Clutch opinions Options

[yfn16]

What brands of clutches have you used for your 5sfe Celica? What's your favorite? Pros? Cons?

[cardshark525]

I went with a stage 2 or 3 Centerforce kit when it was time to change mine.

Absolutely no complaints with that clutch, the only real drawback (if you want to look at it that way), is that it bites instantly. There is no slipping with it.

[VavAlephVav]

http://www.rsgear.com/blog/2011/5/23/under...n-failures.aspx

this is an article I found while looking into transmission problems it mentions this bit about the racing clutch on the street.
Like cardshark said it will bit instantly and not as smooth as a stock one.

this guy says

Another point of early transmission failure is the wrong choice of clutch for the application. This usually begins with the idea that installing a performance clutch will improve the vehicle performance. There are a great variety of clutch sets available on the performance side and many car owners do not understand what they were designed for when making a purchase. The correct setup will definitely improve performance over stock, and the wrong clutch will make driving a misery and create big time trans failure. We see all the time that an owner has opted to install a full racing clutch in a street driven vehicle. In many cases the friction material is way too aggressive for use in traffic , which shock loads the gear train causing broken inputs, clusters and speed gears, as well as possible damage to the differential and drive shaft. It is very important to match the clutch to the vehicle usage. A car that is only track driven can handle more aggressive setups, while a car that is a daily driver with occasional trips to the drag strip will be no fun to drive in traffic with a clutch that acts like an on/off switch. This happens very frequently in light trucks, where somebody's cousin tells him that the way to go is a ceramic button type of disc instead of the factory woven friction material. They both will work, but the aggressive grab of the button clutch puts the trans at risk as well as making his girlfriend puke sick. Again if the clutch is not releasing properly, the button type or dual disc clutches will increase the failures dramatically. One other issue that results in very rapid transmission damage similar to overly aggressive clutch friction material is the choice of the clutch disc itself. The vehicle was manufactured with a clutch disc that had a sprung hub. This allows the disc as it engages the flywheel and pressure plate to turn against the springs in the hub absorbing the shock load and removing harmonic vibrations that cause gear rattle and other noise issues due to engine harmonic vibrations. In the quest for better performance the owner may substitute a solid or unsprung clutch disc, eliminating the cushion effects engineered into the OEM product. An unsprung clutch hub should only be used in a purpose built race vehicle where the owner intends to freshen up the clutch and trans every race or two. The unsprung hub will definitely shorten the component life of the transmission.

[yfn16]

I'll be going with a stage 1 clutch. Stage 2 at the most. So we have +1 for Centerforce. Anyone else? ACT? Exedy?

[match220]

I'll be going with a stage 1 clutch. Stage 2 at the most. So we have +1 for Centerforce. Anyone else? ACT? Exedy?

I bought a 6 puck ACT clutch about 7 years ago. Very stiff clutch and grabs very hard. Took some time to get used to it in the beginning. I either barked the tires or stalled everytime I let off the clutch in first until I found the "sweet spot". After about 1000 miles it was better. Definitely not a good clutch to get if you expect to sit in stop-n-go traffic, but if you want something that really grabs I would say get it. As far as longevity, I can't say how long it will last since I did an engine swap about a year later.

[mkernz22]

just get a freakin oem clutch. it's a 5s for god's sake.

[Poonicus]

Well I've been wondering this same question since I'm going to be under taking the 5sfte conversion. Any recommendations would be awesome.

[Box]

just get a freakin oem clutch. it's a 5s for god's sake.

THAT. Exedy OEM replacement and call it a day.

[Poonicus]

just get a freakin oem clutch. it's a 5s for god's sake.

THAT. Exedy OEM replacement and call it a day.

Did some reading on that clutch and you've got me sold box XD

[Smaay]

again with the stages, get out of the midframe of stages. company X has different rating for stage 1 versus company Y.

all you need to concern yourself is torque rating. if you have minor mods like simple bolts on, an OEM rated clutch will be all you need.

[1994Celica]

just get a freakin oem clutch. it's a 5s for god's sake.

But...but what if I have an intake? Doesn't that add like a gazillion hp? That's what my honda friend told me.

[Poonicus]

just get a freakin oem clutch. it's a 5s for god's sake.

But...but what if I have an intake? Doesn't that add like a gazillion hp? That's what my honda friend told me.

Don't forget the extra 50hp for the stick on flames on the car. Because having flames on your car makes it go soooooo much faster XD

[yfn16]

just get a freakin oem clutch. it's a 5s for god's sake.

But...but what if I have an intake? Doesn't that add like a gazillion hp? That's what my honda friend told me.

Don't forget the extra 50hp for the stick on flames on the car. Because having flames on your car makes it go soooooo much faster XD

But I've got an intake, flames, AND A HUGE WING!! lol

[match220]

just get a freakin oem clutch. it's a 5s for god's sake.

But...but what if I have an intake? Doesn't that add like a gazillion hp? That's what my honda friend told me.

Don't forget the extra 50hp for the stick on flames on the car. Because having flames on your car makes it go soooooo much faster XD

But I've got an intake, flames, AND A HUGE WING!! lol

You have intake, flames, and a wing? That's what I'm talking about...who needs a Skyline?!?!

[6G96GT]

I got full exhaust, cams, intake, and tune and just replaced my aftermarket clutch with an oem this past fall. A new oem is just fine.

[jordisonjr]

just get a freakin oem clutch. it's a 5s for god's sake.

This.
Unless you're making big power, get the Excedy OEM replacement. If you want to sound 'cool' and be able to say "I have a stage 3 clutch" and sacrifice the comfortable feel of an OEM clutch, well, thats your choice to make that mistake.