clutch going bad?, time for an upgrade? Options

[BBoYRuGGeD]

aright fellas need some advice from my trusted fellow 6gcers

ok so i've got a 3SGTE under the hood and im using the GT tranny with an oem replacement clutch from exedy. for a month or so now the clutch doesnt feel the same as it did 8 months ago. the pedal feels softer (not a limp noodle, just softer), it takes longer revving now to get into 1st gear, and sunday after the GSP meet after some hard driving it starting to make some kinda squeaking noise right when im letting go of the clutch, tho it goes away after the gear engages. aright the last part only happens sometimes but a gut feeling tells me it's gunna get worse over time anyone have any suggestions and/or advice about the squeaking? think it might go away if i replace the tranny fluid? i'm trying to get the most out of this clutch until its time to purchase a new one.

second...i wunna get a clutch that'll hold the power and last very long ('til the tranny blows or when i convert to the e153). speaking for the GT tranny, i've read from spec's site that the stage 2 and 2+ will last longer but is for light-moderately modded vehicles. the stage 3 and 3+ (with better wear characteristic) is for heavy modded vehicles and "offers good wear characteristic" <-- meaning wont last as long? anyway what stage do u guys recommend? since i think my oem clutch may just crap out on me within a few months

also i jsut wunna add the GT tranny is holding damn good now for almost 8 months. goes into gear with no problem and i have no grinding problem. i got the tranny with 75k miles on it and feels as strong as it did 8 months ago right after my swap was completed im confident this tranny will last me 'til its time when i HAVE to upgrade to a stronger one

bboy

[lagos]

i would be willing to be that a CM 3 and a spec stage 2 are the same exact product.

I will take that bet....but you got to make it worth my while to demonstrate proof.

They are comparable and I am not saying the spec is a bad product. I only know what I read and there are several people that have had chatter problems with Spec II and Spec III clutches. I could list links but thats probably not necessary. On the other hand, I have not seen a post in the last two years where someone had problems with a CM clutch. This is all anectdotal and does not necessarily "prove" anything. However, this anectdotal experience is all we really have to rely on unless some competent person has done side by side comparisons or tests. My $.02

i used to think the same way, untill i saw a bunch of different clutch disks side by side. you can tell that there isint much thats different in different brands. a lof the the disks are made at the same place and just sold under different brand names. manny bought an ACT clutch and when we installed his disk, it said excedy on it, lol... so there is some proof of that.

i think CM3 and spec stage 2 are a normal spring loaded kevlar disk. there really is no better or worse way to make that. the presure plate springs is pretty much the biggest thing that sets these comanies apart. some like to give you a near stock pedal feel, while people like ACT like you give you a back breaking hold.

if you do a search on the net about clutch opinions, youll find that almost every brand is slipit 50/50. people will start raveing about one one brand, then complaining about it on the next page. if you find less negative things about CM, then keep in mind that there are less reviews of that clutch posted, in general. most of the issues people hear are not really the disks fault, but install error, or bad break in.

the only brand im not a fan of is ACT. they make their presure plates so heavy that the clutch takes all your body weight to engage (in their high end stage kits). they also dont put any springs on the clutch disks, and that makes the engagement very sharp

here is a pic of the CM stage 3



and here is one of the spec stage 2



This post has been edited by lagos: Mar 4, 2006 - 10:35 PM

[hitcachi]

the only brand im not a fan of is ACT. they make their presure plates so heavy that the clutch takes all your body weight to engage (in their high end stage kits). they also dont put any springs on the clutch disks, and that makes the engagement very sharp

Whats manny say about his ACT?