Need clutch help

[HellaFlushSRs13]

So about 2 weeks ago I noticed my clutch pedal got really easy and started to catch at a different place, pretty much all at once. I thought it might have been low on fluid so I bled it and filled it up. That didn't work so now I'm thinking its just an all around clutch problem and that I should replace the whole setup. Unfortunately I don't have a shop I can take it to to really get in there and see whats goin on. But I did know that the throw out bearing was going out so I'm thinkin that if I have to go in there and replace that I might as well just replace the whole shebang. Any thoughts?

Next order is what type clutch to get and I've been researching it and I'm down to two options, either a spec or act. However I'm unsure as to which direction to go and which stage. I was thinking spec stage 2 or 3, or an act hd 6 puck. My car is a s13 pushing out roughly 350hp from a sr with a gt2871r and I don't really drift or drag more of just a daily driver / touge car.

My question to you is I've been seeing both good and bad reviews of spec clutches and so I'm curious what other ppls experience has been with them. Also do you think i should go with the stage 2 or stage 3? I have seen a lot of good and bad reviews about act and I have had good experience with them as well in the past, up until this one crapped out on me in this bizarre fashion. What are ur experiences with act?

Please dont shit up this thread with "f that brand" comments I'm looking for quality responses and opinions. If you feel strongly about one brand or against one brand please elaborate on your thoughts / experiences. Thanks in advance for the help guys!

[AceUp]

Ive used spec clutches on all my cars except one and never had an a issue. I love the oem like pedal feel and even when they were pucked it was very streetable. ACT clutches are very much comparable but I just dont like their heavy duty pressure plates that make it feel like the clutch pedal is about to break:/ Both clutches have positive and negative reviews just like with any other clutch kit in the market.

[HellaFlushSRs13]

Wow ok that's exactly what I wanted to know thanks. I'm leaning more towards the stage 3 spec. A lot of ppl hated on them because of the somewhat stock pedal feel, and with my old act I was not really a fan of the tough pedal. Have you personally had experience with the stage 3?

[AceUp]

I run a Stage 3+ in the 2j race car and its been doing awesome. I ran the Spec Stage 3 in my DSM, and also have a lot of local friends that have been using them on their 240's and havent had any issues.

[ultimateirving]

i just bought a spec stage 3 from Vitaly, he is local to phx so makes it easier. But in all my research it was the best clutch for the price!
bought it at aceupmotorsports.com

also, if the TOB(throwout bearing) is bad, its pointless to take off the tranny just to change that.
New clutches come with new bearings and Labor costs the about same to swap a clutch or swap a TOB

[HellaFlushSRs13]

Yeah that's part of the reason I'm just swapping it all out, even though I'm not paying for labor and am just gonna use my buddies shop down south, if I'm gonna go through all that hassle I might as well just upgrade and get all new stuff

[fliprayzin240sx]

ACT > SPEC...its been a while so maybe they got better but I had a spec stage 2 last about 20k miles before the plate decide to spit the springs out and lodge on the pressure plate.
I've seen folks get bad suspect parts straight from them where the pressure plate didnt look like it wasnt polished/turned. Got returned back to them, and looked like they turned it with sand paper, by hand. Then the same shit that happened to me seems to happen often, springs dislodging itself as short as 5k miles.

If you're gonna get SPEC, atleast opt for an undampened clutch (if they have that option) since the dampened plates are the issue.

[AceUp]

ACT > SPEC...its been a while so maybe they got better but I had a spec stage 2 last about 20k miles before the plate decide to spit the springs out and lodge on the pressure plate.
I've seen folks get bad suspect parts straight from them where the pressure plate didnt look like it wasnt polished/turned. Got returned back to them, and looked like they turned it with sand paper, by hand. Then the same shit that happened to me seems to happen often, springs dislodging itself as short as 5k miles.

If you're gonna get SPEC, atleast opt for an undampened clutch (if they have that option) since the dampened plates are the issue.

ACT clutch after 18k miles.
http://www.socalevo.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10141/hdg6_1_sm.jpg

There is no point of getting into this, Neither SPEC OR ACT are indestructible.