There are actually several clutches that will handle 5K launches, and handle them WELL!!!! Hey, I HATE drag racing, and never launch my car...EVER. But there are plenty of very high quality products on the market for the EVO that DO handle that kind of usage. Look at RPS for one, the single 5-puck clutch & pressure plate are insane!! They also have a carbon/carbon twin plate that is absolutely rediculous...quite pricey though. The single plate works very well, for all aplications, and yes, I've done several launches in an evo equiped with this clutch, not even a hint of slippage and not even a hint of smell. The system, mated with their segmented billet flywheel has a barely stiffer pedal than stock, and can be heel-toed all day at the track, unlike many high clamping clutches!

My 2 cents...

There is nothing wrong with the stock clutch technically...if you drive your Evo like you drive an econo-box with a manual transmission and never launch the car hard you'll never see a problem...

However its a "sports" (or sporty depending on your point of view) car and you would expect something better than an econo-box setup for your car...

This clutch problem is not limited to the Evo either...according to the DSM-ers I've talked to this bad boy has plagued Ecplipse owners for years too...

By the way my Evo is at 12000 miles and the clutch is still alive and welll...I have encountered some of the launch problems when I first got the Evo and burnt the clutch a few times...but found that by taking it easy on her makes the problems go away...no problems as of late at all...

Ive been to the track twice and maybe got 10 runs in. I do drive the car hard every now and then, im not really into launching the car although i got a 13.52 at the track, during that pass i smelled the clutch and maybe 2000 miles later the clutch started slipping and a week later it was completely shot. I put the car in gear and let off the clutch and the car would not move at all unless i reved it to 4500rpms, then I just got it towed to a shop and I put my stage 2 in.

The EVO 7 had a 2700 lb clutch

The US EVO has a 2100 lb clutch

Most DSM racers use a 2600 lb clutch and love every minute of it.

Yes, they screwed the US by trying to appeal to fat, slobby, americans

hey im just curious, where did you get those numbers about the clutch?? im not questioning those facts at all, i was just wondering where you can find that type of information about our cars... thanks

6300 miles and clutch began showing signs of slippage last night. And again today when I began to merge onto the bypass. NO 5K rpm drops.

And I generally am easy on the Evo. She goes in on Mon. to see what our Service Manager says. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Those numbers are from Mike @ RRE.

I'm at 11,800 miles right now with no signs of wear on my clutch at all. I run the hell out of the car, but I shift smooth as can be every time. YOu know, speed match, no clutch drops, no launches, leave in gear while braking, etc.. Anyway, the clucth seems to be fine in mine and for the last time, I do not drive like a grandma in a Honda Accord. Stop thinking that I do. I drive my car hard, but I know the difference between aggressive driving and abusive driving. There are a few people on this board who have rode with me, so they know how I drive. They can atest. Most people ask me "how do you shift so smooth without the jerking motion that I get in my car when engaging/releasing the clutch?" or something like that.

You guys are just gonna have to learn how to treat these clutches. Perhaps there was a bad batch of pressure plates that were on the first few cars that came out or something...who knows. I doubt they will ever admit it. Mine has a build date of March 2003.


That's all I got for now.

I'll let you guys know how it's doing when I hit 15,000 miles. My guess is that it will be right about the same.

will probably laugh at you just like they would everyone else with a slipping clutch.

I am at about 10.5k, clutch doesn't slip, however, it is extremely difficult to snick the gear lever into the appropriate gate--it is way, way to notchy--I have to SLAM it into gear. I can't imagine slamming is good for the synchros. Although I may partake in spirited driving, I have never launced the car at anything other than a normal street launch.

What do I/we ("we"= people on this forum) do? Go aftermarket, or take my/our chances with a dealer? If the dealer does not honor the warranty, I/most of us would prefer they not do the work.

i want to change my vote...my clutch is going out at 8k miles...and i havent driven it that hard really...only a few times i've only launched at 4k rpm...like maybe 3 times...

13,000 miles..
Original Clutch
Original Tires..
Warranty Rotors..(may need again.. )

Fingers Crossed and HAVING FUN!!

19,240 and she's gone... will be getting an ACT kit from RRE this week, really tried to make it last but that's as far as it would, right before Christmas too, don't think I'll be able to see family now

DUDE!!

That SUCKS!!

Sorry to hear...

Over 21,000 miles, and still hanging in there, and I drive this car harder than anyone I know. Never been to a drag strip, but plenty of fast starts on the street and many many road course miles. I am on my third set of tires and brake pads. I keep thinking it's going to let go any day but so far it just keeps going.
I will be be getting an ACT clutch when this one finally wears out. Personally I can't wait for this thing to go, call me crazy but I just love the feel of a heavy duty clutch.