Drivetrain (Cooper S) MINI Cooper S (R53) intakes, exhausts, pulleys, headers, throttle bodies, and any other modifications to the Cooper S drivetrain.

Drivetrain R53 clutch replacement

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 8, 2019 | 06:06 AM
  #1  
cooper48's Avatar
cooper48
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,349
Likes: 747
From: DFW, TX
R53 clutch replacement

The clutch in my 2004 R53 (6-speed, 126k miles) needs replacing. Curious to know what others have done when replacing a clutch. Question: should I replace it with a dual-mass or solid flywheel? My understanding is that the dual-mass helps eliminate vibration. This is not my DD, the only performance upgrade is a 15% pulley (plus 1-ball mod), and I don't track the car but I do throw it around a bit when driving. Opinions?
 
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2019 | 06:38 AM
  #2  
ECSTuning's Avatar
ECSTuning
Platinum Sponsor
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 36,662
Likes: 2,517
From: Wadsworth, Ohio
My vote is for the valeo for DD and standard modded weekend cars. As long as your not doing some super huge build or gains it will hold with common mods., pedal feel is good. Nobody i know has really complained about vibrations.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/52151203/

 
__________________

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2019 | 01:24 PM
  #3  
Anakist's Avatar
Anakist
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 211
Likes: 6
I have to agree with ECS. A valeo clutch was one of the best things I did with my car. It has a sprung clutch disc and solid flywheel instead of the DMF being a sprung flywheel and solid disc.

I ran mine for about 5000km and didn't notice any more NVH, even idling in neutral at lights.

Check out Rockauto and eBay. I thing Rock was cheaper for the kit, but eBay was cheaper including shipping for me in Australia.

James
 
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2019 | 03:02 PM
  #4  
ECSTuning's Avatar
ECSTuning
Platinum Sponsor
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 36,662
Likes: 2,517
From: Wadsworth, Ohio
+1 , Yep, we have lowered our prices and have an exclusive with Valeo so we are the lowest right now, they were just updated, also we have a + kit linked that now one has at the time. Free ship in the USA main land.
 
__________________

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2019 | 02:21 AM
  #5  
minniedryver's Avatar
minniedryver
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 130
Likes: 6
From: Aquidneck Isl, RI
Another positive Valeo experience here.
 
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2019 | 07:37 PM
  #6  
TurboCola's Avatar
TurboCola
Neutral
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I found this clutch on rockauto.com " brute power/perfection clutch 95646SK".
It is almost half the price of the Valeo conversion kit 293$ vs 564$ Canadian taxes duty and shipping included in both prices.
Has anyone tried one of these clutches or has any information on them?
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2019 | 02:15 AM
  #7  
AnubisBC's Avatar
AnubisBC
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 24
Likes: 10
From: Portland, Oregon
@TurboCola If you zoom in on the pressure plate, you will see that this unit (at least as shown) is a Valeo clutch. That's not to say that the product you receive will be a Valeo, but there is a possibility that it will be. If not, I'm not entirely sure I'd trust the site, but there is no evidence to suggest this in an inferior product until it gets used and reviewed. That being said, I won't ever use a DMF again. There are just too many ways in which one can go wrong and require more expensive replacements. Of course, that's only my $0.02 on the subject.

I would say go for whatever you feel comfortable with. Should you decide to get the RockAuto version and the markings seem off when you get it, you can always just return it and get the @ECS Tuning model. With them you know you will be getting the genuine article.
 
Reply
Old Apr 9, 2019 | 10:51 PM
  #8  
l_danner@outlook.com's Avatar
l_danner@outlook.com
Neutral
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: Missouri
I went with the Valeo kit and I love it. Had some issues with alignment of clutch disc but maybe that’s just me.
 
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2019 | 05:42 AM
  #9  
cooper48's Avatar
cooper48
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,349
Likes: 747
From: DFW, TX
l_danner, I had the same disc alignment issues (syncing with the trans input shaft) so it's not just you.
 
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2019 | 07:55 AM
  #10  
Soul Coughing's Avatar
Soul Coughing
5th Gear
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 156
From: Northern Jersey
I have the Valeo kit and enjoy the lighter clutch feel. The engagement is progressive and gives good feedback.

Quick question though: Currently have mods below, plus a RMW header, and have a Dominator cam ready to go in once i get tuning worked out. Do you think im going to have an issue with it slipping? Anyone had any experience at what point it starts to slip?
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2019 | 11:01 AM
  #11  
MINI_Jason's Avatar
MINI_Jason
1st Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 49
Likes: 3
From: Iowa
We went with a LUK and a DM flywheel for our 6 speed swap. I do not care for the dm flywheel, but have no complaints about the clutch or clutch feel.
 
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2019 | 08:13 PM
  #12  
OCR's Avatar
OCR
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 795
Likes: 122
From: SoCal
What's the difference in the "assembly" weight ?
Swapping from the OEM (dual mass) to a single piece flywheel "assembly".

Mike
 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2019 | 12:03 PM
  #13  
R534life's Avatar
R534life
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Flo Rida
+1 for Valeo Single Mass. Nice light pedal and no noise.
 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2019 | 01:14 PM
  #14  
cooper48's Avatar
cooper48
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
5 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,349
Likes: 747
From: DFW, TX
Update: clutch is installed. The lighter clutch feel of the Valeo does take a bit of getting used to but it's working very smoothly. Couldn't be happier.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
PelicanParts.com
Drivetrain Products
9
Jan 17, 2017 10:34 AM
PelicanParts.com
Vendor Announcements
0
Jan 7, 2016 09:48 AM
shreksbrother
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
22
Jan 30, 2015 02:06 PM
bluesmoke
Stock Problems/Issues
5
Sep 24, 2013 09:44 AM
DreamMini
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
5
Oct 15, 2011 11:55 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:07 AM.