasonably priced.

Larkin W.

I'v been running ACT Xtreme pressure plate with Street Strip clutch for 52,000 miles without issue. My stock clutch only lasted 45,000 miles soo I'm happy.

I also am running a Fidanza flywheel. Cheaper than most flywheels and just as effective

BABY NSX

WOW! this thread has help me out alot... now I don't know which one to chose

I just got back from the cottage and removed my tranny... didn't know about the 12-point bolts so I can't remove the clutch until tomorrow.

Thanks for the great feedback guys!

Doug