I have a 98 GS and it's time for a new clutch. Do I NEED to replace the flywheel also when I replace the clutch? What clutches require a new flywheel?

Yes, you have to replace the flywheel as well because you have a modular clutch (flywheel rivoted to pressure plate). You can convert to a non-modular clutch (flywheel bolted to pressure plate) by using the neon flywheel when you replace the clutch which will allow you to just replace the clutch disk the next time this happens. If you are crafty, you could attempt to drill out the rivots in the stock clutch, replace the disk, then tap the flywheel where the rivots were and bolt the 2 back together.

Thanks Matt! Where did you get your SPEC 3 clutch frfom? How do you ike it and whatis it's power holding capacity?

bump

I bought the SPEC clutch from Howell along with a fidanza aluminum flywheel last july. That combo was real pricey, but is working well so far. When I was on the phone with Howell, I told them specifically that I needed a clutch that will hold 400 HP and this is the one they recommended. I believe the pressure plate load is slightly higher than the stock clutch and the clutch disk uses centered iron facings (4 puck).

I called them today and they said that all they carry now is Centerforce and Borg-Warner clutchs. Where else can I get a Spec clutch from? How much with out the flywheel, I have an account with Fidanza so that is not a problem. CM stage 4 is like $700! I can't afford that right now. -Sean

There is a business here locally that will build you a clutch equivilent to a CM stage 4 for waaay less. My brother uses one of his clutches in his GSX pushing 19 psi and it grips awesome. He tests all of his clutches on a plate load tester to determine how much torque the clutches can hold. I have personally seen the clutch that he will build you out perform a ACT 2600 and a Centerforce DF by a substantial margin. I'll PM you his contact info and general pricing.

Matt Thanks!
When I call this guy up, do I tell him I have a 95 Eclipse so I can buy non-modular flywheel? When I order the flywhel from Fidanza, do I tell them I want a flywheel for a 95 Eclipse too?

if you want a good deal on clutches go to www.bullyclutch.com
they have good stuff there... i run a stage two and it is awsome...
also the prices are canadian so bonus for you

I also run the SPEC Stage 3. Got it locally. And for what it's worth it's a mean clutch, not in the foot pressure cause it's very easy on the leg, hehe, but it has very quick engagement and it grips hard. I can do one leg peel-outs all day. But one of my complaints is that it chatters too much and squeals as of lately. I will be getting a Fidanza flywheel too cause for some reason mine was installed all on stock parts. x( The CM 4 is a nice clutch but far more expensive. Hope it works out.


http://www.cardomain.com/id/jasvbts2k2

No, you dont need to tell him that you have a 95 because not all 95's have non-modular clutches. Mine came with a modular clutch anyway. Just tell him that you are converting to a non-modular clutch and let him know what flywheel you are using and he can take care of the rest.

soon we hope to have out new pressure plate out taking much longer then i wanted it to im working with dan from lansing that matt is speaking of hes a good guy, speaking of i gotta call him today and get statis =P

Speaking of which, do you still want me to run over there with my stock clutch, or is Dan all set with that?

Moto,
Keep me informed on the clutch/pressure plate from Dan. I guess I will purchase one from him if the price is right. I need to get one soon. I have been without my car for a month now and bumming rides is getting old. I would like to enjoy my car as soon as the turbo kit arrives. -Sean

Ok here's the thing, you can open up a modular clutch but you would need to resurface the flywheel and the pressure plate. But oh wait you can't get a shop to turn the pressure plate. (At least I can't) They will resurface a flywheel but not a pressure plate. I don’t think it is a real good idea to take out a worn clutch disk and just replace the disk. That would kind of be like replacing fully worn brake pads and not replacing the rotors. Yes you will probably have a clutch that works but for how long and how well? Wouldn’t you want your clutch to properly seal w/ the new disk? It wouldn't seat right if the flywheel and pressure plate had wear from the previously worn disk.

I say go non-modular just because it's cheaper to replace all around.

Example:

'95 neon non-modular clutch (Clutchmasters stage 4 ~450.00)
'96 neon modular clutch (Clutchmasters stage 4 ~600+)

If you want a disk you can get a stage 4 from CM for 250.00.

So I say go get a neon flywheel from a junk yard for 50.00 and get a non-modular clutch. Still cheaper than a modular clutch.

I recently opened a modular stage 4 and found that both the flywheel and the pressure plate were worn pretty badly. The metal that the modular flywheel is made fo doesn't seam to be as hard as the metal the '95 flywheel is made out of?

Just some thoughts
Brian

the pressure plates dont *need* to be replce really they dont wear out unless they break or somthing...

u can get a strong running clutch with just replacing the disk right now that is the cheapest option cause clutch masters is outa line on their clutches....

>cause clutch masters is outa line on their clutches

Well put!

Someone needs to make a 6 puck clutch disk!

Dan will make you a 6 puck clutch disk if you want one. He can build anything you want clutch related. I know this because I live 15 minutes away from his shop :)

http://www.southbendclutch.com is another good choice.

We have 6 versions of this clutch kit. Each has a modified pressure plate that takes the clamp load up about 20%. We have our rally kit which is slightly above stock ( 10-15% power increase ). Our TZ series for more modified cars ( up to 50% hp increase ), and our DXD racing clutch which is good up to 400hp. Each of these are available with a stock flywheel or an aluminum racing flywheel.

The Rally is $350.00 + shipping
The TZ is $450.00 + shipping
The DXD is $475.oo + shipping
Add $350 for the aluminum racing flywheel.

Peter from southbendclutch "his reply e-mail from a few months ago"

http://www.supremepowerparts.com/ is the internet source for my Proactive Stage 2 clutch. The stage 2 is the best clutch they make for our cars. The stage 3 or stage 4 is not available. But I really do not need a clutch that holds more than 400hp anyway. My pedal is slightly stiffer than stock, but the clutch takes a bit of practice to slip. Damn thing grabs REALLY hard, especially when it gets heated up. The people that make this clutch were formally from Clutchmasters and ACT.....formed their own company. My modular flywheel is also bolted to the pressure plate. It is not riveted. The clutch is also a 6 puck.

I think supremeowerparts sells the proactive stage 2 modular for approx. $650-680 cannot remember now.

Quote from their site:

Stage 2 High Performance Street /Race Clutch systems consist of a heavy-duty single diaphragm with a cast iron ring and an organic puck style disc. The heat-treated pressure plates have a clamping load increase of 65% over OEM. The clutch disc is manufactured from an organic material and fiber-tuff puck facing. This system is ideal for the street and performance-minded driver.

"Promotion" our supplier for this clutch said that it will take well over 400hp. They have shops using this clutch in many race cars.

Many choices, do what is best for you. I would never use and old pressure plate with a new disc and resurfaced flywheel. If you need a new clutch ALWAYS use a new disc(no choice) and also a new pressure plate.

Check into southbendclutch, it is a good deal for a good clutch.

That still seems too expensive for an orgnaic clutch. All those people are doing with that clutch is upping the clamping load on the pressure plate to obtain further grip. The clutch disk is basically the same as a stock disk (organic facings). I have learned a lot about clutches in the past year, and would rather increase the amount of torque that a clutch can hold by using different materials for disk facings (ceramic instead of organic), altering the disk thickness, and increasing the surface area of the disk facings to the pressure plate/flywheel. When you increase the clamping load on the pressure plate alone, you definately gain more grip, but it also becomes more and more difficult to push the clutch in as the plate load increases. The clutch you are describing to me sounds a lot like the ACT 2600 clutch.

Funny you would say that. I was talking to a friend the other day about the exact same thing.

ACT 2600 with a street disc sounded a lot like my clutch.....design anyway. Only my pedal is not nearly as stiff as my friends 2600 in his 1G. Mine pedal is probably 10-15% stiffer than stock.

I was told that the organic/fiber tuff material had kevlar weave in it along with other things that made it much more durable than a normal organic disc. It is suppose to have extremely long wear like a kevlar disc from clutchmasters, but it is a 6 puck design.

Funny what a guy from ACT and Clutchmasters can come up with.

Thanks for the insight!

Ahh ok that makes more sense. I was thinking that they were using a standard organic disk like the Centerforce and old ACT ones used. Sounds like a pretty good clutch. Its too bad though that aftermarket clutch producers jack the prices up so much though. I have seen how much money it costs to buy all the different disks, facings, and pressure plates and believe me... its far less than 500 bux for all of it :) . Oh well, puts food on their tables and supras in their garages hehe.

I plan on replacing the flywheel with a Fidanza. I don't intend to reuse my old pressure plate either. Dan from Clutch Dynamics told me that he was going to do some testing on pressure plates for our cars and that I should call him later on today (7:00am right now). I NEED a clutch kit soon. Mitsubishi wants 350 for a clutch! Not about to pay that for a factory one. Moto and Matt, keep me informed.

>Ok here's the thing, you can open up a modular clutch but you
>would need to resurface the flywheel and the pressure plate.
>But oh wait you can't get a shop to turn the pressure plate.
>(At least I can't) They will resurface a flywheel but not a
>pressure plate. I don’t think it is a real good idea to take
>out a worn clutch disk and just replace the disk. That would
>kind of be like replacing fully worn brake pads and not
>replacing the rotors. Yes you will probably have a clutch
>that works but for how long and how well? Wouldn’t you want
>your clutch to properly seal w/ the new disk? It wouldn't
>seat right if the flywheel and pressure plate had wear from
>the previously worn disk.
>
>I say go non-modular just because it's cheaper to replace all
>around.
>
>Example:
>
>'95 neon non-modular clutch (Clutchmasters stage 4 ~450.00)
>'96 neon modular clutch (Clutchmasters stage 4 ~600+)
>
>If you want a disk you can get a stage 4 from CM for 250.00.
>
>So I say go get a neon flywheel from a junk yard for 50.00 and
>get a non-modular clutch. Still cheaper than a modular
>clutch.
>
>I recently opened a modular stage 4 and found that both the
>flywheel and the pressure plate were worn pretty badly. The
>metal that the modular flywheel is made fo doesn't seam to be
>as hard as the metal the '95 flywheel is made out of?
>
>Just some thoughts
>Brian
>
>
>

Ok I am confused here.... I Have a 95 talon as a parts car and I just took out the tranny. The Clutch and Flywheel were still bolted on. So I took out the for bolts on the flywheel and the clutch comes off. How is this... I just read in this post that the flywheel was riveted to the pressure plate? So now the flywheel is still on the block. (By the way just so I am not being a dumbass here.... the flywheel is what the starter mates to ..right?) SO do I have a non modular Clutch? but everything but the flywheel is riveted together. I don't get it? I have a 97 Eclipse....When I goto change my clutch will it be the same as this 95 talon? If this talon has a non modular clutch and I want to switch to a non modular on my Eclipse can I use the flywheel off of the Talon and get a Non modular Neon Clutch(What year of neon anyway?)??? Please help me out with this I am kinda confused?
xlordzeusx@earthlink.net





MODS:
AEM CAI
AEM CAM gears
Unorthodox UDP
Centerforce Dual Fiction(i hate it.. i need a diff one)
MSD Wires
NGK Iridium Plugs
Cat Back exhaust
RRE Steel braided Clutch Hose
NOS Dry Kit 60 Shot
Short Shifter Mod

Ok

Non modular:

Flywheel w/ teeth on it, very thick and very heavy vs a drive plate
Clutch disk
Pressure plate

Flywheel bolts to the crank (bolts go through flywheel and into crank)
Pressure plate sites in-between flywheel and pressure plate.
Pressure plate bolts to flywheel but they go in the same direction as the flywheel bolts. Nothing is riveted together. Six bolts bolt the pressure plate to the flywheel.


Modular:

Drive plate (kind of looks like a flywheel because of the teeth)
Clutch unit (flywheel, disk, presureplate all in one, riveted) the flywheel doesn’t have teeth.

The drive plate is what the starter turns. It acts like a flywheel for starting.

What you are describing is a modular clutch.

Your '97 will look exacly the same. Both your cars have a modular clutch.

>Ok
>
>Non modular:
>
>Flywheel w/ teeth on it, very thick and very heavy vs a drive
>plate
>Clutch disk
>Pressure plate
>
>Flywheel bolts to the crank (bolts go through flywheel and
>into crank)
>Pressure plate sites in-between flywheel and pressure plate.
>Pressure plate bolts to flywheel but they go in the same
>direction as the flywheel bolts. Nothing is riveted together.
> Six bolts bolt the pressure plate to the flywheel.
>
>
>Modular:
>
>Drive plate (kind of looks like a flywheel because of the
>teeth)
>Clutch unit (flywheel, disk, presureplate all in one, riveted)
>the flywheel doesn’t have teeth.
>
>The drive plate is what the starter turns. It acts like a
>flywheel for starting.
>
>What you are describing is a modular clutch.
>
>Your '97 will look exacly the same. Both your cars have a
>modular clutch.




ThanX ... that help me out a lot... now I understand. Now I still have some questions. Will the neon Modular Clutch work with my 97 Eclipse? I found this http://www.howellautomotive.com/howell/ProductAvail.asp?Product_ID=385
it is a Fidanza Engineering Aluminum Clutch Kit(modular)
says it is a rebuildable clutch kit... so it's not riveted together. Would this be worth getting? I am not going turbo. I will be going all motor .. so it's not like I am going to be having no 400 HP lol
xlordzeusx@earthlink.net

Besides the option that Matt mentioned with Dan, here's a couple of places that sell the SPEC clutches for the 420a for FAR less than Howell:

More in the $300-$400 range for even a stage 3 clutch, or even a stage 4 clutch at $429! :o

http://www.enjukuracing.com/

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/

By the way, you might just want to make sure and get some product reviews about the above listed clutchs on 4g63 message boards as well. Save for the ACT clutches, everything they use, we can too. I've seen reviews on all the abovemented clutches and some sound favorable and others do not. The one universally BAD clutch, though, is the Centerforce clutches.

All 420a neon clutches will work for your car. (Modular or non-modular)

That link doesn’t work for me but I think I know the setup you are referring to. It is has a flywheel that isn’t riveted to the pressure plate but you have to bolt your drive plate to it so the starter can turn the assembly. The flywheel doesn’t have teeth but the assembly isn’t riveted together. It is basically the exact same thing as a modular clutch but in the place of the rivets you have bolts.

>All 420a neon clutches will work for your car. (Modular or
>non-modular)
>
>That link doesn’t work for me but I think I know the setup you
>are referring to. It is has a flywheel that isn’t riveted to
>the pressure plate but you have to bolt your drive plate to it
>so the starter can turn the assembly. The flywheel doesn’t
>have teeth but the assembly isn’t riveted together. It is
>basically the exact same thing as a modular clutch but in the
>place of the rivets you have bolts.
>


So What kinda clutch would you suggest for me? Modular or Non modular? and out of those which brand and model? And I won't be going turbo.


MODS: 97 Eclipse

ENGINE


Custom Paint
10.3mm Wires
NGK Iridium Plugs
E-Bay ;-) Strut Bar
AEM Cam Gears
AEM CAI
Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch(SUCKS!!!)
Unorthodox UDP
Cat Back Exhaust
RRE Steel Braided Clutch Hose
Breather Filter
Port & Polished & Ceramic Coated Exhaust Manifold
NOS Kit(60 Shot.. dry)





INTERIOR


Custom Paint
Hard Wired RED LEd's & Neons
Custom Short Shifter
Custom NOS indicator Lights
Custom Switch Panel
Black Racing Seat Covers
Greddy Shift Knob
Symberski Shift Stabalizer Kit
Pioneer Head Unit
2 10" Infinity Bass Links





EXTERIOR


Cracked Front Bumper
Removed Eclipse Badging
Metal NOS Emblem
98Talon TSi Wing

>>All 420a neon clutches will work for your car. (Modular or
>>non-modular)
>>
>>That link doesn’t work for me but I think I know the setup
>you
>>are referring to. It is has a flywheel that isn’t riveted
>to
>>the pressure plate but you have to bolt your drive plate to
>it
>>so the starter can turn the assembly. The flywheel doesn’t
>>have teeth but the assembly isn’t riveted together. It is
>>basically the exact same thing as a modular clutch but in
>the
>>place of the rivets you have bolts.
>>
>
>
>So What kinda clutch would you suggest for me? Modular or Non
>modular? and out of those which brand and model? And I won't
>be going turbo.
>
>
>MODS: 97 Eclipse
>
> ENGINE
>
>
>Custom Paint
>10.3mm Wires
>NGK Iridium Plugs
>E-Bay ;-) Strut Bar
>AEM Cam Gears
>AEM CAI
>Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch(SUCKS!!!)
>Unorthodox UDP
>Cat Back Exhaust
>RRE Steel Braided Clutch Hose
>Breather Filter
>Port & Polished & Ceramic Coated Exhaust Manifold
>NOS Kit(60 Shot.. dry)
>
>
>
>
>
>INTERIOR
>
>
>Custom Paint
>Hard Wired RED LEd's & Neons
>Custom Short Shifter
>Custom NOS indicator Lights
>Custom Switch Panel
>Black Racing Seat Covers
>Greddy Shift Knob
>Symberski Shift Stabalizer Kit
>Pioneer Head Unit
>2 10" Infinity Bass Links
>
>
>
>
>
>EXTERIOR
>
>
>Cracked Front Bumper
>Removed Eclipse Badging
>Metal NOS Emblem
>98Talon TSi Wing
>
>
>
>
>


BUMP.....
any sugestions?