Hi!
Need a piece of advice about clutch and flywheel.
Ive tried to find any information about like-stock clutch here, but in any thread people talk about performance and FX300

my situation is more complicated. OEM clutch is working its last days and also anooying noise of flywheel exists. Wonna change it all, but without loss of comfort. My wife drives Mini very often and hard clutch is not siutable.
At he same time I really dream throwing out OEM flywheel - this ugly noise is getting louder. And simple new stock FW may begin to rumble very soon as I know...

What shall I buy in such situatuion?
Tnx for your opinions!

 

What are your current mods to the car?

 

the only mod now are JCW brakes
some plans for about 200 hp exist - pulley, intake, full exhaust, cam, injectors in nearest future

 

Pulley pick one of the many, intake of choice so far has been JCW, RMW shorty header plus exhaust of your choice or RMW Full Race exhaust, cam definitely RMW cam, while your at it get the RMW head with injectors and talk to Jan of RMW about a remote tune. With all that you can see in the neighborhood of 250wheel hp

 

I'm interested as well in an everyday drivable clutch, that is like the oem

 

Um, checkmate - I didn't see him asking for advice on 250HP...

But what am I missing? What is the issue with replacing it with a stock clutch?

Is your car so wildly powerful (i.e. 250Whp or better, that it will wear out a replacement stock (most comfortable available) clutch in a few thousand miles?

What are you seeking? The stock clutch is capable of handing the JCW and GP power levels with good lifetime.

 

Go with a LUK clutch, mine grips great and feels close to stock, and $126 bucks!!

jack

 

One issue may be availability in Russia. What can you get locally as far as manufacturers go? I would second that the stock clutch may be a good way to go.

If you are looking at replacing the flywheel with something lightweight, you may want to check out ACT (Advanced Clutch Technology) and use the clutch and flywheel packages. I have had issues with Spec and Clutch Masters, so I would shy away from those as packages.

Hope that helps!
Randy

 

You are completely right

Thanx Jack, will think about it!

Anyway, I'll order clutch and FW from USA - locally is possible to find only OEM from dealer or BMW shops. So it's not a problem to get most suitable kit.

We have official dealer of ACT - will try to call them, nice idea! But really it will be cheaper to order from any of internet-shops even after all delivery charges.
To make a choice of FW is not a problem. Clutch troubles me...

I really helps, Randy! Thanx

 

Please let us know what issues you've had with Spec and Clutch Masters packages Randy. Race only applications or street or?

Glad you're posting again!

Jeremy

 

I'd like to know the issues with the Clutchmasters....

 

I have had three separate issues with Clutch Masters. Jose over there is well aware of them.

The first was a clutch/pressure plate/flywheel package for a TurboKompressor car. It when in prefectly, no issues on the install at all, but the car simply would not move. You could row through the gears with the clutch completely released. I sent it back, after fully inspecting during the disassembly, and they sent another one out. The next install was at my cost, as CM would not cover any of it.

The clutch then engaged near the bottom of the travel, but within acceptable tolerance. It lasted about 3000 miles, after religiously following the break in procedure.

The last event involved my old race car. It needed a clutch replacement, and CM was used. The install was done at a pro shop in Arizona where the car now lives. They had similar issues to the second clutch I received for the TK car, and were not reimbursed at all by CM.

On the SPEC stuff, I have seen alignment problems with the starter ring on the flywheel. I have also seen the mating surface bolts on the flywheel come out. These are obviously both manufacturing issues.

Just trying to help with my experiences! I don't sell any of them - I source them when I need them.

Randy

 

Ok thanks Randy.

On the CM flywheel that I got I noticed they red loctited the friction insert bolts big time. I had to dab off the excess before install. After the clutch bleed the engagement for my FX200 was stock and now it's a bit higher off of the floor(after following my break-in period), which is great! No complaints yet from me using CM products(LUK made pressure plate).

Jeremy

 

Glad to hear it worked for you . After dealing with them on the return and support, I don't recommend them - not to mention they had no input on why the original didn't work or why the other two failed very prematurely.

Bleeding the clutch system (through the brakes) is a very important part of the replacement - good thing to mention here .

 

Show us photos of some of the failed parts if you've got em Randy. I'd like to see what could happen. Thanks!

Jeremy

 

I'll see what I can get - the Mule is in Arizona and the TK car I did is up in Montana. When I moved the shop back here I tossed the old SPEC clutches I had.

I sent them to Jose at Clutch Masters, so he should still have pics (and the first clutch that failed for that matter).

Randy

 

Ok post what you can find Randy!

So for CM-in summation-both of your issues were with twin charged set-ups(Mule was TC in it's final form correct?)? Were they disc failures or pressure plate/drive strap failures or flywheel surface glaze ups? Thanks again for sharing your experiences!

Jeremy

 

It's strange as we have sold about 10 kits a month for quite some time and NOT ONE has had this problem. Sounds to me you were running the wrong clutch in your twincharge. Our twindisc is the only clutch out there that has held the hp of these high hp turbo cars. Not sure who Jose is as he is not the head guy over a Clutchmasters. As far as customer service it has been nothing but excellent. They have stood behind every clutch we have sold

Go figure

 

Well, the first one failed without it being related to the TK kit, as the car never turned a wheel - it simply did not move. Same with the second on the TK car, as it was low engaging from the start.

On the Mule, it is no longer twin charged, and the new clutch was just put in and immediately failed.

Jose is who I was told to deal with - if you know of anyone else who would like to talk, I'd be happy to try to get help! I'm out 16+ hours of labor, and never got an answer on why the original did not engage.

Again, just trying to help based on my own experience. I do think it is weird that you have sold so many without a single problem, since the only ones I dealt with did have issues. I was using the recommended clutches for the power applications.

Randy

 

What flywheel were you running them with?

 

The Clutch Masters flywheel.

 

weird
with all of the clutch kits we have sold we have never saw this and if it was common it would have raised its head by now

Their clutches have been the most durable ones we have tested and we won't sell any others