1) If I get a better clutch, do I need a better pressure plate?
2) If a pressure plate has more force stronger clamping, does that mean the clutch pedal will be harder to move?
3) How strong is the clamping force of the factor pressure plate?
4) the factory clutch is a complete ring of wear/contact material, I've seen aftermarket clutches that are not a solid ring, but has larger islands of wear/contact material. Is this more or less advantageous?

 

1) What do you mean by "better"? You should always replace the clutch disc,pressure plate,throwout bearing together at the same time.
2) Not necessarily, it depends on what type of pressure plate it is.
3) No idea.
4) Depends on the application. In theory, the disc with the "sections" should run a little cooler.

If it was me, I would just use the factory setup. You won't get half the mileage out of a aftermarket setup as you will with the factory stuff. Unless of course you beat the snot out of the factory one.

 

Thanks for the info... I plan to beat the snot outta the new setup. I doubt the stock setup will be able to handle what's going to be happening with the car.

 

You'd be surprised at what the factory clutch setup will handle. Then it comes down to who's making a high performance/heavy duty clutch for the MINI. It would be nice if Centerforce made one, centrifugal type that clamps harder the faster it spins.

 

After reading your comment I went to the website, came up with this: http://centerforce.com/clutches.tpl?...INI%20COOPER-S
Does this mean its something other than a centerfugal type? Or am I reading the info. wrong?

 

That's their Dual-Friction Clutch, not a centrifugal type.

Steve

 

The Centerforce DF204179 that is listed for the MINI is a centrifugal type. It should have the weights on the pressure plate, which move outward as rpm goes up and provides additional clamping force.
I know a guy who had a Centerforce clutch in his '67 GTO with a 400cid Pontiac engine, he revved that thing to about 5 grand and dumped the clutch, and just smoldered the tires. The clutch just grabbed on with little or no slippage. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it.

 

interestingly, the Spec stage 2 and stage 3 clutches use the same pressure plate assemblies, only the disc changes to provide more gripping torque. the compromise is ease of engagement, the higher grip being more snappy and less suited to everyday street driving.

 

The friction material on the disc does play an important role in the quality of the clutch setup as a whole, however, I don't believe that the compound of the disc material will make a vehicle any more or less difficult to drive, unless it is strictly for racing where the clutch is either in or out, no in between.
A dual disc set up would be nice for this car.

 

Back in the 70's a friend put a "racing clutch" on his car.

Made it difficult to drive on the street. High clutch pedal force, and very sudden engagement.

J D

 

Was it a three finger type? Those usually have higher pedal pressure than a diaphragm type.