Why you don't buy ebay clutches
 

So I thought I would post this thread since when I bought it I didn't really find anything conclusive about ebay clutches. There were mixed reviews and I couldn't really get to the bottom of them.

Anyways, I put a sprung kevlar "stage 2" f1 clutch in my car. It claimed that it could hold up to 2xx hp and 25x tq (Don't remember the exact numbers). I put it in over the winter so the car sat for a couple of months before I could actually use it so I can't give much comparison to the slipping stock clutch, but I can try.

The stage 2 felt exctly like the slipping stock clutch, only it engaged higher up. The engagement was so harsh that even with a kevlar disk I would commonly stall, being used to a much, much nicer clutch. It slipped under stock power, and when I turbocharged the car it would hold up until about 4,500rpm and then it would go nuts. This thing smelled BAD aswell. It slipped so much that it would start to burn, especially with spirited driving and traffic. It was rancid.

I finally got rid of that POS when the rear main seal blew. I have since replaced it with an unsprung ceramic 6-puck ACT clutch. You might be thinking that it would be impossible going from a sprung kevlar to an unsprung 6-puck. On a reputable clutch, that would be very true indeed. On this? The engagement actually got better. That's right, the engagement got BETTER because of how bad the ebay clutches are made.

Other people feel free to chime in as well. Just want to prevent someone from making the same mistake I did.

I've had a F1 stage 3 clutch in my car since I got it. Its fine.

I'm of the opinion that 75+% of ebay clutch failures are install related. JayL and I installed mine, were meticulously clean, and I've had absolutely no problems with it.

FM stage 1 is the only clutch I will recommend now for any non built boosted motor. I have done enough clutch jobs to know that it is something you do not cheap out on.

Ask Brain about that time were took out his transmission twice in a day and again the following weekend because he cheaped out on a clutch.

I've been on an ebay F1 stage 3 for about 15k now.
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote

don't buy a kevlar clutch and expect it to hold. Those things need to cautiously installed and babied or they glaze over and are ruined. Sounds like you did something during installation like not readjust your engagement rod, kevlar should engage easy, so long as it's a full faced disc.

That said, if you're buying a clutch other than the:

Exedy Stage I
ACT HD or XT (Street Disc)
FMI or FMII
949 Racing Twin Disk

You = Fail.

haha you bought kevlar.

ACT xtg6 here and its rough as fuck when it heats up
but it holds.
no problems so far

fail. you guys all fail at timing belts and clutches.

f u, my clutch is holding more powah than your car has ever seen.
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote

thanks for the thread. this definitely shows me that ebay clutches are hit or miss. looks like i have to decide between the act hd or fm1

I'd say FM1 for creature comfort. I've driven my brothers act equipped miata and to me its a pita to drive.

Fuck this! I've had my ebay for a month and I still haven't installed it. Its going in dammit! BTW if you're going to cheap route, go ahead and get the damn stage 3...

I had an ACT street disk and it worked great for 2 years. Since then I have driven several FM1 equiped cars and the clutch pedal is so much easier on them. So I have switched to only recommending the FM clutches unless you are baller and going for the 949 twin disk.

it's not ACT is that you bought a shitty fucking 6 pucked disc.

My 1.6 act xt organic street clutch has a much heavier pedal than stock but the engagement is just as smooth as oem. Does not bother me at all.

exactly.

FM2 clutch FTMFW ya'll! Yes, I listened to Brain and Shuiend. Besides, every one knows pink grips better.:giggle: Install ETA: Tomorrow

FM1 isn't anything to write off either. The specs on it are almost as good.

http://a.imageshack.us/img840/262/imag0113e.jpg

Go clog a cat.

I'm another that's been through an ebay clutch. Then again, it wasn't installed properly the first time and blew up fairly quickly. My current one WAS installed correctly, and is doing great, beyond the jerky starts. I'm fine living with that since it's showing zero signs of slipping.

The act xtreme pressure plate with stock disc is just as stiff(1.8fwd). Besides, that's just my opinion. My brother drives it with no complaints and wanders what all my bitchin is about.

FM2 here too. I have a suspicion that the pressure plates may be the only difference between Flyin' Miata Level 1 & 2 clutches.
Gotta clamp hard to hold up to 353 lb/ft so the pedal is firm.

Me having this clutch while still NA = rice.