Clutch Upgrade from ACT Xtreme?
 

I have an ACT Xtreme clutch with the organic sprung disk. I think it might be going out, not sure, but I bought it 8 or so years ago used.

What clutch can I buy that has more torque capacity than this one? Is there anything stronger than this clutch with an organic disk? If I swap the organic disk for a puck disk, would that improve the torque capacity?

949 twin disk is rated higher.

Any other option? I'd really like to keep the OEM flywheel on my setup and I know the 949 setup has it's own light weight flywheel.

I am pretty sure that the 949 Clutch is the only OTS option that has a higher torque rating if you're using the 405 ft/lb version of the ACT clutch. You could always get a custom clutch made for your application.

Well, looks like I'm NOT running the 405 ft*lb version, that one has a puck clutch. Mine has an organic disk. But the Extreme version I see online now with an organic disk has a black pressure plate, mine is yellow like the 405 ft*lb version with the puck clutch. So not sure what mine is rated for.

Looks like I could potentially just swap to a puck disk and keep my PP and gain torque capacity?

I'm not exactly sure how much torque you plan on putting down but I can't imagine a 6 puck rated for 405 ft/lbs is going to be fun to drive. A FM2 is rated for 353 ft/lbs which is a metric fuckload of torque and it is easily daily driveable even in relatively heavy traffic. It's what I run.

I dunno how much torque either, too soon to say.

I forgot about the FM2. Looks like I need to find out what my clutch is actually rated at to compare.

You run the FM2, how do you like it? Any problems with it?

I love it. It was only slightly heavier than my stock MSM clutch. It's easy to modulate and hasn't slipped. What else can I say? It's a clutch and it does its job without a fuss.

I've run the act six puck for 10+ years and it wasn't too bad for street driving.

Most people who get in the car stall the fuck out of it though, so maybe I'm just used to it.

It's not a clutch which is friendly towards modulation. When it engages, it is all the way on. Also, noise.

Can you slip the clutch you have to launch the car? Or would it just be on/off during that too?

I hated my act xtg6 (6puck sprung) with a passion. But I'm a #becausestreetcar type of guy
not too bad when cold. on/off switch as soon as it heated up or in traffic

Short answer, not really. Once it grabs, that's it.

Long answer is that since it's a sprung clutch, it will give a little as it engages, which means that you can get the car off the line quicker than you'd expect if your rpms are just right. A little faster and it spins like mad. A little slower and it bogs. It's not hard once you get the hang of it.

the worst was the hop/shudder in stop-n-go traffic

when driven hard or racing, it was quite nice

Thanks gentlemen. I'm going to probably not go with the 6 puck then since this is a street car. I've never drove a puck clutch but it doesn't sound like what I want. I emailed FM asking if the Level 2 clutch they offer is stronger than what I have. I'll see what they say. But I know ACT is known to underrate their clutches, and this one has been great so I'm hesitant to swap to anything else.

clutch "capacity" is often not even close to what's posted. I'm not sure how they really determine it, but for example the clutch in my wrx is rated to 330 and car is well over 400 and holds just fine, and it's awd so the clutch takes ALLOFIT

Good to know. I'm swapping out a clutch line, and maybe even the master cylinder again if that doesn't fix it. If nothing else gets the clutch to work right when hot I'm going to assume something is going on with the clutch and probably replace it. Thus this thread. I asked FM what the highest HP miata there FM level 2 was installed in too, that should help shed some light on what there's is actually capable of (not just rated to).

Just wanted to chime in. I DD an FM2 probably around 275whp and there is no mistaking, it is heavy. But perfectly livable and probably way stronger than I'll ever need. No chatter or any of that nonsense. It's great!

if you think the FM2 is heavy, try the XT ACT PP...

Soooo, is what I got stronger than the FM2?

No, I think FM worked with their supplier to design the diaphragm in a way it wasn't that bad on the pedal.