I remember back when I had around 400whp and tried to launch my car on the stock clutch haha. My car sat still and smoke billowed from the engine bay, was lovely. I think the evo 9 clutches were slightly tougher. You probably can't go wrong with the Exedy or the Act but I wouldn't get a stocker, unless you make less than 300whp and don't race the car.

 

The stockers seem to last a good while if properly maintained

 

The new Competition stage 2 HD (unsprung version for better high rpm shifts) deserves a good look. Drives great, shifts great (no lock outs), holds quite a bit of power and doesn't break the bank. I found English Racing and Tscompusa have great pricing for it.

 

trevor at ShepTrans recommended exedy stage I over act for modified car. I went with it and did notice what I thought was a notable increase in pedal pressure..

 

I have the ACT HDSS on my evo 8 as well, great clutch, pedal feels pretty close to stock. I would suggest getting the ACT Monoloc wedge collar for it though.

 

I replaced the Exedy twin disc HD setup with stock flywheel, Exedy Stage 1 PP, and ACT street full face disc and so far no issues with stock pedal feel at just over 300 WHP, daily driver on Jamaican roads

 

FWIW... as has been stated. The clutch debate will go on forever.

What I will offer, is my opinion.

My 9 is making a squeak over 300 at the wheels. My stock clutch was great, and lasted fine, but if you're using the launch control, it can't handle the heating cycles.

I wanted the stock clutch again honestly. But I knew I wanted the launching, and that it would just get knackered. The clutches I was looking at were the Exedy stage 1, and the Stock disc.

I had heard that the Exedy stage 1's were VERY stock like, but didn't last as long. I attributed this to the fact that, they were going into a car that was already modified, whereas the stock clutch was starting off at a factory power setting, and likely did some time at that.

This did turn me off a bit though as the clutch job isn't exactly easy, or cheap, and who wants to just do it again in xx,xxx miles.

The stock clutch wasn't going to handle the heating of launching. I knew this, and while I don't launch all the time, I def use it at the track. This, and the fact that there's a bit of convolution as to what/who the stock clutch actually is, steered me away from that.

ACT I didn't even consider because of the whole lockout thing. It may be old news, and I know people like it, but I just didn't want to chance it.

Enter the Competition Clutch stage 2.

Everything I read said that this clutch was very stock like, and felt good, and held power and all of the nonsense that you want to hear about a clutch.

I just finished breaking mine in (about 600 miles on it now), and it is DEFINITELY not like the stock clutch. BUT, it is a very good clutch.

It has slightly stiffer pedal feel, and it is MUCH grabbier (bear in mind, it's still early) than the stock clutch ever was. Engagement is solid, precise, and noticeable. I have less of an ability to slip the clutch, and I've had a few shifts where I felt the clutch was SIGNIFICANTLY harder than the stock clutch.

I'm happy with my purchase, although I wanted to say... for someone looking for the stock clutch, the CC stage 2 isn't it. Frankly, I'd be surprised if any clutch felt/acted like the stock clutch, aside from... the stock clutch.

Just my brief assessment. Take it for what it is.

 

Get a twin disk right from the start.

I tried the highly recommended cc stg2 and it worked fine for awhile but now its starting to give me problems. Just do it right the first time.

 

i forget what thread i read this at, but i heard the exedy twin SD is actually quite good as far as liveability goes, for a marginal sacrifice in torque. it's often overlooked, but i think it does have its place - sounds like this could be one of them. I have an HD and the pedal is relaively heavy, but it doesn't really bother me. my heel stays on the floor when I use the clutch

 

So again, it seems stock is good as long as you dont launch it, to avoid tranny probs, chattering etc.

I think stock with a resurfaced flywheel and the ACT Monoloc will be my best bet.. I've been waiting to hear more reviews of the monoloc

 

Thread from 2011, but still good info...

 

I disagree with this. I think the twin disc is a great setup if it caters to your situation.

Also worth noting there is the "old" CC stage 2, and the "new" CC stage 2. I'm definitely not a fanboy, but these clutch debates are so circular. Just want to make sure relevant info goes out.

 

I debated getting a pro-lite flywheel, etc but just ended up resurfacing the stocker..

 

I would only recommend a twin disk to someone who drag races their car frequently or has an extremely high amount of torque.

For clutches, grabbier does not always mean better. I wanted a really grabby clutch that could take launch after launch. I got a twin disk and it was difficult to drive at first and made my car impossible for others to drive. Between the clutch and what I assume is my crappy shifting, I wore through my 5th gear synchro in quick order after install.

And that right there is the rub. The grippier and less forgiving the clutch, the harder you are beating on the rest of your drivetrain. The stock clutch is the mechanical fuse in the drivetrain. It is there to protect the transmission and everything else. The more you veer away from that idea of clutch = fuse/cushion, the more **** you will break.

So, "buy twin disk and forget about it" is not a good answer. Like everything else with modding a vehicle, there are tradeoffs and very rarely does "go big or go home" for every modification make a good combination.