Ok Here is what im planning, b16 @20psi, ITR flywheel bla bla bla. the only nagging thing is i need to decide on a clutch. the reason i cant decide is because i still want a smooth engagment AND good launches. i know i want it all... ACT has reccomended this AI3-XTSS with their high preformance street disc. the price is like 550$ tho. seems REALLY steep. for the $550 it comes with release bearing, pilot bearing, and alignment tool. they say the clutch will hold over 320lb of torque. so my question is should i bite my lip and spend that much or go with a diffrent brand. any and ALL suggestions are welcome! thanks.


[Modified by KAMiN, 10:40 PM 11/3/2001]

 

I would go with a stage 4 from clutch masters. It comes with all you mention and plus its cheaper. It's only like 420. With ACT the pedal pressure is damm hard. You really get a good work out from pressing the clutch. However CM feels almost stock. Go with CM, your left leg would be happier. Belive me I had both (ACT, CM) and im loving CM right now.

HTH

 

the cm stage 4 is way better and doesn't have as hard of a feel to it. the stage 5 is rougher but also works well.

 

Most people I know with a CM clutch complain about it. I've heard act all the way and clutchnet is a good cheaper option. I have a clutchnet stage 2 but havent install it yet.

 

Everyone I know complained about ACT. I have friends who busted thier trannies becuase of the ACT. Whats more $$, to replace a clutch or a tranny?? What is there to complain about the CM? CM will only not work if you do not break in the clutch. CM requires a break in period of atleast 500 miles, meaning no WOT and no dumping of clutch. If you break it in properly that then it will be a great clutch. I havent got any reviews for clutchnet, so i cant say if its good or bad.

 

ive been running ACT for awhile and have never busted a tranny. their PP are the best but i wouldnt run their 6 puck solid disc thats why im running a 6 puck sprung hub. the sprung hub will break the axles before it breaks the tranny

 

Try the ceramic metallic disc from Exedy. 6 puck with spring is a good choice too.

Go look at http://www.clutchcityonline.com They have excellent prices

 

Well ACT with sprung hub is definitely better then 6 puck solid disc, All my friends had solid 6 puck and thier spider gears just snapped. I guess your leg is stronger then your right leg because you have to really push hard on the clutch pedal.. This sucks in traffic. CM doesnt have that hard of a pedal as compare to CM. IMO CM is better. Im not knocking ACT on how it works but im just not to fond of the hard pedal feel.

 

wow this didnt help at all
same place now everyone is telling me get ths one that one sucks and your all mentioning diffrent clutches!!! damnit!!
oh well. if anyone else has anything PLEASE let me know! thanks to everyone

 

I heard that the CM stage 4 rattles and makes noises??? any truth to that? Also, how streetable is it? What about the CM stage 3? Will I have any problems with the stage three if I had my dream setup of a built b18c at about 1 bar all the time?

 

I put ACTs in all the high horsepower motors that I put together and I haven yet to see one fail. They have so far held everything that I've been able to throw at them in multiple engine and chassis combos. However, I can't speak for the street discs, all I use are the xtreme pressure plates and 4 puck discs.

 

Cm stage 4 doesnt rattle. Very streetable, almost feels liek stock clutch. I have been running with to for about 6 months now and it feels just as good as i first put it on. FYI-funning on 1 bar for the street.

Stage 3 is also good, but i reccomend stage 4 for boost.

HTH


[Modified by ekb18c, 5:58 AM 11/5/2001]

 

If you think a stage 4 feels anything like stock you either got the wrong clutch or you don't know how a stock clutch feels

 

Get the ACT extreme pressure plate with hybrid disc.

 

What i meant was the pedal feel. Meaning the amount of pressure you have to put on the pedal to step on it. Not the way the clutch grabbed.

 

get an automatic tranny! race cars are not easy to drive, clutch pedal is heavy, disc chatters, parking in revers is a bitch etc....

 

all is true except for the clutch pedal being heavy... race clutches are much lighter than say the extreme pp or whatnot

 

"What i meant was the pedal feel. Meaning the amount of pressure you have to put on the pedal to step on it. Not the way the clutch grabbed. "

no, pedal feel is definately far from stock as well


[Modified by Phantom, 12:54 PM 11/5/2001]

 

pedal feels almost stock i said.. its not too far from stock.. Well atleast my stage 4 feels like it. dont know about others. And yes i do have a stage 4. Ahh it doesnt matter no need on to argue about it. blah. just drop it.


[Modified by ekb18c, 6:17 PM 11/5/2001]

 

ACT

 

I would say go with the ACT HD P/PL & 6 Puck Disc! I have seen them hold 420 whp & 400+ ft/lb!

If you need more than that, get the ACT Xtreme P/PL w/ 6 Puck Disc!

 

From one Colin to another, I think you probably do not have a Stage 4 CM, they probably sent you the wrong thing, because that same pressure you are referring to is the same pressure that causes the clamping force when the clutch engages, U cant have a light pedal feel and maximum clamping force. I dont care what the clutch makers tell you. The clutch is hydrolic but it is also requires manual imput from the driver.
I said all that to say this, I have an ACT with a Solid 6 puck clutch disk, My engagement is smooth and feel great, I can actually "ride" the clutch on a hill without any problems, I dont have the familar shudder associated with other clutches. I have been in this business for quite some time now, I have used about every clutch imaginable from CM, to ACT,The Turbo Clutch, Broward Clutch, I have used them all except Clutch Net, and the ACT I am now using is one of the best, if not the best.Considering the amount of power it holds.

 

dont get me wrong ACT is very good clutch. The pedal feel of a ACT is much stiffer then the pedal feel of CM. Thats all im trying to say. Is the CM stiffer then a stock? Yes offcourse it is. But CM compared to ACT feels like stock. Thats what i meant to say. OH wells. Then again i havent driven a stock clutch in 4 years so i would know how stock feels like anymore.. hahahhah

 

Everybody else is putting in there two pennies, so will I.

1. I have the ACT Heavy duty and street disc on my CRX. The pedal feel is a little harder, but that's what I expect. The disc is twice as thick as stock. The PP can hold 220 ft-lbs which is double stock.
2. The Clutchmasters equivalent (3 i think) was twice as expensive as the ACT. Every comparision I have seen shows the ACT being cheaper for the equivalent holding power.
3. Stay away from any clutch disc with the word "Puck" in it. You will not get smooth engagement and should be race only.
4. You will want a street disc no matter which brand you go with if you want to drive it on the street, the PP is really what you are buying. To compare PP just look at the holding torque. Only buy as much as you need, the more holding torque you buy the HARDER the pedal will be.

Looking at what you will be boosting too, get the Xtreme plate and street disc. It may slip a little on engagement, but your drivetrain will thank you for that. You don't need a race disc unless you judge the age of you drivetrain by how many passes it has done. ie race car only.

Get a price quote here: http://www.nipponpower.com for ACT. Mine was dirt cheap.

Good luck
Randy

BTW- I have heard bad things about both Clutchmasters and ACT, so you have to judge for yourself. Just remember, judge apples-to-apples.

 

the act had a problem with the pressure plate exploding at extreme amounts of torque. They fixed that by going to all ductile iron in there pressure plates. Dirk is pretty good guy at ACT.

He replaced the one that shattered on my car but i sold it off and got the ultimate cluch ofcourse which is the Tilton carbon clutch you can read more about it in the latest issues of Turbo mag.