Hey, I just bought a Centerforce Stage 3 clutch for $240 shipped on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7904758507&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBI%3AIT), but I forgot to ask if it was modular or non-modular and plus I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to need. I'm a little confused and I need a few things cleared up.

My car is a '96 but I blew the tranny and I need a new one, so what year tranny do I need to use for this clutch.. or does it matter? Also, I'm going to get an aluminum flywheel from another member here if that matters. Basically, I need to know what clutch, flywheels, and trannies I can use with my car. I've searched and read all that i could, but I'm just more confused now than I was before.

Description sucks, but he says it's for the Eclipse, Talon, Sebring and Avenger...if those last two weren't in there, I'd be a bit worried, but since they are I think you're set. Contact the guy beforehand though and get a better description.

-Corey

we use modular..Dunno from just looking at the clutch but we use modular yeah.

so is that a modular clutch? Also, from what I just read doing more search on this forum, it sounds like centerforce DF clutches suck.. damn.. maybe i should retract my bid if i can?

If it is modular, how do I use an aluminum flywheel... don't modular clutches have the flywheel riveted to them?

I think that is a modular and for the modular aluminum flywheel you'd haveto go with fidanza I guess...Im getting a lotta info on my little search currently..But I think its modular

answer, yes dfcf clutchs suck. and we do use modular clutches but we can also use non-modular. you can use a different flywheel. just have to drill out thwe rivits and rerivit it back up if you want to run modular.

modular= easier on the swapidge than non-modualr...

the flywheel os a clutchmasters... but should i decline payment and retract my bid... or stck with it,,, i need to know asap...

Ok... I'm gonna try to get the seller to let me out of buyin it... if so, what's the best stage 3ish clutch i can get thats still relatively inexpensive (say maybe $300)? I want it to last and be able to hold around 350hp. I've read good things about ACT clutches, but it doesnt seem like they make them for our cars.. only the 4g63. I've also heard clutchmasters and Spec are good... but they seem to be too far out of my price range.

act dosent make one for our car's but spec is a pretty good name from what Ive heard. They're around 359 for a stage 3/4.

i wanted to go under 300, so i went with an ebay clutch by zume. I will never do that again. My car will be down until i can save another 100.00 for a SPEC. Does that help you at all?

Terry

96 Eagle talon ESI
Star Stage II - Boost/oil/EGT gauges

97 Eclipse
Greddy header/evo exhaust - Stage 2 6 puck Sprung hub MIBA clutch - Shortened shifter - Koni Yellows w/eibach prokit - Stillen Fr/Rr swaybars - ceramic intake - DEI Keyless entry alarm - Niche 17" Shoks

Waiting to be installed: Apexi AFC, HKS EVC IV, 450 Turbo injectors, SFMU/return line, GSX Front brakes (need rotors)

thanx for the suggestions guys.... I got the seller to let me out of the winning bid so i think i'll just get a SPEC

yess good call, get the spec. hey sorry i win, we should meet up somtime. you're in greensburg right?, that's about 30-40 mins away from me. anyways, search for spec clutches on here and look at all the feedback. i'm in terrible need for a new clutch as well, i'm just gonna suck it up and go for the spec stage 3.

Yeah cool man.. We should def meet... my car will be down for a while tho.. just dropped the tranny yesterday and I'm gonna do the turbo kit, clutch, flywheel, lsd, cam gears and maybe the timing belt all at once. Plus I gotta do the gauges and fix my spoiler (my dad was pushing the car and busted it loose from the mounts. Doesn't help that I only have weekends when its nice out to work on it, plus I'm still trying to find some decent prices on a clutch and tranny. Anyone know the best place to get the SPEC clutch... best place I've found so far is ERT. Also, I've thinking about maybe just a stage II instead of stage III just to save some cash. would a stage II work or for up to maybe 15psi (~300HP).

well in my searcing yesterday i read a great post with xtremeRS and turbo8u talking about how great the spec stage 3 is. turbo8u was talking about how it was totally rock solid with his 15psi and xtremeRs was also saying something very similar. i wish i could find that post again. technically the spec stage2 should hold your 15psi. it says that stage 2 will hold 360 ft/lbs, i would personally go the extra $40. that extra $40 dollars could mean an awful lot considering you're going to be throwing some pretty good power at it. if you're in need of any assistance, i would actually really like to help you out with your turbo install, clutch install, everything. pm me or something whenever you're gettin ready to install something, lol.

sorry, double post.

here you go, here's a couple good quotes for you...

turbo8u - "i LOVE my spec stage 3!!!! nicest clutch on any car ive ever driven, very smooth engagement, very light, grips like a mother and overall, just a very sexy clutch. i hate driving cars where the upgraded clutch's pedal feel is stiff as all hell and your left leg needs to be a beast. only thing is on cold starts it'll chatter your brains out if you dont give it enough gas in first"
another from turbo8u...
"one thing you'll notice is a MAJOR pedal feel change at about 3K miles...its weird, bit it got SLIGHTLY stiffer, its nice.
i know what you mean about the chatter in first, and if you let the clutch out to fast the car just leaps, lol...clutch grabs like a mofo ha?"


RyaN95i4 - "I like my spec stage 3 overall as well. Very light pedal but quick engagement. Seems to be holding 20psi very well."

i'm pretty sure these three quotes are what made me say screw it and start saving for a spec stage 3. lol.

awesome.. thanx for the info man. I'd love for you to help out, but I'm doing all the work at my dad's house in the middle of nowhere and I only have a few hours here and there to work on it. I did manage to drop the tranny on sunday, so that much is out of the way. I'm hoping to take some pics and put together a writeup or two if I can find the time.

I'm actually gonna call a guy today about a southbend clutch.. The price is pretty good so I may end up with that.. I hear they make good stuff tho. We'll see what happens.

yea dude i've heard good things about those southbend clutches, and i would like to see what kind of prices they have and how well they hold up. pm me and tell me what that person tells you about the southbend clutch. i'd be willing to get one of those cause i've heard almost as many good things about those as i have spec.

Originally posted by ughhhead
yea dude i've heard good things about those southbend clutches, and i would like to see what kind of prices they have and how well they hold up. pm me and tell me what that person tells you about the southbend clutch. i'd be willing to get one of those cause i've heard almost as many good things about those as i have spec.

The one I was looking at is the South Bend Clutch DXD 6-Puck Clutch. It retails for $475, but I'm getting a way better price than that. I did a little reading about them and it seems the clamp load is only a little better than stock (but that means pedal travel is close to stock) but they are comparable to a CM stage 3/4 in torque specs. Also it seems a CM stage 4 is comparable to a Spec Stage 3.

The one I was looking at is the South Bend Clutch DXD 6-Puck Clutch. It retails for $475, but I'm getting a way better price than that. I did a little reading about them and it seems the clamp load is only a little better than stock (but that means pedal travel is close to stock) but they are comparable to a CM stage 3/4 in torque specs. Also it seems a CM stage 4 is comparable to a Spec Stage 3.


Do you have any hard facts to back up these theories? I always like to compare data when making personal choices. Rated clamp load (rated in LB) would be a good place to start.

I couldn't find any specifics on clutches for our cars... The numbers I looked at were for a 3000gt (http://www.3sxperformance.com/clutch.asp) and there's another interesting read here (http://www.rr-racing.com/SB.htm).

In all my searching tho, I've yet to find anyone who's had a problem with a southbend clutch tho so that should speak for itself i'd think. Although, there seems to be hardly any info out there about these clutches.

way better price? hmm... like what kind of way better price? and how? i would like to here some more 2gnter's feedback on these south bend clutches.

I'm talking to a guy about buyin it from him for $300 + shipping. Guess he bought it and never got around to installing it and now he's returning his car to stock. lucky for me :)

Our stock pressure plates are rated at approx 1000 ft lbs. A Spec PP was a bit more than stock, and a Clutchmasters PP is rated approx around 1600 ft lbs. I currently run a stock PP and flywheel, with a 4 puck ceramic disk, and its just *barely* holding a good 15 psi. Not too bad considering its just a disk upgrade over the stock organic disk material. From the research i have done, it looks like the Clutchmaster's plates have the highest clamp load out there..That, along with many people's claims that it has held 500HP without issue almost makes it a good fact that their PP's have that 1600 lb of clamp load.

well if the southbend dxd has a PP thats rated slightly higher than stock and a 6-puck ceramic/kevlar disc surface then it should hold even more power. I'd say 20 psi should be no problem. That's probably more than I'll ever need, so it sounds like a good clutch for my needs.

Hey Xtreme - is it me, or does the picture of the Centerforce on Ebay in his org. post look like it's using a Luk modular flywheel?? For being a needle in a haystack, I've seen quite a few lately.

Well, I finally decided to get the southbend.. I'll be sure to let everyone here know how it holds up. I got it for $315 shipped and the guy was even nice enough to throw in some motor mount inserts for free, so I can't beat that especially since the clutch is still new... never installed.

damn you... lucky man :thumbsup

Well you can get the spec stage III for $325 shipped if u hurry. Dougie2 has it for sale in the fs/wtb forum....

http://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=16&topic_id=46490&mode=full

Get it while you still can man.. I was torn between these two clutches, but the southbend was a better deal so I decided to go that route.