clutch - alternative to ACT?
 

I'm planning on 12 psi when I get back to the states. While I'm here, my brother-in-law has offered to put in whatever clutch I ship to him. I've driven some ACT equipped Miatas but I do not like the at-the-floor pedal engagement. I'd also like to avoid horror stories like the ones I've heard from Spec owners and some Ebay specials. Who else makes a decent Miata clutch? This is for a 1.6.

Clutchnet

The ACT Stage I 1.6 in my parts car engages in about the same spot as a stock clutch. It feels really nice, actually.

The ACT HD 1.8 in the other car engages at the floor. Gotten used to it, and it's no biggie. But it's definately low and heavy in comparision.

http://www.dxdracingclutches.com/home.html

they can make the clutch engage higher, and are cheaper than act.

I believe the reason ACT engages on the floor is because they fiddle with the pivot point much like a short throw shifter to make the heavier PPs easier to push in.

I acutally got used to it, and now that I have a clutch that disengages at a typical spot, I kinda miss the low point.

There are actually a lot of alternatvies: SPEC, Clutchnet, Competition Clutch, Gripforce, Centerforce, Exedy, etc.

The HD I have in my car, is slightly heavier than stock, and "completely heavier" then the one in the Saturn OTM.

The engagement point is slightly lower than stock.... but not too bad.

Dave,

Hmmm. My 1.8 ACT's (been thru 2 discs so far) never engaged close to the floor. More like right smack in the center. it's the 307-ish ft/lb combo with FM flywheel. Funny thing is the second disc was constructed completely different than the first, even though they were the same ACT p/n. They also had Exedy stamped on them. haha.

The ACT setup is definitely stiffer than OEM and the centerforce dualfriction I had on it before the ACT stuff.

I've also never rebuilt my 185k slave :eek:

how'd you like the CF? cuase that's what im rocking now.

I don't think the ACT is as bad as people make it out. It engages close to the floor but it's not a big deal. It's easy to get used to.

I drove a clutchnet combo (red pp yellow clutch disk) for about 10 miles and it felt the same as stock.

The clutchnet option sounds good, I like that you can mix and match easily, choose your material, etc.

My HD isn't bad at all. I prefer it over the pussy clutch my truck has in it. I hate clutches that engage near the top now as my ACT is from the middle to the floor.

Yeah, engaging close to the floor is nice, engaging at the top sucks. Also, the clutch in our stock S10 is stiffer than my ACT XT.

Light pedal force like stock. It doesn't like to be slipped so try to not do that (the ceramic pucks will get glazed), although it did sorta survive a 9psi launch uphill starting in 3rd that my wife did when I was teaching her how to drive stick ("I'm in first, right?" "yeah babe, just don't roll into the guy behind us"). The smell lasted a week. But even before that it'd slip in 5th on the highway with my 8psi greddy setup. Ahh those were the days :)

Hmmm....just put in my 460s....holding 10psi fine ;)

you're right, pedal is incredibly light....lighter than my altima's....which is crazy, so now everytime I go back to the DD I feel like I'm driving a mustang

how can you guys like pushing the clutch all the way to the floor in a shift, rather than a couple inches from the top?

i push it all the way in regardless of where it engages...i sit like an F1 driver...all granny style.

Long legs.... It's easy to get it to reach to the floor. Besides, I find it much easier to control that way.

Dave,

competition clutch!

Has anybody gone with clutchmasters?

Spec, it engages near the top. Going to adjust the travel a bit, I think it's partially my pedal as it's not been adjusted since I got the car.

I like my centerforce. It engages near the middle.

My clutchnet disk locks up like a mofo - AAMOF I think the cerametallic material could be a transmission destroyer. I did a 5k launch and it broke the drag radials loose all the way through first and into second which drove out of to redline. The cerametallic is stout, but the grabby engagement does suck for traffic.

never on a miata, used them a lot in scion's.. worked fine.

I loved my Comp Clutch in my Miata, it held well, and it had excellent driveability.

since this thread is back from the dead...I have a spec s3 in my stock 1.6 and I love it. Pedal pressure i stock, engagement is binary but not a daily driver.

put 250hp to the wheels and then tell us how you like it.

:werd:

I've been beating up my Spec Stage 2 with 15psi on my greddy kit and it seems to be holding out ok.

SamNavy slipped his at 12psi on a T25. Have you dynoed yet?

I just broke 3rd gear with my ACT HD/6-puck. It grabs HARD. Rated for 296ft.lbs. Pedal engagement and feel is a touch heavier than stock, but it engages right where the stock clutch did, about in the middle.

Savington,how do you like the 6-puck disk? and what are your dislikes about it?

I'm still torn between a sprung 6-puck & the streetdisc.

1.6 or 1.8 size?

1.6 with a spec light weight flywheel. A VERY safe tune, but is making pretty decent power. I've either gotten an oddball clutch that is working well or break in procedure is significant. Or both.

I've run two spec clutches in a row, one was a "2/3 hybrid" and the current is a "2+" or something similar, it's a disc on one side, pucks on the other. Never really had any problems with them - if you get it warm enough (ride the clutch hard for a gear or two) you'll want to let it fully engage in the next gear, but the first question I get from people who drive my car is if the clutch is stock cause they expected a stiffer pedal.

Until the clutch stops working for me, there's no reason to give up the stock feel.

2000 FMII @ 12 psi + headwork