Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain discuss the wondrous effects of boost and your miata...
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Clutch Upgrade from ACT Xtreme?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-20-2015, 11:29 PM
  #1  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (16)
 
patsmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,293
Total Cats: 475
Default 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?
patsmx5 is offline  
Old 10-20-2015, 11:32 PM
  #2  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Leafy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NH
Posts: 9,479
Total Cats: 104
Default

949 twin disk is rated higher.
Leafy is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 01:33 PM
  #3  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (16)
 
patsmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,293
Total Cats: 475
Default

Originally Posted by Leafy
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.
patsmx5 is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 01:38 PM
  #4  
Elite Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Ryan_G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 2,568
Total Cats: 217
Default

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.
Ryan_G is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 01:53 PM
  #5  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (16)
 
patsmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,293
Total Cats: 475
Default

Originally Posted by Ryan_G
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?
patsmx5 is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 02:02 PM
  #6  
Elite Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Ryan_G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 2,568
Total Cats: 217
Default

Originally Posted by patsmx5
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.
Ryan_G is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 02:06 PM
  #7  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (16)
 
patsmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,293
Total Cats: 475
Default

Originally Posted by Ryan_G
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?
patsmx5 is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 02:12 PM
  #8  
Elite Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Ryan_G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 2,568
Total Cats: 217
Default

Originally Posted by patsmx5
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.
Ryan_G is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 03:16 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
AlwaysBroken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: TAMPA, FL
Posts: 817
Total Cats: 20
Default

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 **** 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.
AlwaysBroken is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 03:44 PM
  #10  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (16)
 
patsmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,293
Total Cats: 475
Default

Originally Posted by AlwaysBroken
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 **** 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?
patsmx5 is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 03:54 PM
  #11  
VladiTuned
iTrader: (76)
 
18psi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 35,821
Total Cats: 3,481
Default

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
18psi is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 04:23 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
AlwaysBroken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: TAMPA, FL
Posts: 817
Total Cats: 20
Default

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.
AlwaysBroken is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 04:24 PM
  #13  
VladiTuned
iTrader: (76)
 
18psi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 35,821
Total Cats: 3,481
Default

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

when driven hard or racing, it was quite nice
18psi is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 04:31 PM
  #14  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (16)
 
patsmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,293
Total Cats: 475
Default

Originally Posted by 18psi
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
Originally Posted by AlwaysBroken
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.
Originally Posted by 18psi
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.
patsmx5 is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 04:37 PM
  #15  
VladiTuned
iTrader: (76)
 
18psi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 35,821
Total Cats: 3,481
Default

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
18psi is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 05:14 PM
  #16  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (16)
 
patsmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,293
Total Cats: 475
Default

Originally Posted by 18psi
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).
patsmx5 is offline  
Old 10-21-2015, 09:54 PM
  #17  
Junior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
slmhofy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 400
Total Cats: 23
Default

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!
slmhofy is offline  
Old 10-22-2015, 08:55 AM
  #18  
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Braineack's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,493
Total Cats: 4,080
Default

if you think the FM2 is heavy, try the XT ACT PP...
Braineack is offline  
Old 10-22-2015, 01:07 PM
  #19  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (16)
 
patsmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,293
Total Cats: 475
Default

Originally Posted by Braineack
if you think the FM2 is heavy, try the XT ACT PP...
Soooo, is what I got stronger than the FM2?
patsmx5 is offline  
Old 10-22-2015, 01:24 PM
  #20  
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Braineack's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,493
Total Cats: 4,080
Default

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


Quick Reply: Clutch Upgrade from ACT Xtreme?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:29 AM.