SPEC Clutches? good or bad?
 

Ok so my gear box blew up recently and im doing th S2 trans swap for durability and while I have the trans out im replacing the clutch and flywheel. Im looking into useing the SPEC stage 3 clutch. reason for going so heavy duty is that I drift the car at around 6-7 events a year and lots of spirited driving between those.

Anyway with any new (to me) aftermarket product I try and gather as much info as I can before pulling the trigger. I have read DRASTICALLY differnt reviews of SPEC clutches for verying vehicles. for instance EVO x owners hate spec clutches and they seem to always fail very fast and cause damage to other transmission components as well. where as with mustangs, and LSX vehicles they seem to be the bees knees. holding up to very harsh abuse, and extreame power numbers. however I have been able to find more good reviews and experiences than bad.

with that said has anyone on here had experience with SPEC clutches and or flywheels in an RX8? if so how is it? any info would be greatly apreciated.


PS: I have had an exedy stage 1 (basically an oem replacement) in the car for almost 2 years now and it has withstood much abuse and still looks to be in great shape! main reason for upgrading is just to have the security of a more tough unit that I can beat on for at least a few years without having to worry about it.

Just get exedy. I have heard bad craftsmanship and shitty customer service from Spec. I asked this question awhile back and all I got in response was bad experiences from Spec.

Just throw in a new center disc & release bearing and be done with it. Stage 3 is a waste unless you are turbo.

My current OE clutch has three very hard years of competition use including well over 100 Pro Solo drag launches usually from 7000 rpm up to as high as 9000 rpm at high elevation. You are over thinking the situation. If you are sliding your clutch a lot then maybe a center disc with a higher temp compound at the most. I drop-launch mine.

I am in the market for a new clutch/flywheel as well and from my research BHR and other individuals have had trouble with SPEC, I was thinking of getting an ACT sprung 6 puck but i hear horror stories if you want to go hard an ACT sprung 6 puck but there will be "chatter" and rough engagement. I'd say get an ACT MM or OEM is always a safe bet.

do not get an ACT clutch. seriously thos things are crap. I know WAYY too many people who have ACT clutches and hate them.

if you arent looking for anything crazy I highly reccomend exedy stage1.

yea my 1st half season of drifting my OE clutch was pretty much done for. worked great for a full season of auto-x but would slip a bit when I got on and off the throttle in slolems.
at 1:45 when im comming out of tha last slolem you can hear it slip pretty good. this was the last event I did on my OEM clutch
https://vimeo.com/20719902

also I intend to be boosted within the next year so id like to go ahed and get a clutch that can handle roughly 300 hp and drifting.

Oh thanks willnordacgreen, do the ACT sprung disk MM/SS (not the 6 puck) also have issues? Im still researching around and am getting mixes answers, fuck it I'll prolly just end up with OEM, prolight flywheel with a new release bearing..

that I do not know. all I do know is that I have yet to encounter somone personally with an ACT clutch who did not want to save up for an exedy or spec etc etc. Im sure there are some good ACT clutch kits out there, but from what I have seen I will not go anywhere near them.

I've had an ACT HD street for 2 years and its been fine.

Maybe the people you know are shitty drivers?

lol that also could be a possability.

I think some people don't know how to drive and that causes 80% of the failures weve seen on these forums LOL.

fix3d ...

^ Well said team.