Well, after 2.5 years of remarkable performance, my CM stage 1 clutch has finally given up the ghost. The center section of the disc basically shattered with 4 small cracks around each spring, 1 huge crack, and a spring wedged halfway out. I've been hearing and noticing problems, but was in denial. lol It wasn't till the clutch wouldn't engage that I finally said, "I think I've gotten all I can out of this setup". The spring that is wedged was rubbing against the flywheel (which you could hear and visually see in the pics). The disc itself still held and still has some life left on it. Pressure plate looks fine. I have a spare flywheel already being resurfaced, and the clutch is going to be replaced with a SPEC stage 3 sprung 6 puck. Pics:

 

"give up the ghost" LOL

Reminds me of that IMX/Bizzy Bone song.

 

"Passed away"

He is survived by the flywheel and pressure plate. lol

 

are you happy with how long it's lasted you? why was i only good for 2.5 years in your application?

 

well at least you probably had fun while you had it

 

Very happy at how long it has lasted. I broke it in for about 600 miles city driving back in May of 02. I then sprayed a 75 shot for a short time before going turbo. I then put down 270 whp on the turbo (somewhere in the low 300s now). This clutch was made for "minor bolt ons" according to CM website. They mean I/H/E. lol

It never grabbed hard like a stronger clutch, but it never slipped or chattered.

Jess - Is the clutch good for a daily driver even though it is a 6 puck?

 

man...looks like ur car is strong to destroy a clutch in 2 yrs. mine will die out too...cause i bought an exedy organic..not knowing i was going the turbo route.

 

that is damn good for 2.5 years. i went threw 2 stage 4 clutch master clutch's in 6 months. One of them broke on the center hub and one broke 2 springs out like yours did. Now i have a ats 3 puck unsprung with lighten flywheel and i have had no problems.. knock on wood.

 

I drove Taylor's car (H22PwrdHatch) which has a ACT 6 puck, and I just didn't like it. I am so used to loading the clutch up at the track and a little in city driving. I just didn't like the quick engagement. If you didn't give it enough gas, it would want to stall when engaged. The SPEC stage 3 is meant to hold more power than the clutchmasters stage 1, so I am going to take a shot at it.

 

You definitely got your money out of that setup Scott. Break the new one in nicely and let me know how it feels. I don't see my exedy organic making it past the end of this year.

 

I install a lot of performance clutchs. I would say 75% of the failures are related to the springs. the last 5 I have done (including my personal car)had perfectly good friction surfaces and completely mangled centers. I use an unsprung on my car for this reason.

 

How is an unsprung for daily driving and city traffic?

 

I have a clutchmasters stage 4 clutch in my car and I absolutely love it! It has the stock feel and it grabs great! It grabs right off the floor but that can be worked with once you get the feel for it it drives easy I would give the clutch a

 

Id say it you got your money worth. My ACT xtreme lasted a year if that.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by maxpsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How is an unsprung for daily driving and city traffic?</TD></TR></TABLE> I'd like to know too. Because once i'm boosted (please be sooon, puhleaze) I'm gonna run the stock clutch till it grenades, then i'll be looking for a good long term clutch, at least two years of use. I can't afford to replace clutches every six months.

 

You might want it just to slip and wear out. "Grenade" is a bad thing. That is why they have scatter shields. Scatter shields protect you and the car against mass destruction. I'm gonna give this SPEC stage 3 a chance.

 

CM sucks,I blew apart a stage 5 4puck in 3 runs down the track.CM gets a big

 

I consider myself lucky then.

If sprung clutches have problems with the springs dislodging, then what are the clutch companies doing about them?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by maxpsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How is an unsprung for daily driving and city traffic?</TD></TR></TABLE>

it's pretty abrupt engagment, It took me a few weeks to get really comfortable with it. I have the ACT HDR6 btw. I find it to be a good trade off with the HD pressure palate and the unsprung 6 puck for a street car. It chatters sometimes, and sometimes it looks like I can't drive a stick when I'm in parking lots but I love how it feels banging through the gears

 

I was told having the springs in the 6 puck really help for smooth engagements. But, wouldn't the springs allow flex on the center section of the disk leading to cracking? I'm a little paranoid of the springs coming out again also.

 

man i've seen and heard a lot of bad things happen with clutchmaster clutches

 

You always hear the bad things. It's like nobody takes time to thank companies when they make a quality product that is working well. I took time out of my day to write an email to CM about their clutch not too long ago. I told them my setup, how much power I was putting down, and how long their clutch was lasting. They replied pretty quick (wish I would have saved that email) saying how much they appreciate the email. He went on to say they almost never get emails like that. Bottom line is they make quality products, but like most companies, there is a bad batch.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by maxpsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was told having the springs in the 6 puck really help for smooth engagements. But, wouldn't the springs allow flex on the center section of the disk leading to cracking? I'm a little paranoid of the springs coming out again also.</TD></TR></TABLE>

the springs help engagement soo much...ive felt the difference...my 4 puck is such a pita to drive w/ gals around...unless of course the appreciate cars...which most dont....but sprung is thew way to go

 

Got it in today. It engages sorta smooth, but definately not as rough as a normal 6 puck. Gotta break it in city driving for 500 miles. Still nervous about the springs.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by maxpsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Got it in today. It engages sorta smooth, but definately not as rough as a normal 6 puck. Gotta break it in city driving for 500 miles. Still nervous about the springs.</TD></TR></TABLE>


thats why you dont get sprung clutches... more **** to break and you ahve to break them in... unsprung act 6puck disks own all... slap that **** in and go do a burnout