So, I got my transmission pulled out to send off to TRE, and of course the clutch comes out too. The shop pulled me over to take a look at the clutch they pulled out, and it's worn all to heck. rivits are close to the top of the friction material, heat scoring on the flywheel, all kinds of fun stuff. I've only had this clutch for 3000 miles!
I talked to Richard at ACT, and he said that evo's have a backflow valve on the clutch line, so that the clutch engages slowly and smoothly....which means if you rev it and dump it, it won't actually dump, it'll slip a lot at high rpm. This is supposed to protect the drivetrain, but it wears out the clutch quickly. Richard said to send him the pics, he'd take a look, and let me know which parts need replacing, which can be kept.

Pictures comming soon (uploading now)

Should my clutch look like this after 3000 miles?

help!

 

The ACT clutch is supposed to last about 900 miles before shattering as opposed as to the OEM clutch that only lasts 3 miles(enough to drive off the dealership). You can recycle the clutch shards and machine a new one though. Its a custom fabrication called "REgen-ACT clutch stage II". Its something coined by me. Good luck.

 

Upload the pictures, ... if you're in the 11s and primarily drag the car I could see it only lasting 3,000 miles. Interesting news on it slipping a lot, I'd rather fry a clutch then grenade a tranny.

 

I've only dragged it once, 11 runs. Aggressive driving maybe 1-2 times/week, but no launches or wierd shifting or anything....

Here's some pics:












Some more images here: http://oregonstate.edu/~moritaty/clutch/

 

That's exactly what a clutch should not look like.

 

right, but why would it look this way? It's only got 3000 miles on it, and I'm really not a terribly aggressive driver...

 

misadjusted clutch or the wrong step height on the flywheel. (dsm diagnosis)

 

That is not very worn at all, they are not extremely thick to begin with. You ought to take a look at how much friction material is on a twin disk when new....

 

So, looking at the clutch there, with average driving charecteristics, and getting the clutch set up properly at a local shop, how much more time to I have before I need a new clutch? Or do I need a new clutch now?

 

I sent those pics into ACT, I'll see what they say. So all that heat scoring isn't a problem either? And I don't think it's a twin disk, it's the standard ACT street clutch for evos.

 

Man i have done a dozen clutch jobs and it looks like you beat on the car. I put an ACT on my own evo8 and drove it to the dyno 400 miles and 50 dyno pulls with NO visible wear. The amazing thing was that when i took out the tranny the disc was like new still. IMO i would put a NEW one in if you already have it apart. Also why is the pressure plate gray still, the ACT one is yellow?

 

it IS yellow!


Now, honest to god I havn't beat on this car. Zero dyno pulls, 11 launches, 10-15 agressive runs (no launching, no stupid shifting).

So I should just put a new organic street friction plate thingy in? Leave the flywheel and pressure plate? The heat scoring isn't a problem? nothing needs to be resurfaced?

Thanks for your help.

 

I would get a whole new clutch setup. All those hotspots on the pressure plate and flywheel need to be checked, and flywheel needs to be resurfaced if whitin spec. Maybe its a freak thing, but 3000 miles is nothing. I have a good friend that beats the Hell out of his car with an ACT and his clutch is still like new. I would like to know like you what the heck caused the disc to wear on one spot only.

 

So, here's the way I see it....clutch wore out prematurely, without overly aggressive driving. The only possabilities are a bad clutch, or a bad install. I've read about ACT's QC procedures, so I'm inclined to think it's the latter. Looks like it's time to get a new clutch! dang...

Get a new ACT clutch, and properly installed? street disc? 6 puck?
Exedy twin disc?

 

I was assured that the clutch was installed well....any more ideas on why this clutch would have ended up this way?