CLUTCH question: Kevlar, ceramic, CF?

I would listen to what they have to say.
Contact other manufacturers that supply all the different styles, so they dont just push the one they offer.
The Lamborghini enthusiasts would know clutch preferances better because of the problems with Countach-to-Murcialago clutchs.

 

Normally, if the car is stock, a stock clutch will give you the best service at the best price.

To your actual question though, there are still some variables and give and take with all the options.

Kevlar is used pretty commonly on street clutches to increase holding forces, I’ve never seen one wear as well as a plain organic disc. They are sensitive to heat, over-heat it and you need to pull it apart, deglaze and re-seat it to make it hold again, at least that’s been my finding. I don’t personally think it’s a great option and I’m not sure I would use one again.

Ceramic and metallic are not normally considered for street use. Unless someone has something new out, they are very on/off and hard to modulate for a smooth start.

Carbon/carbon works well on the street, but I’m not sure of the life expectancy. I have a tilton triple disc 7.25” carbon/carbon in my 500+hp 308 and it works well. I had to change the pedal ratio, but if tilton is doing your set-up, they should take care of that for you. On the plus side, the pedal force is VERY low, honda civic low, which is great in traffic and the clutch just laughs at heat. On the minus side, it’s not sprung, so it will chatter a bit if you’re not careful, and it is harder to modulate than any OEM clutch I’ve ever driven, not bad once you get used to it, but definitely harder to be smooth with from a stop. Over-all, I like it and would buy another one….I just hope I don’t need to any time soon.

 

Ray, here are 2 threads I post when I was planning and doing the clutch

http://www.thebestemployee.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1030
http://www.thebestemployee.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4309

The clutch is a clutch pack really, which includes the pressure plate.

I used the stock flywheel, but modified it to work with the new clutch and made an adapter for the throw out bearing. I decided to stick with the stock flywheel for 2 reasons, cost and streetability. The cost one is obvious, but a really light flywheel/clutch on the street can be a bother in traffic, you need higher rpm and smoother action to pull away smoothly and since mine is a street car, I decided to use the heavy stock flywheel with the new extra light clutch as a good compromise.

I only have about 4000 miles on it….I took the engine back apart thinking that since the clutch is rated to 800 ft-lb torque it was just plain wasteful having an engine that only put out about 450. I’m porting the heads, higher lift cams, new intake, bigger supercharger, better ECU and traction control to help get it to the ground…I’m still not going to get to 800 ft-lb torque on pump gas I guess, but I should hit 600 and 750 hp or so…unless I add nitrous too