Clutch problems on modified cooper S's?
 

We have just completed our first upgrade to a stock 03 S (with 6000 miles) which resulted in 199.50 HP and 171.39 ft lbs of torque at the wheels (with out ice or any other tricks). The car was very quick and very drivable with no apparent problems during its 3 day test period before I released the car to go back to New York. The car was towed to us in Ohio and was supposed to be towed back home. Although the owner became impatient for his new hot rod (can you blame him I didn’t want to give it up) and flew in to Dayton and drove the car back to New York. Once arriving home he called me and informed me that the clutch was slipping.



MY question is has anyone experienced any clutch problems with there modified S’s on the street? I don’t know if this is a cause of the driving ability of the owner, or a problem due to the traction control working against the clutch, or what. The car is still in New York so I have not been able to asses the problem directly. I figured that this would be the ideal place to receive feedback on this matter. I welcome any questions or comments on the subject.



Your feed back would be very much appreciated. If you would like to contact me directly feel free to due so.

Sincerely

Michael


SPEC LIST:

1. ECU upgrade

2. Stainless header w-free flow cat

3. Stainless free flow cat back exhaust

4. Water to air intercooler upgrade

5. Cold air intake

6. 19% under drive pulley

7. Colder heat range spark plugs

8. Capacitive discharge plug wires



DYNO RESULTS:

BLUE= Base line

RED= Final result
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...tid=2814&stc=1

mm... did he have too much fun with the car on the way back and glaze the clutch?

Actually, i have no idea what i just said.

And i had no idea there was a mini tuner in ohio! welcome!... well, near me anyway (what are your labor rates?).

so far, the most power a tuner has made is about 260hp, and he only had problems with clutch slippage with most of his power on (this is on a twincharged cooper S). He had something like 200lb torque at around 3k rpms.

Factory tires? Then maybe the tires are breaking loose and he's hearing the DSC at work... :confused: ? Did he try with DSC off? DSC kinda makes it sound and feel like the clutch is slipping.

The DSC shouldnt effect clutch wear that much since it regulates the brakes as well as the throttle. When ever it decided to introduce the brakes it limits the throtle input as well. Riding the clutch and aggessive shifting would most likely be the problem. Keep in mind that the works cars come from the factory with 210 HP and dont suffer clutch problems unless driver error is occuring. IMHO the aftermarket ECU's ingage throttle inputs way to aggressively, the JCW ECU upgrade is a smoother power delivery to help maintain good clutch life, as well as the transmission etc. A little commen since connected to your right foot when you have that much power will help avoid added repair costs.

i dont think he's saying dsc affects clutch wear. he's saying that when the owner is stepping on it, and the tires start to slip, the dsc intervenes, and perhaps the owner is feeling the dsc intervene, not the clutch slipping... but at that point, the dsc light should be flashing. So i would think the owner would've noticed that. Then again...

I've had no problems with my clutch and the 210 JCW package after 30K total miles, 23K of those miles with the kit. The engine is not quite up there in the "mega-huge-HP" department but it'll get up and go :grin:.

From the list of up grades you list. It's unlikely they would cause clutch problems. There have been some instances of people who use the heel toe method(slipping the clutch on hills and in heavy traffic)overheating there clutches causing slippage, as well as those who leave there foot on the clutch while driving. Many here have equal or more upgrades who race there Mini's(on the track)With no clutch problems.

Um...heel-toe is when you blip the throttle while your on the brakes to rev match when your downshifting (I like to throw in a double clutch into the mix as well). This shouldn't hurt your clutch at all. Slipping it while going uphill is definitely a problem (especially with the long 1st gear). Keep the revs down and don't get on it until your completely off the clutch.

If your running 200 hp at the wheels, the bhp is probably around 220. If the clutch was abused a bit earlier in life, you might have hit it's limits that weren't seen at 160-170 hp.

Randy Webb keeps telling me that after about 210 - 215 at the crank things get dicey for a clutch. THat is one of the reasons i have not done the head yet.

Clutch problem resolved
 

Thank you for all of your feedback; it appears that he thought that the DSC was always off instead of being default on. When it was on he thought it was off. Once he switched it off it made all the difference and now it just smokes the tires off and what he was feeling has gone away (thank god). Now he is back to being extremely happy with the upgrade.