Custom made uprated clutch...where/who from?

griffindai

Torque Junkie
Points
77
Location
South Wales
Car
Saab 9-3 v6 Aero
As there's a vast amount of experience here :)

I need an uprated clutch for the Saab, due to the higher torque my tuner gets from his maps in a bit limited to aftermarket clutch options. SPEC do a 3+ which I've been told will hold the torque, but some have had issues with longevity and problems with SPEC's after sales service (putting it politely!!)

Sachs are out as they won't build a small batch of beefier clutches to suit, and the most torque they can hold is around 460ft/lbs.

(Needs to hold up to 550ft/lbs on this map)

There's a mini twin disc kit in the works on one of the Saab forums in the States but it keeps getting held up, this would be ideal! Holds 650ft/lbs, comes with a billet flywheel plus 2x stage 3 friction discs (it's basically one unit) and costs around the same price as a SPEC 3+ clutch plus a new DMF or solid flywheel. (Probably around 100 quid extra incl shipping & duty/taxes)

There's the Clutchmasters Clutch (FX350?) that holds mega torque (1,200ft/lbs or something loopy!!) but it's way too expensive and waaaay overkill for my needs!

So that's the only really off the shelf options I can find, but has anybody had a spare clutch rebuilt to hold more torque? I've been told that CG clutches will make a custom clutch to suit but afaik nobody in the Saab world has used them on these cars? Has anybody used these here please? Or can anybody recommend a UK firm who could build a new clutch to suit my needs?

Not after a paddle clutch just something reliable that'll hold 550ft/lbs.....and not break the bank!

Ta Dai
 
I think Os is the Auto mate.

That's one option I did think about though, manual > Auto conversion!

The V6's Auto box can take a fair amount of torque :)

Here's an auto with JZW stage 5 E85 tune (19t) from across the pond :)
 
Just heard CG clutches will only guarantee a 40% torque increase with a relined disc, just waiting to find out if that's 40% over standard torque or 40% over the standard clutches max capability.

Apparently the standard clutch can take up to 521Nm (384ft/lbs) and slips above this....I think I'm around 420-430ft/lbs already (569-583Nm) depending what maps loaded.

Fingers crossed the 40% is on top of the standard clutchs max capability which should get 729Nm (538ft/lbs) ....40% above the cars standard torque (350Nm or 258ft/lbs) is 490Nm (361ft/lbs) .....and that's less than a standard clutch can take! So it's pointless getting.

^^^^i think all that's right anyway! Been a long day!

If that 40% really is above the max capability and gets me a 500+ft/lbs clutch I'm going for it!
 
:( :( :(

Confirmed :(

40% above standard torque so around 350ft/lbs. Gutted!!!

Makes no sense to me this! Why go for a custom all singing/dancing fancy Kevlar clutch....that holds less torque than a standard one?

Reading online they do seem a bit conservative about this 40% and it could be more but can't risk it, realistically it needs to hold 100% over standard. If I could change it myself I'd go for it but with the added expense of the diff plus anything else I need its 100% a garage job!

Can't understand it! If SPEC can do it, surely others can too...
 
Exedy (Japanese) make clutches for some Saabs so they must be worth a look and their triple plate carbon clutches will hold that bhp and torque comfortably and a twin plate may even do the job .

I have a carbon triple plate Exedy which is rated to around 800bhp and it copes with 570 ft lbs with no problems and that's with launch control . Of course good things are rarely cheap. My triple plate cost over £2k plus fitting

Now I may of got the op s idea of expensive wrong because I don't know how much a .spec clutch is.

And I cant imagine those power figures come from just a map - the motor must have had a fair amount of cash spent on it to produce that power so it's reasonable to expect to pay in a similar way for a decent clutch.
 
Exedy (Japanese) make clutches for some Saabs so they must be worth a look and their triple plate carbon clutches will hold that bhp and torque comfortably and a twin plate may even do the job .

I have a carbon triple plate Exedy which is rated to around 800bhp and it copes with 570 ft lbs with no problems and that's with launch control . Of course good things are rarely cheap. My triple plate cost over £2k plus fitting

Now I may of got the op s idea of expensive wrong because I don't know how much a .spec clutch is.

And I cant imagine those power figures come from just a map - the motor must have had a fair amount of cash spent on it to produce that power so it's reasonable to expect to pay in a similar way for a decent clutch.

I can get the spec 3+ for £710 delivered.
Then looking at say £450 for a DMF or solid flywheel
That holds around 530-540ft/lbs but slips any higher. Should be fine for my goal but I've heard a few guys aren't happy with the 3+ and have some clutch slip after maybe 10k miles.

The spec min twin disc kit that's under development is $1,200 plus shipping & tax from the states.
This is rated for up to 650ft/lbs & comes with the lightened flywheel in the package plus 2x stage 3 discs.
This would be ideal but it's been ongoing for well over a year now and keeps getting put back so might not come available for a while yet :(

Other expenses are the Quaife LSD, £650 plus around £350/400 labour to fit the lot.

The only mods for the stage 5 tune are a 18t/19t or billet 20T turbo (just larger compressor housing) 3" DP, bigger IC, 550cc injectors plus another remap. I've got all the bits upstairs ready to fit (turbos a new 18t from the insignia VXR) just need this clutch sorted.
 
Forgot to update this.

After a few emails back & forward to CG Motorsport they're now making a limited run of their 666 & 777 clutches for the Saab & Vectra VXR.

I've gone for the 777 kit which is a paddle clutch and should hold the torque fine.
So should be here in 3 weeks or so!

Quaife LSD is here ready to fit, so everything's getting installed mid Sept!!
 
Not much choice mate. I can't find anything that'll reliably hold around 500ft/lbs.

That Spec mini twin disc looks like it's not going to happen and the guys using the SpEC 3+ are all having issues after around 10k miles. The stage 4 with solid flywheel seems to be holding but still early days.

Never had a paddle clutch before so looking forward to it/something different!! They sell them in 8, 5 & 4 puck. I'll probably go for the 5 :)
 
I had one in my Elan back in th e80s. Couldn't get it out of the garage - it was like an on/off switch. Ended up increasing the size of the slave cylinder and increasing the length of the master cylinder rod in order to get enough pedal movement :)

With the new engine (600bhp and around 520lb/ft on race fuel) I am using a 7 1/4" 2 plate sintered metallic Tilton clutch. They also do a 3 plate version.
 
Someone mentioned a Tilton clutch on the U.S. Saab forums mate but that went way over my head! I'm not too clued up on clutches and still learning.

I'll suck it & see with this, they've guaranteed it'll hold 450ft/lbs but should hold a fair bit more, it's rated at 150% over standard so roughly 620ft/lbs (or there abouts) I'm guessing I'll be close to 500 on this turbo, if it's holding ok after a year I might upgrade the old 15t TD04 with the billet 20T compressor wheel, that's me at to flow around 10% more than the 19t most use. That's about as big as I can go here before swapping turbos for something big. Loads of hassle with hardware changes though I doubt that'll happen, plus I want to keep it nice & quick under 80-90, no more big laggy turbos for me!!

It's this clutch:
http://www.clutch-specialists.co.uk...ch-kit-with-solid-mass-flywheel_p31006055.htm

£650!!!
 
Forgot to update this!

The clutch is now fitted, loads of messing though back & forward with problems getting the flywheel to fit & delays etc....6 weeks to fit!!! And a fairly big labour charge to get it in there (garage had to re-book it in 3 times and cancel other jobs so they've also lost out a fair bit here) :(

Anyway all done and here's the clutch with single mass flywheel conversion.

0095C57D-8162-4A51-AD72-F57AAAA36C25_zpstgkh1beg.jpg


Good news is the 6 puck is totally drivable (bit worried when I orderd it after reading up about paddle clutches!!) no issues (yet) engages slightly lower than stock, little bit of chatter at idle but not at all grabby like I was expecting. Just drives like a normal clutch :)

Pedal feel was a little springy & heavy to start but has settled down now.

60odd miles done....440 to go until I can plant it :)

Also had the Quaife ATB LSD fitted, dying to see what this can do :)

So far so good :)
 
Looking promising. I'll be interested in how you get on with the ATB as I have one in the Elan but it is yet to turn a wheel.
 
I haven't had a chance to try it really yet mate (sticking to this 500 mile drive like a vicar thing so there's no comebacks) but I can definitely feel it working even driving slow/normal. Just tugs you into the corners better, can feel the other wheel load up and just pull the car around.
 
I changed my front diff for a quaife ATB a while back .Simply a fantastic piece of kit the difference is really noticeable .The car actually seems to pull itself roung corners now.

Not cheap but worth every penny.
 

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