Clutch Questions

[Metalorama]

Hi all, I have a few questions about my FD clutch, well clutches in general. Currently I believe it\'s an Ogura paddle clutch and I assume it\'s unsprung because, although I don\'t doubt it\'s a good clutch, it\'s an absolute nightmare in stop start traffic! It couldn\'t be any more on/off. The pedal itself is heavy, but I don\'t mind that it\'s the instant on/off I can\'t get used to.

I\'m a total newbie to clutches so these questions might seem stupid...

If it is an unsprung disc, is it possible to do a straight swap with a sprung disc or is the pressure plate likely to be different?

Does the pressure plate play any part in the biting nature of the clutch, or is this purely down to the disc itself?

As I said I\'m a total noob, I\'ve tried to understand by reading but it\'s just not going in, ha ha. I just don\'t want to have to change out the whole clutch if I can replace a few parts relatively cheaply so thought I\'d be best asking.

Cheers

[marf]

Yes, you should be able to swap out for a sprung disc.

The cover is a large part of the clamping force, it has a spring which dictates the amount of clamp force

Paddle clutches effectively increase clamping force because all the force applied by the cover is being taken up by smaller friction areas on the disc, rather than around the whole circumference of the friction disc.

I too had an unsprung paddle in my Charade Turbo. It was f-cking horrible in traffic.

Unless you\'re running huge power, a paddle is overkill. You\'d be better off with a cover with increased clamping force, and a sprung disc with 6 fat springs in the centre to absorb vibration from slipping during engagement.

[Metalorama]

Thanks marf, that has definately cleared a few things up for me! I think the previous owner had bigger plans than I do engine wise so he was trying to safeguard that.

So would a sprung disc on it\'s own help reduce the on/off feel at all, or is it likely to bite just the same if I use the same pressure plate?

If changing just the disc isn\'t going to help that much I\'d be as well replacing the whole thing, it makes driving the car a massive effort and takes away from the fun a little.

[marf]

A sprung centre will simply reduce the juddering effect as you try and slip it as effectively the springs absorb the juddering and stop it being transferred through the car/drivetrain/your leg, it\'ll still have a heavy pedal and a small window between on and off though.

If you\'re around stock power levels, go back to a standard clutch, or perhaps a clutch with a slightly uprated cover and a standard centre.

[Metalorama]

Ah ok, I thought the springs might allow you to slip it and make it release more gradually. Bugger, looks like I\'ll have to save some pennies for a clutch. Well I was told the car was around 380bhp and not sure of the torque figures, hopefully I\'ll get it on the rollers and find out for sure while I save some cash for a new one.

Any recommendations? Maybe something like this? http://www.advancedclutch.com/zx3-xtss

[Grizzly]

^ nice clutch. I know some one that\'s got one of those fitted, little stiff maybe but holds 450hp well tbh.

I personally would only ever use a Clutch with a shock Damper (sprung Clutch plate) if the clutch is fierce to start with you won\'t be doing your Drive assembly any favors.

[Metalorama]

Good to know, read only good things about them and they\'re not silly money. Well that\'s it, I\'d rather not risk the health of the drivetrain if I can prevent it because, honestly, I can\'t use this clutch properly on the street.

[Grant Monkhouse]

The material of the friction plate can effect how the clutch bites, ceramic is probably the worst, I had a sprung ceramic single clutch. Was a pain for the first day but my muscles soon grew to cope with it, was just bearable in traffic.

[Metalorama]

I have no idea what material it is, could be ceramic. It\'s just too suddenly on and off for slow traffic. Once you\'re moving shifting is fine, but I just don\'t want to stall it or put any stress on the gearbox in traffic. It\'ll be more use to someone else so if I swap it out I\'ll probably flog it.

[tinker-27]

Hi I have a sprung clutch for sale if you want one , sprung plate and cover plate done about 200 miles . It was taken out of a car that had a v8 conversion .


£75 + p&p if you are interested

[Metalorama]

Tempting because that\'s bloody cheap! I\'m properly skint right now, but if it\'s still going at the end of the month then could be up for that. Any idea what it\'s rated to?

[Grant Monkhouse]

That looks like an exedy clutch, prety good for standard twins with not too many mods. I used one of those with the ceramic friction plate, never had slip with it.

Think you can use standard flywheel too iirc

[tinker-27]

Hi I think it is a exedy ( was told it was ) , its sat on a shelf for months so if you want it let me know , tinker27@hotmail.co.uk  meant to be good for 400 bhp but do t really know !!

[Metalorama]

That looks like an exedy clutch, prety good for standard twins with not too many mods. I used one of those with the ceramic friction plate, never had slip with it.

Think you can use standard flywheel too iirc

You reckon it\'ll hold up to roughly 400bhp? Don\'t have a standard flywheel it\'s an Ogura lightweight one. Tbh I\'ve never changed a clutch or flywheel and don\'t know much about them, I just assumed flywheels were interchangeable.

Hi I think it is a exedy ( was told it was ) , its sat on a shelf for months so if you want it let me know , tinker27@hotmail.co.uk  meant to be good for 400 bhp but do t really know !!

Cheers, I appreciate the offer, I\'ll try find a spec and should have spare cash when I get paid so I\'ll let you know.

[tinker-27]

It will work with a light flywheel no probs ,