[STIstud2k7]

I searched for information on exedy and ACT clutch kits but I can't seem to find anything. I need a clutch that is good for daily driving, launch, grabs quicker, helps the car go faster in power. Also a clutch that will be able to hold over 400 whp. Later on, I am deciding to go upgraded turbo with a GT30r. Which clutch do you guys recommend me getting? Thanks.

[jph]

Originally Posted by STIstud2k7

I searched for information on exedy and ACT clutch kits but I can't seem to find anything. I need a clutch that is good for daily driving, launch, grabs quicker, helps the car go faster in power. Also a clutch that will be able to hold over 400 whp. Later on, I am deciding to go upgraded turbo with a GT30r. Which clutch do you guys recommend me getting? Thanks.

how much torque? clutches are rated in torque, not horsepower.


J.

[ChristianCGM]

^If the OP were to have a gt30r then he would probably be making about the same wheel torque as he is whp. Exedy does not have a clutch that will match up well with you car unless you really like to throw money into a camp fires. Either the ACT HDSS or the ACT XTSS, the XTSS holds 566 ft/lbs and the HDSS holds 516 ft/lbs at the flywheel, so either one will be a good choice and a great match with your power.

The only Exedy clutches that seem to be worth it are the twin and triple plate clutches. However, they are a waste of time because you spend $1500-2500 on the kit for the same performance and driveability of a sprung ACT or RPS 6-puck clutch with are both ~$700. There is an application for them but there are really only a handful of people that actually really need a multi-plate clutch....those people know who they are and know that Tilton is a better clutch option at that point.

[white04sti]

ACT HDSS ftw i love mine

[STIstud2k7]

Originally Posted by jph

how much torque? clutches are rated in torque, not horsepower.


J.

Right now my current mods are

full exhaust
turbo xs short ram
fuel pump
and tune!

I don't know how much torque I am making right now b/c I have never taken my car to a dyno. I wanted a clutch that will work for me now and till i get these mods in

turbo xs fmic
850cc fuel injectors
gt30r turbo kit


If the ACT HDSS or ACT XTSS clutch kit works, how much will I get them for?

[XxSCAxX]

im running a 30r and am probably going to go with the ACT street clutch. not going to be going over 515wtq, least anytime soon.

i'd keep your stock clutch and buy a clutch when you need it. even with my 30r right now my clutch is fine. only am changing it though since im adding meth and a header.

[FlyingPerformance]

Originally Posted by STIstud2k7

If the ACT HDSS or ACT XTSS clutch kit works, how much will I get them for?

Sent you a PM.

[WideOpen&Sideways]

Dakin clutch kits (Exedy) are actually contracted by many OEM manufacturers for use on production cars. They are OEM quality clutches, and have a great reputation as a reliable product.

FWIW, I have used three aftermarket clutch kits in my life. One from Clutch Masters (FX200), one from Exedy (Stage 1 organic), and one from ACT ( 6 Puck sprung race disk + ACT pressure Plate). Out of the 3, the Exedy absolutely outclassed the others. The ACT was actually the worst. It was a very temperamental clutch, chattered, and ended up scoring my flywheel. I honestly felt as if I had installed a piece of plywood in place of my clutch. Worst drivetrain experience of my life. It might be good for a drag race, but for circuit racing, absolutely trash. I would never recommend ACT to anyone.

Exedy = OEM quality.

Also, just to note, I've only tried these on a Type R, so the ACT clutches for the STI will be different. However, I doubt the quality is any better.

[FlyingPerformance]

You are trying to compare a stage 1 street clutch(exedy) designed for street driving with light pedal pressure and smooth engagement with a puck clutch designed to hold lots of power and have quick very harsh engagement. Those two arent even in the same class. Your comparing apples to oranges here. It would only be fair to compare a puck Exedy with the puck ACT or a disc Exedy with a disc ACT. Not saying Exedy doesnt make a damn fine clutch, they do, but your argument doesnt work in this case. Your also not comparing them to the clutch on an STI.

[WideOpen&Sideways]

Originally Posted by FlyingPerformance

You are trying to compare a stage 1 street clutch(exedy) designed for street driving with light pedal pressure and smooth engagement with a puck clutch designed to hold lots of power and have quick very harsh engagement. Those two arent even in the same class. Your comparing apples to oranges here. It would only be fair to compare a puck Exedy with the puck ACT or a disc Exedy with a disc ACT. Not saying Exedy doesnt make a damn fine clutch, they do, but your argument doesnt work in this case. Your also not comparing them to the clutch on an STI.

Understood, and not to be disrespectful, but that's why I put FWIW (For What it's worth) before my explanation

However, having seen what the ACT unit looked like after 8000 miles, and what it did to my flywheel, I think my argument of build quality is relevant to this discussion. To think, that a puck clutch designed to hold power and last under harsh driving conditions (such as circuit racing, which is all my car did), didn't even hold a candle to the Exedy counterpart which is basically an OEM replacement clutch with a bit more grab. I was shocked. Not only did the Exedy have a more positive engagement (we don't launch on the circuit so this is always on the up/downshift at redline), lasted much longer under stress, but it also hasn't reeked havoc to other parts of the drivetrain. Not to mention, the Exedy never chattered when it was hot, while the ACT felt very stiff, chattery, and greasy.

The ACT was a low class, barbaric clutch that IMO, has no place in any motorsports that I can think of. Even on the dragstrip, the ability to modulate the clutch properly can mean the difference of a great and a poor 60' time, for those who use that technique.

Once again, just in simple discussion. Not trying to disrespect

[FlyingPerformance]

Well, like I said you can never compare a stock type disc clutch to a puck clutch. They are designed for different things. Your puck clutch had a ceramic face on it, which will tear up a flywheel much much faster than an organic faced clutch because the actual clutch disc(or pucks) hold up much better and do not wear like an organic clutch will. In a puck clutch the clutch stays together while the flywheel takes the abuse, in an organic disc clutch the disc will wear while the flywheel stays good. Two different clutches for two different uses. The puck clutch wasnt necessarily the best option for your setup and I wouldn't have recommended it.

[WolfPlayer]

Comparing an organic street clutch to a puck clutch is just rediculous. They are 110% completely different animals. There is no comparison. Puck clutches are much harder to engage - they chatter more - they are harsher - they have much more of an on/off engagement - and they don't last long at all. This is definitely one of the most absurd comparisons I have ever seen. As a moderator, I seriously recommend other people to not pay attention to this comparison. The Exedy organic and the Act organic are incredibly similar and perform the same.

t

[FlyingPerformance]

Thank you wolfplayer for backing up what I was trying to say.

[WideOpen&Sideways]

Originally Posted by WolfPlayer

Comparing an organic street clutch to a puck clutch is just rediculous. They are 110% completely different animals. There is no comparison. Puck clutches are much harder to engage - they chatter more - they are harsher - they have much more of an on/off engagement - and they don't last long at all. This is definitely one of the most absurd comparisons I have ever seen. As a moderator, I seriously recommend other people to not pay attention to this comparison. The Exedy organic and the Act organic are incredibly similar and perform the same.

t

Oh boy

Just because I'm new to the forum and don't feel like making enemies, I'm going to be nice about this and agree to disagree.

However, please note for future conversations that you're not speaking to some 17 year old that has no clue. I've been circuit racing for many years now and know quite a bit about the mechanics of how a clutch works, their applications, plus having literally hundreds of hours of real world track testing, I think I'm more than qualified to compare two parts that perform the same function. A clutch has one task. Given my chosen medium to base such a comparison, eg. Circuit Racing, the ability of a chosen mechanical item to perform said task pays no attention to the items preference of use. This is very black and white.

Whether we're speaking disk, puck, twin plate, ect ... the task is the same, and given a chosen medium, some will perform said task better than others. My comparison was medium based, therefore the ability to pull information from different sectors is, and should be utilized. To sanction off the use of a variety of mechanical pieces to perform a task, simply based on their preference is a nonsensical and absurd thought process. If my comparison was based on the analysis of two different mechanical pieces over a broad range of applications, than by all means, you'd be correct in your response. There would be too many variables to base a comparison.

Relevant points of interest to extract from my original posts:

#1
Point: Given the chosen medium of circuit racing, an ACT puck style clutch did not perform as desirably as a Exedy disk style clutch in the fields of high RPM engagement, ease of use, longevity, driveability, and subsequent wear and tear.

Relevance to OP: Given the nature of circuit racing, the stress levels induced, and the bearing on quality and longevity of mechanical pieces in the transmission, the OP might want to consider a disk style clutch to retain the discussed benefits.

#2
Point: The behavioral characteristics of the ACT puck style clutch is not beneficial to circuit style racing.

Relevance to OP: Since circuit racing is the pinnacle of performance motorsports, and has more trickle-down relevance to a street driven vehicle than competition drag racing, the characteristics of the puck style clutch may not be beneficial or desired by a vehicle that is daily driven.

#3
Point: My personal experiences with ACT as a manufacturer of clutch components was not positive, no matter the relevance or vehicle.

Relevance to OP: Original poster should take this into consideration and exercise caution when deciding on a brand to purchase.


Thank you for your understanding, and I apologize if I wasn't clear on the basis of my comparison. I'll be sure to be more concise in future posts.

Cheers.

[WolfPlayer]

Originally Posted by WideOpen&Sideways

#1

...

#2

...

#3

You forgot one thing: the OP's intended usage.

I need a clutch that is good for daily driving, launch, grabs quicker, helps the car go faster in power.

Given the intended usage, you have to compare organic to organic.

t