Raider's MS3 Southbend Clutch Experience-Updated 2/19!

VTMongoose said:
You should have felt my ACT 6-puck when we were at ENM John.
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Heh, yeah I wish I'd known I was going to need a clutch at that point. Although I had already gotten the slip twice. But I was more concerned about my intake situation at the time, which is all resolved, along with my BPV situation.

The new version is super light. I would say, no more than 25% heavier than stock.
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Haha, that sounds heavy. This car already has a way heavier clutch than my Integra. No big surprise really, and I imagine I could get used to a little more. I also discovered that among the 2 'speed3's I've driven (mine and one I test drove at a dealer) the clutches feel a lot different so I'm not entirely sure there even can be a typical 'speed3 clutch feel.

Thanks a lot for the note on the fluid. That's good to know, and it sounds like a good idea. While the Ford has worked well for me, it hasn't been especially impressive. If the MTL matches the specs better it sounds like the right choice.

Plan for a full weekend.
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Luckily we have the hookup around here for a pro that I trust. I'll probably go that route. I'm kinda strapped for time recently such that I probably should just go into git 'er dun mode, and there's no way I want to spend an entire weekend wrenching anytime soon.

Interesting to hear your take on the flywheel options. I was probably going to lean toward the Prolite, if going ACT, because it's less expensive and I haven't seen anyone say it was more difficult to drive.
 
John said:
I need a clutch now, added upgrades and tried to 3rd WOT log and clutch goes WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I'd seen some slippage in the run-up to this anyway, first in 5th a couple times, then in 4th a couple times - so I thought it might come to this. So much pwar in the Freektoons.

So I have questions:

1. Are you saying you'd go FoMoCo XT for fluid if you were doing it again? I haven't heard any direct comparisons between the fluids. I have FoMoCo now, but have heard MT90 is more recommended for gen2 so I was planning to try it. Open to sticking to the FoMoCo if you're saying it's better, and many say it's better in winter which is a concern up here.

2. I'd like to keep the pedal forces down as well...like you said, old. You said you'd go Endurance, but you also said 500 ft-lbs. The stage 2 endurance is rated 400 ft-lbs. So that seems like the right range for me, since I don't intend to ever build my motor - should hold whatever I throw at it that won't bend rods. Is that the one you're saying you'd do if you were doing it again? Or were you actually talking stage 3 endurance? Because the stage 3 daily is 430 ft-lbs, and the stage 3 endurance is 500.

3. Did you hold an install day, or did you go to a pro for your clutch install?

4. Did you choose SB because the ACT kits that are less costly have higher pedal effort? Because the ACT kit is ~$230 cheaper with Streetlight and ~$280 cheaper with Prolite or whatever, and they claim to hold 415 ft-lbs. That looks like a good walue, but if the pedal effort is stupid high and I do a moderate amount of city driving it's totally worth it for a reasonable pedal effort.
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1) I ran MT90 and love the unicorn jizz. Won't go back.
2) did daily because back then, 340 torque was not gonna happen. Then in went turbo. Now endurance stage 2 for the 500 lbs torque.
3) had a ASE master tech do it. He's a friend, worked for some $ and 12 lbs of pulled pork. My back has 2 bad discs, which kills a lot of my options for major repairs.

4)Skipped ACT due to their history of issues. May also consider the RD Motorsports clutch and a fizanza. Got a long time for that I think.
 
Raider said:
2) did daily because back then, 340 torque was not gonna happen. Then in went turbo. Now endurance stage 2 for the 500 lbs torque.
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LOL working for pork, I like this guy.

Endurance stage 2 is 400 torques not 500. Hence my question if you really mean that one?
 
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Oh well shit. Guess I need to reevaluate life. Heh.


Sent from my iFail using Tapatalk
 
Hey @Raider , still enjoying the SB stage 2 endurance? I am starting to think about a new clutch as my current one is getting noisy and big power plans (BNRs3+meth) coming later this year.
 
I have the Stage 2 Daily Driver. I ended up in stop and go traffic for an hour recently, and it was brutal on my knee. But the overall driving is fine. My regret is the max torque of 340 lbs has blocked me from pushing the Corksport turbo (and my car) further. I did not expect to upgrade the K04, and the Daily Driver seemed ideal then. 2 times now I have smoked the clutch in 4th WOT.

The cool kids are doing the ACT 6 puck and the street something Fidanza flywheel combo. If I had the $ to do it, I would swap it to either the 6 puck or endurance, so I can go E85/Meth/IntakeManifold/Downpipe.

But I will stand by that for a K04 powered Mazdaspeed, I think the Daily is OK. But would look at other options.
 
is the endurance supposed to be easier on the knees? I wanted to avoid the 6 puck for noise reasons since its my daily and I am actively always trying to make my cabin quieter for sound quality purposes from my stereo. it may not be possible but i am looking for a quiet 400 hp easy on the knees set up, is that too much to ask for? or is it pick two of the three?
 
I cannot remember the difference between the endurance and the daily. If endurance is easier on the knees, I bought the wrong one to begin with!
 
brainbot1 said:
is the endurance supposed to be easier on the knees? I wanted to avoid the 6 puck for noise reasons since its my daily and I am actively always trying to make my cabin quieter for sound quality purposes from my stereo. it may not be possible but i am looking for a quiet 400 hp easy on the knees set up, is that too much to ask for? or is it pick two of the three?
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The 6 puck is pretty tolerable as long as you're not idling at certain RPM's with the A/C on. Honestly my theory is that most of the noise for both the stock and 6 puck clutches comes from the TOB rattling. Also, the pedal pressure is very light. You're welcome to sit in mine sometime and see what you think. I've been happy with mine so far and have not tried @Raider 's to see how light his SB is compared to my ACT. I would say the ACT is roughly 25% stiffer than stock.
 
Sounds like we are pretty close then feel-wise.

And FWIW, AC on and clutch out, yeah it makes noise. Need that dual mass flywheel to prevent that.
 
My stock clutch made more noise than my ACT at idle honestly. I think my springs were starting to go bad in my flywheel though. I was also getting a lot of weird vibrations when I let the clutch out leading up to when we pulled my stock clutch.
 
Damn Raider, you're already smoking the clutch at that tq level? My LUK replacement and Fidanza are holding strong on the 93 GTX3076 tune. Starting e85 here in a few days so we will see how far I can push it.

I want more details on the RD Motorsprots clutch kit, got a link to the product? I cannot find anything on their website.
 
JTaylor said:
Damn Raider, you're already smoking the clutch at that tq level? My LUK replacement and Fidanza are holding strong on the 93 GTX3076 tune. Starting e85 here in a few days so we will see how far I can push it.

I want more details on the RD Motorsprots clutch kit, got a link to the product? I cannot find anything on their website.
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I would hold off on that RD one...will text with you later.

The daily driver clutch is rated for 340 lbs, and I am at 337 lbs of torque.
 
VTMongoose said:
The 6 puck is pretty tolerable as long as you're not idling at certain RPM's with the A/C on. Honestly my theory is that most of the noise for both the stock and 6 puck clutches comes from the TOB rattling. Also, the pedal pressure is very light. You're welcome to sit in mine sometime and see what you think. I've been happy with mine so far and have not tried @Raider 's to see how light his SB is compared to my ACT. I would say the ACT is roughly 25% stiffer than stock.
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I have an upgraded throw out bearing with an ACT 6-pick sprung clutch, and I still get a lot of clutch chatter.

I also have removed the balance shaft though.
 
Bad metal sounds and 1/8 mile later failure. No fluid leaks, I think the pressure plate exploded. Luk dual mass flywheel sourced on ebay for $541 (fidanza is no longer working with Luk clutches,excess metal.) and oem clutch, pressure plate, TOB, hardware sourced at work and Edge Autosport. Work has me in a CX-9 and will be finished end of this week maybe. Plus is, I can handle more than 340 lbs of torque if I decide to go into the rabbit hole after winning lotto.

About 57k or so on the SB Stage 2 Daily Driver clutch. I'll post pics when pulled.

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Feel like you need to have the number for that tow company saved
 
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