I took my R on its first trip to the track this saturday and had MAJOR problems with clutch slippage. I warmed up my tires, staged up to the tree, revved up to 3500-4000RPMs and when I let go the clutch all I got was slippage !!! Shifted to 2nd gear and had MORE slippage !! Finally decided to go to 3rd and that's where I got some grip... In the days earlier I noticed my clutch pedal would squeak when I depress it but didn't think much of it. My car has only 9k miles on the odometer and only mild mods; Comptech IceBox, Spoon 2-ply head gasket, AEM underdrive pulleys, AEM sprockets, Mugen thermostat and radiator cap. Timing is at 18 degs. Other than the day at the track, I drive fairly conservatively and avoid burnouts and hard starts so it would make no sense to think that my clutch is trashed already.

I drove my car home and it has shown no more signs of slippage since then but I still have that squeaky sound on my pedal. I am taking the car to the dealer this week to inquire the issue but I wonder if any of you have had this problem.

BTW: Even with the slippage, I was able to pull a 14.90 run at 93.61MPH. Not terribly impressive times but I'm happy This was my first time taking the R to the track.

 

Beat the **** out of your car and the OEM clutch will not last.

9k miles or less, doesn't matter.

Mine **** after about 7500 miles.. but I drive like an *******.
This was an ITR clutch. I have since gone to Clutchmasters Stage 1 and haven't had a problem in over 10k miles. Still bites as hard as the 1st day I had the clutch.

 

mine - the same as Mike's, lasted 8K miles - oh yeah and 2 bottles

 

I agree that driving like you are trying to break the sound barrier all the time will screw up your clutch in no time but that's just my concern; other than the occasional down-shift while cruising the highway and this ONE time at the track, I don't put any stress on my car at all !! And what about the darn squeak ?? What should that tell me ??

All in all, if it comes down to buying a new clutch then so be it. Bring on the ACT or Clutchmasters ...

 

how much is the Clutchmasters Stage 1 by the way? Mine is starting to sqeak and I am just feeling that its gunna go in the near future. I'm at 17k miles so I don't feel toooo bad.

 

It's probably due to the VHT on the track - you're gripping better with the tires and now the weakest link in the chain (your clutch) is slipping.

To me, the clutch is the "fuse" of the drivetrain. If it's slipping (and it's still relatively new) then it's telling you that you are overwhelming the system. If you upgrade to a clutch with a stiffer pressure plate then something else might give instead (like CV joints, axles, transmission). Drag racing IS EXTREMELY harsh on the drivetrain. If you're going to play that game - you have to be aware of the consequences. Honda didn't design their drivetrains for WOT clutch dumps.

You might have also glazed your clutch/flywheel which may be contributing to your inability to hook up at max power.

 

I THINK the Clutchmaster kit is about $300.00, maybe more, maybe less?

I forget. I bought mine over a year ago and it was sitting in my storage unit for months.

But the CM stage 1 is a kick *** street clutch. Easy engagement, lasts long and hits hard. I love mine.

 

My OEM clutch has slipped only once and that was at the drag strip. 6K launches with no wheelspin (on street tires) meant something had to give and it was my clutch.

After it cooled down it was better and after bleeding it a week or so later, it was almost back to new.

fwiw - that was about 34K miles ago and many ProSolo's and Autocrosses later

 

I was getting some slipage friday night so took it to the dealer yesterday, tommorrow I get it back with a new OEM one. Never have once ragged on my car. Never been launched, raced ot auto xed! I don't know why it did this, I was getting some squeeling noises about 3 weeks ago took it to the dealer they told me it was normal and then i started to get a poping sound like a bearing was broken or something. I don't know but I do have friend who has a 2001 and his is doing the same, don't know how well he treats his though.

 

.....damn, I thought mine was bad at 10k miles and slipping at 5k rpms and above!

Well, you should be able to get a warranty itr clutch out of the dealer if it's under 15k miles or so.....

Good luck!

 

I think Acura of North America needs to look into issuing a service bulletin about the Type R clutches for the 00-01 model year. According to Mike K, the 00-01 Type R clutches are made in Ohio (if I remember correctly) while the previous years' was made in Japan. I had my clutch, throw-out bearing, and pressure plate replaced because I was hearing a small clunk everytime I engaged in 1st or 2nd gear. My car at that time only had ~16,000 miles. Now it's at 18,000 miles and the noises are back! WTF. I'm going back to the dealer to get it checked again. What a freakin hassle. I was extra nice to the transmission...just like you, I never raced it and it still craps out. You should hear Floyd's(from this board) story. His is very VERY similar to yours and mine.


[Modified by CPR, 2:45 PM 1/15/2002]

 

Quote:I think Acura of North America needs to look into issuing a service bulletin about the Type R clutches for the 00-01 model year. According to Mike K, the 00-01 Type R clutches are made in Ohio (if I remember correctly) while the previous years' was made in Japan. I had my clutch, throw-out bearing, and pressure plate replaced because I was hearing a small clunk everytime I engaged in 1st or 2nd gear. My car at that time only had ~16,000 miles. Now it's at 18,000 miles and the noises are back! WTF. I'm going back to the dealer to get it checked again. What a freakin hassle. I was extra nice to the transmission...just like you, I never raced it and it still craps out. You should hear Floyd's(from this board) story. His is very VERY similar to yours and mine.


My car hit 16,500 last week! I hope they look into it cause they said that they were going to replace the clutch, hope they replace other parts if need be. I have also heard about clutch problems with the other peoples R's as well.


[Modified by nighthawkR618, 11:51 AM 1/15/2002]

 

stock type r clutches suck .
mine was gone before 7000 miles.

 

Can any of these problems affect other parts of the engine like the crank??

 

Even if that were true, it should last more than 15,000 miles when the car is being driven in a normal operating fashion.

 

25,000 miles.

5 track events (3 more next month)... 3 drag strip runs.

Clutch works just fine.

Will
-who can drive a stick... w/o beating the car to hell

 

Quote: 25,000 miles.
5 track events (3 more next month)... 3 drag strip runs.

Clutch works just fine.

Will
-who can drive a stick... w/o beating the car to hell


I have owned 5 Hondas, 4 of those were manual trans and 3 lasted over 100,000 miles with orig clutch. I don't think this problem has me factored in to the equation at all, I know how to drive a standard and have been for 9 years now. There is something wrong with parts or installation!


[Modified by nighthawkR618, 12:20 PM 1/15/2002]


[Modified by nighthawkR618, 12:21 PM 1/15/2002]

 

I hear ya... not too sure about "weak".

Mine lasted 41k before it gave up the ghost - I never babied it.

 

Easy to fix ... change the WORTHLESS GAWDDAMN FACTORY TRANNY OIL!!!!!!

Put some Synchroshift in, and your fine ....

When I sold the car, it had 35,000 miles on it, and never slipped once. And this was after a full season of feathering the clutch at the strip with bolt-ons, and a full season of 8,000 rpm dumps on slicks ....... go figure!

 

I'm going to try and get my dealer to fic the problem for me as I don't see a clutch going bad so soon. I the worst case, I am looking at an ACT Stage 2 pressure plate and disc for $370 US. Anyone had experience with the ACT ??

 

If it squeaks when you push the pedal down - you may not have anymore lubrication on the release fork and/or slave cylinder push rod....mine squeaked like a big dog & when I opened her up -----NO lube whatsoever - she's quiet now!!

 

Ahhh, I thought maybe my pressure plate was bad. But it sounds like this could be the case. I'm just gunna take it into the dealer first. Otherwise ~$300 doesn't sound bad for a decent street clutch. If I have to replace the stock one I think I'll get the CM stage 1