delta31tr

I found a exedy stage 1 clutch for sale. Currently running a na will stick to that. Have on mods such as cai and header ect. You guys think it will be worth to upgrade to the stage one or should i stick with the stock. Since i would get a good deal money wont be a matter, just looking for performance

Vertigo RT

same question... found a stage 1, will it make a difference on my otherwise stock rx8?

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

The difference in performance will be in your left leg . It might get a little stronger from the stiffer clutch .
So if you think that is a good reason to swap out a perfectly good clutch - go for it .

delta31tr

so you saying, that it wont do any use to swap???

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I am turbocharged and not running the stage 1. There is no point in upgrading and their has been problems with the stage 1 as well. Search.

paimon.soror

iTrader: (15)

a clutch is not a performance part ... so looking for performance by swapping out clutches will have you searching endlessly.

That is unless you have enough power on the drivetrain that is causing the clutch to slip, thus robbing you of performance that you already have.....but NA (even boosted) that is not an issue

Carbon8

iTrader: (4)

FYI, ACT clutch not the best in the world. Only have it for the flywheel and the fact that I am stuck with it, long story short disk 3 just went in

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Take a read through this thread before installing the stage 1: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tro...clutch-244381/

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Well, I get clutch slip at 10psi currently. In a weekend or two I will be installing the S2 trans and a new OEM Exedy with heavy duty throw out bearing and we will see how she does at 10psi. But yeah on an NA car the only performance upgrade you would see is with lighter parts.

paimon.soror

iTrader: (15)

yup which even then, the lighter parts mean less surface area, which from what i have heard will leave a lot of drivers in a world of hurt trying to daily drive. Would be better served saving that weight in a flywheel upgrade.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah I have heard daily driving suffers big time.

reddozen

iTrader: (1)

I have no problem daily driving mine, however, what RIWWP is 100% correct. The "HD" throwout bearing in the kit is trash. Gave me endless problems till I changed it out for a new "stock" one. Constantly rattling and not engaging the pressure plate correctly.

bse50

Smaller, lighter clutches are not just a pain to daily since you basically have to slip them every time you have to start from a stop... they may also increase the stress on the tranny given how most of them are multiple disk, aggressive clutches.

My car has a small, multiple disk wet clutch and it's a bitch to drive despite the car's feather weight

04Green

iTrader: (1)

My "Stage 1" is the only mod I wish I had back. I love my light flywheel, best mod ever, but really wish I had stuck with OEM style clutch. My whole car is light and responsive, and I have a heavy clutch like in a 5.0 mustang.

Just my opinion..

Vertigo RT

Thanks for the advice.
I only asked due to NEEDING a new clutch anyway (this one slips BAD all the time)
I'm gonna stick with an OEM one (;

YboTs13

well i picked a brand new exedy stage 1 for super cheap from a friend who had a rx8 but sold it in 2011. I'll also prolly buy bhr lightweight flywheel as well So hopefully i like how it feels.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

And hopefully you wont end up spending more money anyway when the stage1 starts coming to pieces on you... and hopefully that event won't be immediately after install like most of us.

YboTs13

yeah tht'd really suck. I guess ima need some luck on my side.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Luck and hope vs research and analytically thinking.

There is a way to avoid having to hope for good luck, but obviously it is up to you to take it or not.

YboTs13

well ive seen some post from people who ran a exedy stage one back in 2010 saying good stuff with no complients. I'm thinking the recent ones made must of been defentive.

red530

I just killed one of the cheap eBay clutches after 5k(ripped half of the friction material off on clutch disk) of hard driving and auto X. I was thinking an Exedy stage 1 HD would be good for me, but after reading all this I have no idea what to get!?!? I don't really see an oem replacement (Mazdatrix has one but I think it is an Exedy). Every thing else is the off brand crap that I just killed or Exedy. I was under the impression that Exedy was the way to go. I'm going to get an RB mid pipe so I figured I would get the clutch from them too. All they have is Exedy... My original clutch got a harsh 85k and was only changed when I pulled the motor the springs in the clutch disk felt loose.

Who has a genuine mazda clutch?
Should I avoid Exedy clutches?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

BHR has the OEM clutch for $375 shipped. Pretty much the best price out there and a forum vendor to boot.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Back when I raced an RX7, this happened to me. I had just replaced the clutch with one I got from Mazdatrix (this was 20 yrs ago). The friction surface ripped off the plate during qualifying. They explained that they sent me a HD clutch and didn't know that I was racing the car. I then got a sprung 6 puck clutch and while it was grabby, I didn't have a failure again.

Clark18

iTrader: (2)

Same thing happened to me--previous owner just replaced clutch with eBay brand XTD or the like, it lasted part of one race weekend before the clutch was junk as all the material was gone. After research I too am going with a sprung hub six puck which has bonded material so I'm hoping such failures will not happen (got it from a trusted RX8 company).

red530

I talked to a few experienced people (although non RX owners) I know who have used Exedy clutches and they all had good words about them. I think the T/O bearing just isn't made for the extra force from the pressure plate. I found a guy who had an Exedy stage 1 in the box for a good deal so I jumped on it.

So now I'm debating on getting a Mazda T/O bearing... is $85 extra worth a little insurance?