As some of you may have read my stock clutch recently failed (on a dyno). The details:

- Original stock clutch with 34K miles on it
- Was inspected by AMS ~3000 miles ago and found to be in good order
- Has ~3000 miles on it with the new setup
- Has 85+ dyno pulls on it at AMS
- drove 800 miles to Atlanta, then...
- clutch failed on the 14th dyno run (third run to 9000rpm)
- Seems that the clip (metal sleeve) that holds the throwout bearing came out and jammed/mashed everything

The theories:

- improper installation of the clip, causing it to come loose
- too much vibration off the engine (no balance shafts, revs to 9100rpm)

The question:

- How can I help to insure that this POS clip/sleeve does not fail again?

What really pisses me off is that the clutch surfaces are still fine, and were holding up fine, even with the added power. FWIW, I will be going to an Exedy HD Twin Metallic as the replacement. It's just not worth it to pay all that labor to put a cheap fix onto a high-mileage clutch.

l8r)

 

wow ... 52 views, and no opinions. Usually got nothing but opinions here.

...they hates us, they do ...

l8r)

 

The only way to be absolutely sure that the clip won't come off is to convert the clutch to a push style. ATS is the only clutch that I know of that is push style. I would like to think that the Exedy twin disk has a better clip and retainer then the stock clutch.

 

Exedy claims that all the failures (not many) of the release bearing clips are due to improper instalation. Exedy has made minor changes to the clip by adding another spring washer prevents improper instalation ad it helps insure that it does't rattle loose. On the old design we had a few failures which isn't terrible with the amount of clutches we sell. I don't think we have had any failures with the new design.

 

So where can I get my paws on one of the "new" clips? Do they come with the Exedy Twin Metallic, or do I need to order it separately? Needless to say, I want one ASAP.

l8r)

 

I'm sure it comes with one. I doubt they would have a better clip to keep a clutch together and not throw it in.

 

Contact Exedy. I am sure they can take care of you. I am not sure when they added the second washer but probably about a year ago. What is weird to me is that the RX7 TT and a couple other similar applications don't even come with one spring washer and yet I don't get a lot of problems.

 

I say wow and congratulations on making it that far on your stock clutch. I drove my car within decent standards by my opinion. Only had launched at 5000rpm twice and lost my stock clutch at 17k. To top it off, my center diff went out at 35k, with no launches using the HKS twin plate. I would have loved to had that many miles on my stock clutch.

 

Yeh I agree 34K for a stock clutch with heavy mods you have been lucky. Why it failed, how about all the excess torque from all your mods?? Does ORC use this clip setup on the their clutches?

 

Alright, I'll see if I can talk to Exedy.

I highly doubt the clutch failed due to excessive torque. Exedy and others use the stock throwout bearing, including the stock clip (which is what failed), and now my concern is with the same part potentially failing again. If it hadn't been for the clip failure, I'm sure I could have gotten over 50K out of the clutch, since it wasn't even close to having a lot of wear on it.

l8r)

 

Thanks for the tip - I just got off the phone with Matt, and the new style clip is standard issue on all currently shipped Exedy clutches. Apparently the OEM design spec changed on it ~8-12 months ago... sux to own an '03.

l8r)

 

Cool, no problem. Glad to hear someone appreciates help. I have been getting flogged lately on this forum.