Best clutch? [Archive]

2002ws6_mn6

02-26-2004, 03:23 PM

Eboggs. wrote up a great review for his Masters clutch..
Hopefully he can tell you more about it cause based on his review that will be my next clutch when the time comes.. Handles his TT's and feels stock..

eboggs_jkvl

02-26-2004, 06:04 PM

Cliff notes:

Personal Experience:
RAM no slip, had chatter
CARTEK no slip, had chatter
ClutchMaster Stage 3 No slip, no chatter, perfect

Reported by others:
SPEC 3 No slip but chatter on most setups. Improvement toward less chatter has been reported but I'm still reading and the jury is still out.
McLeod twins. No slip. Not sure about the chatter

The rest.... still working on it.

The CM seems to handle the twins quite nicely.

E:)

tomSS99

03-01-2004, 12:54 AM

spec stage three...chattered on for about 300 miles....now its F-great.... :D

Eugenio_SS

03-01-2004, 04:56 AM

no probelms with my McLeod twin plate.

MeentSS02

03-01-2004, 05:00 AM

My advice:

Find someone with a decent clutch setup, and see if they'll let you drive their car. I had heard that the Spec III has a "nearly stock" feel to it, which I now know is complete crap. I drove a T/A this weekend with a Spec III, McLeod adjustable master and new slave, and damn. That thing is a bitch to push in, but grabs like a mofo.

I was thinking about a Spec III for my setup, but I think I'll go with a Spec II when that time comes instead just because of that little test drive. It's good to have friends that will let you drive their babies...

eboggs_jkvl

03-01-2004, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by MeentSS02
My advice:

Find someone with a decent clutch setup, and see if they'll let you drive their car. I had heard that the Spec III has a "nearly stock" feel to it, which I now know is complete crap. I drove a T/A this weekend with a Spec III, McLeod adjustable master and new slave, and damn. That thing is a bitch to push in, but grabs like a mofo.

I was thinking about a Spec III for my setup, but I think I'll go with a Spec II when that time comes instead just because of that little test drive. It's good to have friends that will let you drive their babies...

Come on over, it's only 5 hours. I'll let you drive mine. I bet you'll change your mind about which clutch you pick. :p

E:)

MeentSS02

03-01-2004, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by eboggs_jkvl
Come on over, it's only 5 hours. I'll let you drive mine. I bet you'll change your mind about which clutch you pick. :p

E:)

I bet I'll change my mind on just how far I want to go with my car too...might not be the best idea to spoil me like that.

eboggs_jkvl

03-01-2004, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by MeentSS02
I bet I'll change my mind on just how far I want to go with my car too...might not be the best idea to spoil me like that.

:rotfl:

Good point! :D

E:)

LS1nut

03-01-2004, 03:37 PM

Ive had great success with my centerforce dual friction. Ive heard many people talk bad about them, but mine has no slip, and very minor chatter.

Im very pleased with it on the street, and last year we made some good runs with it at the track.

the true test will be in two weeks after my 12 bolt is installed and we run it with ET streets hooking hard.

if it holds then, I will be very pleased.

FastAl

03-01-2004, 03:47 PM

Spec Stage 3 Kevlar clutch for me was utter crap, of course I remember hearing they don't even offer the Kevlar anymore.
McCleoud Single disc was pretty good, handled 20-30 6500 rpm launches at the track. Good feel very little chatter.
Ram 630 disc in the car right now, no track time, but holds well and very little chatter.

02TxCamaroSS

03-01-2004, 04:29 PM

What's the price of the ClutchMaster and who sells them? It is a good daily driver with a stock z06 clutch feel you said?

eboggs_jkvl

03-01-2004, 04:43 PM

:sillyme: Clutchmaster is the name at http://www.clutchmasters.com/shop/

The stage 3 is $800+ It has pilot bearing, slave, disc and PP.

E:)

02TxCamaroSS

03-01-2004, 06:17 PM

Is it a on/off clutch or is it a good daily driver that is not too hard? Where is the write up that they are talking about?

Thanks again!
Jason

eboggs_jkvl

03-01-2004, 06:33 PM

The gory details were on the "other" site. I cleaned off my posts on there when Brad tried to trash my status in the middle of the night.

The clutch is so close to stock pedal pressure it's scary. I can engage the clutch without any gas pedal and it will just smoothly engage and start moving the car at idle. There is NO chatter. It clamps my power and has yet to fail me under any conditions.

It is NOT an ON/OFF clutch.

E:)

02TxCamaroSS

03-01-2004, 06:35 PM

Great, thanks for your help and insight into this!! Do you know if there is any advantage to going to the stage IV since they are the same price?

eboggs_jkvl

03-01-2004, 07:01 PM

Stage 4 is going to the On/off mode. You got more than 700 ft lbs of torque that you need handled? If not, the 3 will be fine.

E:)

MeentSS02

03-01-2004, 07:18 PM

Hell, I thought the Stage III I drove was pretty on/off compared to what I'm used to. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't want it in traffic.

eboggs_jkvl

03-01-2004, 07:33 PM

CLUTCHMASTERS STAGE 3 not the Spec 3 which is really close to on/off.

Keep them straight. Both are stage 3 but ClutchMasters is the smooth one! :p

I am not endorsing the Spec 3. I AM endorsing the ClutchMasters Stage 3.

E:)

MeentSS02

03-01-2004, 08:26 PM

Originally posted by eboggs_jkvl
CLUTCHMASTERS STAGE 3 not the Spec 3 which is really close to on/off.

Keep them straight. Both are stage 3 but ClutchMasters is the smooth one! :p

I am not endorsing the Spec 3. I AM endorsing the ClutchMasters Stage 3.

E:)

Good point...sorry for the confusion.

thechef

03-01-2004, 09:03 PM

ok first if you drove a car with a SPEC 3 and the pedal was hard to push down there is something wrong with the set up maybe it is the adjustable master i dont know

SPEC does not require a adjustable master

we have sold and installed countless numbers of SPEC 3 clutches the old design had some chatter untill it broke in but they GRAB LIKE NO OTHER:cool:
the new stage 3 X-PAD has greatly reduced any chatter during break in if there is any at all
for the price and holding power you cant beat the SPEC 3 X-PAD

Pros for the SPEC 3 X-PAD
1 price about half of the clutch masters,cartek,mcleod
2 doesnt require a adjustable master
3 has stock pedal feel

Cons
1. can chatter during break in period

i have 30k miles on my SPEC 3 and make 400rwhp

MeentSS02

03-01-2004, 09:09 PM

Originally posted by thechef
ok first if you drove a car with a SPEC 3 and the pedal was hard to push down there is something wrong with the set up maybe it is the adjustable master i dont know

SPEC does not require a adjustable master

we have sold and installed countless numbers of SPEC 3 clutches the old design had some chatter untill it broke in but they GRAB LIKE NO OTHER:cool:
the new stage 3 X-PAD has greatly reduced any chatter during break in if there is any at all
for the price and holding power you cant beat the SPEC 3 X-PAD

Pros for the SPEC 3 X-PAD
1 price about half of the clutch masters,cartek,mcleod
2 doesnt require a adjustable master
3 has stock pedal feel

Cons
1. can chatter during break in period

i have 30k miles on my SPEC 3 and make 400rwhp

Well, I can only base this on the one car I drove, but damn. That pedal was HARD.

thechef

03-01-2004, 09:15 PM

SPEC clutches have a stock pedal feel if set up properly

eboggs_jkvl

03-01-2004, 09:26 PM

Originally posted by thechef
...if set up properly

This MAY have a lot to do with a lot of situations with the clutch. Shim, no shim, Replace the pilot bearing, correct alignment on installation. Tons of things to consider on the clutch.

E:)

02TxCamaroSS

03-01-2004, 11:25 PM

but the Spec Stage III is a on/off clutch right?

thechef

03-02-2004, 01:08 AM

you learn to drive it with a quick release

i can slip mine

MIGHTYMOUSE

03-02-2004, 01:24 AM

spec s4 ceramic solid hub currently in the car (since 2002)
spec s4i currently 'on deck'

havent had a bit of a problem with the s4 to this point, my previous s3 chattered a touch and lasted about 15k miles (in 2001)

mcleod master is what made it hard to push, and again it is unnecessary to replace (properly working)hydraulics at all when buying a spec clutch.

Mike K

03-02-2004, 07:12 AM

Hey Elmer do you think that the clutchmaster would be able to hold a 409 ci with close to 500 rwhp and 500 rwtq with a 150 shot of nitrous on top of that?

Also did you have to shim your clutch at all or just bolt it on? I currently have a centerforce that has given me no problems and a billet flywheel that came with the centerforce. I assume with the clutch master I could use the flywheel still but if I turn it will I have to shim it?

Sally 5.0!

03-02-2004, 08:28 AM

Thanks for the info guys. :yup::cool:

396LT4

03-22-2004, 06:29 PM

Originally posted by Eugenio_SS
no probelms with my McLeod twin plate.

Me too, with 405 RWHP. :D

eboggs_jkvl

03-22-2004, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by Mike K
Hey Elmer do you think that the clutchmaster would be able to hold a 409 ci with close to 500 rwhp and 500 rwtq with a 150 shot of nitrous on top of that?

Also did you have to shim your clutch at all or just bolt it on? I currently have a centerforce that has given me no problems and a billet flywheel that came with the centerforce. I assume with the clutch master I could use the flywheel still but if I turn it will I have to shim it?

I would call and ask. There is a stage 4 that they have but I don't know how smooth that is. You have a lot of power and high torque. I think the S3 goes to 600 torque but I can't remember. I think you exceed the S3 specs.

E:)