Performance Clutches

[Cameron 16]

I'm looking for a performance clutch since managing to cook mine in a worryingly short amount of time, and just wondering which ones people have tried and what they recommend. I've found quite a few threads mentioning them but nothing really definitive.

 

From what I've found the popular options are the Helix and Sachs paddle clutches, but these are mostly for fast road applications. My 205 will be staying road legal, but I'm not incredibly fussed about road driving as long as I can pull away without stalling or lighting up the front tyres. The car will primarily be limited to track driving and hillclimbs and will spend it's time on semi-slicks or slicks with a plate diff and up to / around 200bhp.

 

Helix do a Group A (race) clutch - Here.

 

Sachs do an uprated clutch - Cover and Pressure plate.

 

And Spec do a couple of options, Stage 3+ and Stage 4 on this site - Click.

 

So what are people's opinions on the above? Spec Stage 4 and the Sachs look pretty similar, and Helix do quite a large range of pressure plates! I'm unsure of the price of the Helix though, it looks quite expensive with the alloy cover!

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

I bought a SPEC clutch for my turbo car earlier in the year, you will find it is torque holding capacity rather than power they are interested when helping you choose a clutch. I haven't fitted it yet, but its a nice looking bit of kit. You do have to remember that they are US based so do not know the ins and outs of the various Peugeot gearbox and flywheel combinations, therefore I ordered a clutch for a 405 Mi16 1.9 to suit my setup. I don't remember which exact model mine is, (3+ or 4, or maybe 4+?) but it is good for between 280-290 ft/lb, more than enough to cope with my 205 ft/lb. The guy at SPEC (David I believe) was very helpful in recommending a clutch from their range when I'd explained my use of the car and torque output. The one I have has a full faced friction plate so it will still take up smoothly.

 

At the same time I was looking for a clutch, I emailed both SPEC and Helix with an enquiry. SPEC responded within 24hrs and I bounced half a dozen emails back and forth over the course of a week before ordering from them. Helix took nearly 2 weeks to reply and were nearly half as expensive again. By then I'd ordered from SPEC anyway.

[Cameron 16]

Thanks Tom! Yeah I'm quite impressed with the Spec range and their prices seem very good (although I'm sure import duty etc will bring it up a fair bit!). Do you know if you have a solid or a sprung friction plate?

 

Torque output at the moment is 150lbft and will be around 165lbft maximum so I'm sure I won't have any problems with any of their range. I'm still quite surprised how quickly the standard one failed to be honest, especially as it doesn't make much more torque over a standard Mi16.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

What did actually fail with your clutch? My track car has used the standard clutches for the last 8 years of trackdays, even my turbo now it has bedded in is happy and not slipping with 205ft/lb, it will even cope with the occasional kick of the clutch to pull the bugger onto boost if I'm feeling a bit rude.

 

I can't remember if it is solid or sprung, I've a feeling its sprung, but I'll look when I get home.

 

I fetched mine back from visiting my girlfriends Dad in New Jersey in my suitcase!

Edited September 11, 2010 by Tom Fenton

[Cameron 16]

I don't know as I haven't had the gearbox off yet, but I have a feeling it just got cooked. It was starting to get quite snatchy into gear towards the end of the day, then when I got home (was on the motorway for 99% of the journey) it just wouldn't go into gear. I had to adjust the cable so the pedal was about 3" higher than the brake before I could get any gears and the clutch felt absolutely horrible, really slippy and spongey.

 

Handily my Grandad lives in the 'States and is getting married soon so I could get it on my way back from there.

Edited September 11, 2010 by Cameron

[brumster 135 1 Cars]

I use a 6-plate Helix solid centre which is possibly overkill but I suspect it is very robust, and will take lots of abuse. Possibly overkill for you (it 'aint cheap) but I've always had Helix clutches and so far not had one issue with either of them (only time I swapped them was because of an engine change of configuration). And they hardly get an easy time

[Cameron 16]

Do you use the alloy pressure plate (link above) with that or do you use a standard / uprated one?

[tony perks 1]

I have had no problems with a std Mi16 kit made by valeo, before i had the engine it had done 3 seasons track racing and i have done 12 rallys on it as well now, but i did have to change the pressure plate wheni sheared 2 of the 3 drive straps, must alter my start technique!, but have now fitted another new valeo kit and have had no trouble so far I know of at least 3 people who have had HELIX THRUST BEARINGS MELT that is to say the plastic carrier just melts and sticks to the first motion shaft cover sleeve, BUt have not heard of any friction or pressure problems from them.

[brumster 135 1 Cars]

Do you use the alloy pressure plate (link above) with that or do you use a standard / uprated one?

 

No, it's a conventional looking one, but probably uprated - it was supplied with it at the same time.

[Matt Holley 11]

I have had no problems with a std Mi16 kit made by valeo, before i had the engine it had done 3 seasons track racing and i have done 12 rallys on it as well now, but i did have to change the pressure plate wheni sheared 2 of the 3 drive straps, must alter my start technique!, but have now fitted another new valeo kit and have had no trouble so far I know of at least 3 people who have had HELIX THRUST BEARINGS MELT that is to say the plastic carrier just melts and sticks to the first motion shaft cover sleeve, BUt have not heard of any friction or pressure problems from them.

 

I am also on my 3rd year and 2nd engine on my Valeo mi16 clutch, it had done 2 years of abuse on a 180 bhp gti6, lots of track days and used on the road, when removed to fit to the new engine, 200+ bhp 2.1 it looked hardly worn at all.

 

I've used it for a year and a few track days on the new engine and its been fine, I don't see why you would need a better clutch on the power you are running, depends on how you use it I suppose.

[fast_eddie 0]

I ran a 4 pad AP paddle clutch centre sprung unit an loved it-You can slip them in traffic and they last very well in road use. They do not slip at all but be prepared to change the plate more than normal. Iirc I ran mine for 20k road/track/hillclimb/sprint miles with a huge chunk of that being road.

Centre sprung gives a little and will prevent excessive forces going where they dont need to on a road/track car, whilst optimising drive

[boombang 2]

Sorry but those first two sentences completely contradict one another.

 

Can you slip them or not, and do they last very well or not?

[Cameron 16]

I think he means it gives enough slip (or moderation) for you to pull away without stalling, but doesn't slip on the power.

 

I really don't know how I managed to kill this clutch, I guess all will be revealed when I eventually take it apart! Choice is looking to go towards a 4 pad solid friction plate with a replacement cover, either the Helix or Spec stage 4.

[fast_eddie 0]

Lol sorry it was late

I meant that it wouldn't slip under load at all however, it would also allow some slippage whilst engaging in traffic.

 

There is no way you could expect one to last as long as a normal friction plate. Reckon on 20 k max or sooner for an inspection to prevent flywheel damage--depends how you drive?

[weejimmy 1]

the xud9 valeo clutch copes well with 250lbft, and from what i gather on here the mi16 clutch is stronger than the xud9 clutch?

i cant imagine you needeing more than that, just make sure its a valeo and not a cheap clutch.

[Toddy 7]

Check on 306GTi6 forum, iirc there was a bad batch of valeo clutches.