Aftermarket Clutch Issue

[evo8904]

I had the rivets come out of an ACT in my Evo and it completely fell apart

I never had an issue before with ACT in my EVOs or WRXs. But this one has pissed me off. I'm going to purposely burn this POS up.

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[paul123]

I never had an issue before with ACT in my EVOs or WRXs. But this one has pissed me off. I'm going to purposely burn this POS up.

I don't really have much to offer for this issue, but I have been reading a little more on manual transmissions. This posting has a paragraph on racing / performance clutches :

http://www.rsgear.com/blog/2011/5/23/understanding-and-analyzing-manual-transmission-failures.aspx
Understanding and Analyzing Manual Transmission Failures


and this one probably doesn't apply at all but its still interesting:

http://www.jackstransmissions.com/pages/clutch-drag-kills-synchros
Clutch Drag Kills Synchros!
Transmission Care and Tips

 

[yellowragtop]

Is it possible that the throw-out bearing itself is getting "stuck" and it has nothing to do with the hydraulic line?

I would compare the stock pressure plate and the act pressure plate and examine the shape of the fins which make contact with the throwout bearing.

I am curious if you used the stock throwout bearing with your new setup...

 

[Sheenapple]

mine does this stock.. are you sure it's not Clutch Protection? if I rev to 6500 with the clutch in and slowly start to move my foot it will stay stuck.

you can also replicate this if you're trying to show off your exhaust while moving. go in any gear while moving and press the clutch all the way down and rev to around 6-6500, it should stay stuck.

not sure if this can be fixed in a Tune or how this works at all.. but this is what happens to me in those certain cases

 

[Grimace427]

mine does this stock.. are you sure it's not Clutch Protection? if I rev to 6500 with the clutch in and slowly start to move my foot it will stay stuck.

you can also replicate this if you're trying to show off your exhaust while moving. go in any gear while moving and press the clutch all the way down and rev to around 6-6500, it should stay stuck.

not sure if this can be fixed in a Tune or how this works at all.. but this is what happens to me in those certain cases

Clutch protection works like traction control in that the PCM backs off on the throttle in certain situations. In no way does the PCM hold the clutch pedal to the floor at high RPM's.

 

[Sheenapple]

well was worth a shot anyways

 

[evo8904]

Below is a response from a reputable company on the forums and also my installer. Next week I am ordering a Mcleod and selling these ACT clutch and flywheel for cheap. I have tested it multiple times now. It shifts really good at 6500 and below. However, once you get around 7000 and up, it sticks to the floor. I didn't spend $$$$ on opg and timing gear + install to only shift at 6500.

Hey,

I touched-base with one of my techs and there were some problems like this on the Boss 302 with the factory clutch.

Depending on the design of the pressure plate that was installed, it could be spinning so fast (inertia) that the pressure plate fingers fall down and it keeps the pedal on the floor.

This is just our insight from what we've seen in the past, although hope it helps!

Thanks,

Oh man sounds more like a pressure plate issue. Seems like the rpm's create a centrifugal pull on the pressure plate fingers......try shifting around 6500 and see if it changes

 

[paul123]

well was worth a shot anyways

sounds like you just discovered a warranty issue

I haven't tested my car at these RPM's, as its still new

 

[paul123]

Below is a response from a reputable company on the forums and also my installer. Next week I am ordering a Mcleod and selling these ACT clutch and flywheel for cheap. I have tested it multiple times now. It shifts really good at 6500 and below. However, once you get around 7000 and up, it sticks to the floor. I didn't spend $$$$ on opg and timing gear + install to only shift at 6500.

> Depending on the design of the pressure plate that was installed, it could be spinning so fast (inertia) that the pressure plate fingers fall down and it keeps the pedal on the floor.

will getting a higher performance pressure plate result in a stiffer clutch peddle ?

please keep us posted on the Mcleod

 

[Grimace427]

will getting a higher performance pressure plate result in a stiffer clutch peddle ?

please keep us posted on the Mcleod

Generally speaking yes a stiffer pressure plate will make for a stiffer clutch pedal. However you can increase the clutch's holding capacity through a better friction disc and through a better design on the pressure plate resulting in a very stock-feeling clutch pedal. Twin disc clutches can double the performance over stock while maintaining a completely stock pedal effort.

 

[evo8904]

Here was the most resent email from ACT.

Hello,

It would appear the diaphragm is over travelling and being held open.

I will speak with my engineering department and they will follow up with you soon.

Thanks,

Michael Mckaig
Sales and Customer Support
Advanced Clutch Technology
Tel: (661) 940-7555
Fax: (661) 524-0335
[email protected]
www.advancedclutch.com

 

[evo8904]

Awesome!!! Looks like ACT is going to help me out and I'm not the only one having these issues.

Hello,

I’m sorry to hear the new ACT clutch is giving you trouble at high RPM. While we have sold a number of these without issue, there have a couple of recent complaints very similar to what you are describing. This issue only seems to occur when approaching redline.

ACT has decided to reconfigure the diaphragm spring to handle well over 7500 RPM. However, this changes requires all new tooling, which is nearing completion. These take time to design and build, and there is no way to shortcut the required timeline. We expect to have the new version available in February, pending successful in-vehicle testing.

I will ask our sales staff to keep you informed regarding the update and how we can help you from there. In the meantime, we expect the clutch will perform as needed as long as the RPM is kept below the point where the issue is occurring. This type of issue will not improve nor get worse on its own.

Again, we apologize for the frustration and ask for some patience while we get the new parts into production. Further questions can be fielded when the office staff has returned on 4 January.

Best regards,

Chris Bernal
Executive VP
Advanced Clutch Technology
Tel: (661) 940-7555
Fax: (661) 524-0335
[email protected]
www.advancedclutch.com

 

[GT Pony]

Awesome!!! Looks like ACT is going to help me out and I'm not the only one having these issues.

Sounds like ACT either had some bad manufacturing, or maybe the design needs some tweaking.

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