Another exploding SPEC S3 clutch

[AceInHole]

Autocrossing last weekend, I found it very difficult to shift into gear after the 3 morning runs. These runs were very high speed (should've been third gear) but I was staying in 2nd to try to stay consistent and ended up on my rev limiter 4 or 5 times (sitting on the rev limiter really). By mid- week I couldn't get the clutch to engage at all.
Tried swapping out a new clutch master and slave cylinder, got rid of the dampner, and still had the problem. Dropped the tranny today (it's getting way too easy to remove and install the tranny for me :bash: ) and took a look inside.

My clutch basically exploded, and 3 of the springs had worked their way out and caught themselves in the pressure plate springs.

Here's the clutch after I put the springs back in:
http://pj.240sxone.com/albums/album13/IMG_7029.sized.jpg
http://pj.240sxone.com/albums/album13/IMG_7028.sized.jpg

Luckily the damage was contained, and didn't rip apart my bellhousing like what happened to another SPEC owner over on FA. But, being the idiot that I am.... I've got a new SPEC disk on the way ($150 shipped for just the disk :hammer: ).

[Flybert]

The guy on FA got screwed over big time but I'm not sure if he figured out if it was the clutch's problem. This is just making me more happy that I decided to get an RPS 6-puck rather than the SPEC stage 3.

[AceInHole]

yeah. at the time I bought the clutch, I really couldn't find anything streetable that could hold a lot of power (sprung and pucked clutch). I'm sort of stuck with the SPEC since I already have the PP and the TO bearing is still good, though. Was looking into the 280zx setup (larger flywheel surface) but that'll have to be put on hold for a while.

[240_keyy]

the exact same thing happened with my friend's Exedy street clutch, springs shot out and went into the pressure plate springs. but then again he has 326rwhp...

[gilwankel]

Go with an unsprung disk.

[Bbandit]

omg.. i have spec s3 clutch..
i guess it will blow up soon :(

when it does... another 6 hours of clutch swapping work :wtc:

[Vatche]

well wtf clutch am i supposed to get, ive heard nothing but bad things about all brands ive seen, someone gimme some good stuff cmon! haha

[Bill Roberts]

RPM of mishap?


Ususally, good to 7K. I hit 8.6K and slung the stock one to bits, then I learned to shift at 7300 or so.



I hit 8.3K by accident and I did not lose the 6 puck, so, just watch out.

BTW for the haters, I can hit that RPM, maybe even 9K.

It is built to deal witn 12K with the right intake pipes/flow.head, And it is a KAE''

[AceInHole]

Originally posted by Bbandit
omg.. i have spec s3 clutch..
i guess it will blow up soon :(

when it does... another 6 hours of clutch swapping work :wtc:
harrr..... we just did mine in 4.

[AceInHole]

Originally posted by Bill Roberts
RPM of mishap?


Ususally, good to 7K. I hit 8.6K and slung the stock one to bits, then I learned to shift at 7300 or so.
nah. i was just pinging the rev limiter constantly. what did the clutch in was probably the rapid acceleration/ decceleration of hitting the rev limiter. i still think a high performance clutch (esp. one designed to hold ~350 lb/ft on a car that makes 250 max) should be able to handle that.



I hit 8.3K by accident and I did not lose the 6 puck, so, just watch out.

BTW for the haters, I can hit that RPM, maybe even 9K.

It is built to deal witn 12K with the right intake pipes/flow.head, And it is a KAE''
i was under the impression nasport KA's were usually tuned with an 8krpm redline..... and that's pushing the stock crank limit.

[Grant]

PJ, you might want to try the southland twin friction next time.

They also have a 4/6 puck if you prefer to have that over a full face..

They take quite a good amount of abuse..

only cost $285 total.

[Bill Roberts]

Yep, you are right, fortunantly, the crank is not stock in mine :)

The clutch simply overheated and overstressed in your case. In rapid deaccelleration, you can exceed 500 ft lbs...cars weight/momentum is a bitch

[Johny5]

no complaints here from my act 6puck cerametallic. its solid hub but doesn't bite as hard as i'd like it too, but i understand the rest of my drivetrain hates the grab as my diff is already going out...


open differential: 0
me and clutch: 1



vlsd time babay!

[AceInHole]

Originally posted by Grant
PJ, you might want to try the southland twin friction next time.

They also have a 4/6 puck if you prefer to have that over a full face..

They take quite a good amount of abuse..

only cost $285 total.

nah. custom flywheel + twin plate, maybe.....

[jy116]

Thanks for leeting ppl know! Let us know how your next clutch holds up huh? I've been looking into which brands are good...

By the way, what size rims + tires were you using? That could help you stay off the rev limiter, or have higher RPMs in 3rd instead of staying in 2nd. Im also asking because I want to start AutoX soon! :D

[StanBo]

My spec stage II failed on me in the same manner. The springs worked their way out and got squared.

My synchros took a beating when the clutch failed.

I had 150 stock hp and a vlsd at the time.

[s13chica]

Originally posted by Johny5
no complaints here from my act 6puck cerametallic. its solid hub but doesn't bite as hard as i'd like it too, but i understand the rest of my drivetrain hates the grab as my diff is already going out...


Just to warn you...I just replaced my act 6 puck in my car...do not buy this clutch if you are expecting to not have to replace it again in under a year.

Although this clutch is nice...and engages very quickly...I almost ate through my aluminum flywheel. They wear down really quickly. I even know someone who killed one after 1500 miles of hard driving.

[cdigity]

i've had my act 6-puck for 2-years now
and the car is daily driven, i did last
years season of auto-x with it, and its
been in a turbo set-up for almost a year
no problems, just had to adapt my driving
to its characteristics.

i think its a great clutch

[Johny5]

Originally posted by s13chica
Just to warn you...I just replaced my act 6 puck in my car...do not buy this clutch if you are expecting to not have to replace it again in under a year.

Although this clutch is nice...and engages very quickly...I almost ate through my aluminum flywheel. They wear down really quickly. I even know someone who killed one after 1500 miles of hard driving.

after 2 months i'm already about to buy a new disk

better to buy a new disk than risk having to buy a flywheel AND disk ya know?