Clutch Options?

[46n2]

Hi,

I need to get a new clutch and need help figuring out which is best for me

It's to find a new home behind an RB20 with near enough to 200rwkw. It will mainly be street driven, with a stint at the track (circuit) here and there. I tend to give the clutch a kick if i'm out of the power band and need to go in a hurry while cruising, and I currently have an organic faced exedy with a 2800lb pressure plate (so a heavy pedal doesn't bother me).

So basically I want something that doesn't sacrifice too much driveability, and will go the distance...

Also needs to be on a budget, so I think a Jim Berry is out of the question.

I've been looking at the Exedy clutches sold by forum traders,either the Organic faced clutch, or a cushioned button clutch.

How 'bitey' are the exedy cushioned button clutches? I've read through the drivetrain section and found a few conflicting reports (some say OK, others say difficult to master). The 'bite' wouldn't bother me so much, but i won't be the only one driving the car, so i'm looking for a compromise.

What other brands would be suitable for around $450

Thanks in advance,

Michael

[rubzy]

I've got a cushion button put in my 33 towards the end of last year i think, drives just as fine if you ask me, seems a bit lighter though. Had a organic clutch in it before the cushion button but something broke and wanted something better and the cushion button was the next thing to get otherwise i would have been going for a twin plate or even triple plate clutch but my mechanic told me it would have been overkill. Think it might have been about $400 something, can't remember at the moment. Would have to check my receipts. From what i was told a cushion button is better than an organic clutch and then better than that is a twin plate. Choice is up to you...

[shanef]

i've used 2 excedy brass buttons and both were a bitch to drive, was either on or if and if u tried to slip it u'd carve its life span dramatically!

jim berry does a cheaper option aswell. give him a ring and also NPC a ring and see what they can do for you.

[skylinecouple]

Just don`t go ceramic.Shudder on take up.Near impossible to reverse up a hill without smoking it so it doesn`t shudder the car to death.I should have got the moly flywheel to.

[46n2]

Thanks for the replies guys

Big help so far. So from what you guys have said it seems that the ceramic button is not for me.

I'll call Jim tomorrow and see what he can offer in my price range

Mick...

[46n2]

oh and i've looked at the lightened flywheels, but for an outlay of $400-$500 it doesnt look like i'll be going that avenue right now. I'm hoping to pick up a spare (stock ) flywheel and have it machined and ready so I can do the swap over a weekend.

[Rekin]

Keep us updated about the JB clutch. As im currently looking for a clutch with same specs are yours

[shanef]

oh and i've looked at the lightened flywheels, but for an outlay of $400-$500 it doesnt look like i'll be going that avenue right now. I'm hoping to pick up a spare (stock ) flywheel and have it machined and ready so I can do the swap over a weekend.

i have one here all machined up. send me a PM

also when u speak to jim, tell him shane with the gtr who he's doing the sachs clutch for put u onto him

[46n2]

sweet will do...

I'll take a long lunch break tomorrow to fit in the call to jim lol j/k (i hope ).

Will let you know what happens

-M

[46n2]

Waiting for a call back from Jim...

[46n2]

Just got off the phone to Jim...35-40 mins great guy to talk to, really does know his stuff.

Shane your flywheel is a week away

The best option for me will wind up roughly double my budget, but the step below may be up to the task for a little (few hundred) over budget (though the lesser one wasn't his recommendation). Gave me a lot of info to proccess.

He also suggested that one major brand of clutches had a "dud" diaphram.

anyway...a lot to think about

[shanef]

Just got off the phone to Jim...35-40 mins great guy to talk to, really does know his stuff.

Shane your flywheel is a week away

The best option for me will wind up roughly double my budget, but the step below may be up to the task for a little (few hundred) over budget (though the lesser one wasn't his recommendation). Gave me a lot of info to proccess.

He also suggested that one major brand of clutches had a "dud" diaphram.

anyway...a lot to think about

he certainly does, and even if u dont buy his gear, u come away with some great info to think about and to help you make ur decision

haha thanks for that, saves me ringing him on monday

[Rekin]

lol spill all the info!! i want prices + details

[(B1) MR_fanny]

i probs would have gone JB if he were in melb. i ended up getting an exedy cushion button with lightened flywheel 3 weeks ago. the drive home from the shop was interesting. would bite like a mofo. bunny hopped it 90% of the time i took off. it seems to have bedded itself in now and drives almost like my old standard clutch just a tad heavier. it has developed this slight rattle down low in the rev range in 1st and sometimes 2nd for a sec. i think it could be the lightened flywheel or my dodgy short shifter. anyone else got this problem.

so are you going with the JB clutch? and which brand has the dud clutch?? not exedy i hope...ha.

[46n2]

I've decided to go for a cheap & nasty clutch for now to get me back on the road (exedy Organic HD).

My car's been off the road for long enough though. The modified Exedy I've got in there now lasted me ~4yrs @ stockish power, so hopefully a new one will last at least long enough without abuse to get the engine project off the ground (fingers crossed )

basically I could buy 2 cheap exedy clutches for the price of one of Jim's well-regarded products, and though the quality may not be comparable, you can't ALWAYS have the best of everything!

If the new motor gets off the ground, i might look at one of Jim's clutches then

Thanks for all your help!

[Trav33]

I found out on the dyno today that my clutch is about to die...

How much for a Exedy Organic HD?

[R33LIN]

Hi,

I need to get a new clutch and need help figuring out which is best for me

It's to find a new home behind an RB20 with near enough to 200rwkw. It will mainly be street driven, with a stint at the track (circuit) here and there. I tend to give the clutch a kick if i'm out of the power band and need to go in a hurry while cruising, and I currently have an organic faced exedy with a 2800lb pressure plate (so a heavy pedal doesn't bother me).

So basically I want something that doesn't sacrifice too much driveability, and will go the distance...

Also needs to be on a budget, so I think a Jim Berry is out of the question.

I've been looking at the Exedy clutches sold by forum traders,either the Organic faced clutch, or a cushioned button clutch.

How 'bitey' are the exedy cushioned button clutches? I've read through the drivetrain section and found a few conflicting reports (some say OK, others say difficult to master). The 'bite' wouldn't bother me so much, but i won't be the only one driving the car, so i'm looking for a compromise.

What other brands would be suitable for around $450

Thanks in advance,

Michael

i got an xtreme cushion button clutch for 500bucks and was told by the mechanic and the clutch place that they can take upto 250rwkw, good for street and the occassional spirited drive, drag, drift etc...

so far the clutch is going well..highly recommended

imo, changing the clutch over is a very labour intensive job if you need to get it done professionally then i would suggest go for a good clutch as there is no point getting an "ok" clutch when its going to cost u around 300-350 bucks for the labour. i read above u can do it urself so that shouldnt be a problem. imo i just think get the clutch done right the first time with the clutch u want. no point getting a clutch that isnt up for your power level.

just my two cents!

i probs would have gone JB if he were in melb. i ended up getting an exedy cushion button with lightened flywheel 3 weeks ago. the drive home from the shop was interesting. would bite like a mofo. bunny hopped it 90% of the time i took off. it seems to have bedded itself in now and drives almost like my old standard clutch just a tad heavier. it has developed this slight rattle down low in the rev range in 1st and sometimes 2nd for a sec. i think it could be the lightened flywheel or my dodgy short shifter. anyone else got this problem.

so are you going with the JB clutch? and which brand has the dud clutch?? not exedy i hope...ha.

hey mate,

when i got my cushion button done, the clutch showed the same symptoms as u. it was very bitey and needed it to be slipped it at around 1500-2000rpm during take off for smooth take off. now after 10,000 or so kms it has bedded itself now. i think the rattle down low is a common thing for heavy duty clutches as ive been told by a mechanic its just the clamping and unclamping of the heavier pressure plate. though i dont tend to hear the rattling, clicking noises when i change gear in a specific rev range...only when its down low.

cheers!

Sorry for the long post

[(B1) MR_fanny]

yeah its only really down low in first gear and sometime second that i get the rattle. once its off its sweet as. i hope its what you say it is..lol. spent enough $$ already on it..ha

[femno]

now after 10,000 or so kms it has bedded itself now.

wow....10,000kms? Ive got an exedy 6puck and its shudders like all hell anything under 2k, so it might get better further down the track? as ive only done 6,000kms odd so far...

But then again ive been told theyre sposed to do it? Because theyre meant for high rpm launches etc..

[46n2]

i got an xtreme cushion button clutch for 500bucks and was told by the mechanic and the clutch place that they can take upto 250rwkw, good for street and the occassional spirited drive, drag, drift etc...

so far the clutch is going well..highly recommended

imo, changing the clutch over is a very labour intensive job if you need to get it done professionally then i would suggest go for a good clutch as there is no point getting an "ok" clutch when its going to cost u around 300-350 bucks for the labour. i read above u can do it urself so that shouldnt be a problem. imo i just think get the clutch done right the first time with the clutch u want. no point getting a clutch that isnt up for your power level.

just my two cents!

hey mate,

when i got my cushion button done, the clutch showed the same symptoms as u. it was very bitey and needed it to be slipped it at around 1500-2000rpm during take off for smooth take off. now after 10,000 or so kms it has bedded itself now. i think the rattle down low is a common thing for heavy duty clutches as ive been told by a mechanic its just the clamping and unclamping of the heavier pressure plate. though i dont tend to hear the rattling, clicking noises when i change gear in a specific rev range...only when its down low.

cheers!

Sorry for the long post

I'm going to be installing it myself, so doubling up on labour at a later date doesn't bother me. Initially I was considering a button clutch, but decided I want to away from it for driveability reasons. Jim suggested that if I won't be launching the car, be it at the drags or the track, I shouldn't need a button clutch and the organic should be sufficient (that was before I mentioned that i hope to have more power in 12+ mths).

So for Exedy's Claims I think the Organic HD will be sufficient for my car's current power level, so long as I don't abuse/slip it.

So ultimately it will probably mean that I'll have to buy a new clutch before a new HD Organic one wears out, but it does mean that I'll have my car back on the road sooner rather than later