Clutch Issues with ACT
 

Ok... So I'm at the point where I'm starting to think about upgrading my clutch. Not because my current clutch is bad or anything, but because I don't know how sturdy the stock clutch is at my power level.

Lenny just fried his ACT clutch, and I don't know how I feel about ACT. I do hear all sorts of good things about Exedy clutches, though.

So here's my question: Will a clutch for a regular Mazda 3 work with an MS3?

EXEDY Globalparts Corporation | High Performance and OEM Clutches and Flywheels

Exedy doesn't make a clutch for the MS3, but they do make one for the regular 3. If this will fit, I think I'm gonna be a guinea pig and try it out.

not sure but if that one works, ill purchase it. You can try to call the tomorrow and see what they say?

fuck ACT.

i wouldnt upgrade shit joel until u fry yours, these clutches that we see here arent for what u and i intend on doing ...slicks and drag racing.


keep us posted though,.... cuz eventually i gotta figure out wtf im gonna put down there too..... just too tired to give a shit right now

Didn't you have an ACT street clutch? If so, then I wouldn't blame the clutch for not handling launching on slicks. Street clutches aren't designed for that.

OP: Clutch Masters will build you a clutch, also. They are about $50 more than Spec, but CM makes very good clutches. I called Exedy back in November, and they weren't making clutches for our cars at that point. It was either Spec or Clutch Masters if you want to use a stock style flywheel (Fidanza). ACT uses a different style flywheel, so you have to buy their package.

Edit: Cain on M3F has a regular 3 with a bunch of shit done to it. He uses the MS3 Fidanza flywheel in it, but i'm not sure which clutch style he is using. He would be an authority on the parts interchange.

Edit 2: I just sent him a PM asking about the parts interchange and how his is setup. If he is using the MS3 style clutch, then I think you're set.

why not?? im not pushing some ridiculous amount of tq or hp..... fucker should be able to work decently for a mild ap... like myself.

Unless I am completely mistaken, the 3 flywheel will not bolt to the MS3 crank. The actual clutch pressure plate bolt patern MIGHT be the same but I think its unlikely since I believe there is a 1" diameter difference in clutch size. You also MIGHT be able to run a MS3 disk in a 3 clutch assembly, but that setup is kinda suspect and also assumes the trans input shafts are the same spline count and diameter.

act, thank you for your concern about how moderators and vendors interact.
it doesn't matter if you're an approved vendor or sam who brings the milk in the morning. this forum is not here to protect you. two people have had issues with act clutches with similar mods. and if you think for one second lenny's posts are going to be removed, you've got another thing coming to you.
good luck with resolving the issue!

Please tell me any street clutch in existence that replaces OEM that REQUIRES to use their lightened flywheel? Sure as hell tells me this was designed for a completely different application than what they are claiming, no?

Now my response to all of this.. TWO, yes TWO people in SOCAL, whom which are members of NATOR HQ, have the EXACT same clutch, with the EXACT same problems. Only one has slicks.. the other.. radials...

Tell me, a street clutch that doesn't allow you to not only go into gear a full load, but destroys itself with 9 passes on slicks? Hell, the OEM clutch holds up better than this. How many high 300 and low 400 hp cars on this platform are still on a stock clutch? Quite a few. this clutch sucks... the flywheel design, pressure plate and disc are not compatible with the car as you designed it. So, fix the fucking thing.

There is a PROBLEM with the ACT clutch and they want to ignore it. Fine... this forum was created for this exact purpose.. making sure future owners know exactly what they are buying before they too suffer as victims from a bum product.

Someone should not be forced to buy a replacement disc with less than 7K on this clutch... Disc is $165 at discount pricing and another $500 labor to do the swap... ACT should of done the right thing, sent out an entire replacement and figured out why this failed.

If you cant go into gear from a 3rf to 4th shift while wide open throttle, something tells me there is something definitely wrong with this design.

ACT... the next time you report a post, at least reply to the thread. There is NO running at this place.


ACT_____|WALL

it's really my fault for assuming that an aftermarket clutch could possibly be better than a stock one.

lesson learned, ugh

I wasnt aware you chose a clutch that mimics a big rig double clutch to shift setup from 1976 lenny

yeah, im learning a whoooooole bunch of new shit. i figure by the time the car runs right ill be broke, sold alexander , homeless, prolly weigh 132lbs ....but shit my car gonna be bangin

oh...and here is another member with the awesome product. just so we dont all think its all in my head.

in b4 cruzito

My ACT Street Clutch also failed after I went to the track twice and 5-6 passes. Clutch would smell really bad after launching the last time on my pass.

I replaced the street clutch and it was worned out a bit and the springs moved a little like Roy's. Replaced it with the 6 puck one.

in after cruz

Wow, you obviously misunderstood my intent. This was not about "how moderators and vendor interact" since Lenny wasn't interacting with us. I didn't ask for anything to be removed or to be "protected" as a vendor. Vendor or not, I simply find it distasteful for a moderator to be telling people "FUCK ACT" (or anyone else) so I decided to report it (privately, I thought). I wasn't looking for a public debate, only to register a complaint. I have better things to do with my time than to getting into a public pissing match on a message board just because I don't like what someone said.

Here's the deal ACT, I'm going to buy a Spec clutch because I feel as if your clutches are worse than our stock clutch.

I feel like you owe Lenny and cruzito an explanation as to why your clutch (which is supposedly a performance clutch) is less durable than stock.

That's all I want. If I'm going to be spending good money on a clutch, I want to know that it's going to be better than my original (or, at the very least, as good as).

Regardless of my feathers being ruffled by your earlier post, I would be glad to try and resolve whatever issue you have with the clutch. For best response email tech@advancedclutch.com. I don't get on the forum very much.

Well you can feel as distasteful all you like.. Lemme run down a list of synopses for you:

1) He called.. clutch failed
2) You did nothing
3) He buys new disc so he can at least DRIVE his car
4) You guys deny anything is wrong and blame the use of slicks
5) Other guys have the same issues without slicks
6) Your product is flawed
7) Fix it
8) Being a vendor here does not protect you from:
A) Crude customer service
B) Denying a warranty claim
C) Feeling as if you are being abused
D) Being called out from ME, My Moderators OR Community Members


And.. your comment about getting into a pissing match? You have much more important things to do, such as FIXING YOUR FLAWED product because he isn't the only one with an issue. Lenny did interact with you, on the telephone which you than chose to blow him off. Its harder to clean a reputation when you sit there and play victim instead of helping a customer out. Its even worse to blow the whole thing off within a community who is watching. Choice is yours.. its your reputation, not mine. I established this sites reputation on 02/08/08 and its still in good standing last time i checked. I am not a business man nor operate this site as one.

welcome to MSF ACT.......... and for your information, i am a fucken MEMBER FIRST!!!!!!!!!!! moderator second......and since I bought your product i am also a CUSTOMER. and that gives me the right to report how i feel about it, im not looking for shit either...., i did call on monday and w/e.... got the info i needed, notice I never called you guys to get $$ back, notice I didnt file a claim, notice i am not asking for a refund, .......... I bought your product and I used it in a semi abusive manner...... and for 9 passes with slicks, thats pretty fucken sad since we can certainly do that on an OEM clutch.

but since you decided to post, ill be sure to re route now every member I personally know that has had issues with your clutches.

good day to you sir.

Thank god I sold my brand new 6 puck kit.

ACT should at the very least look into the issue imo. Look at it this way I make a bit more power that lenny and got 7 runs in at the strip with my stock clutch. Lenny had what 9 passes with the ACT clutch and its fried? really how is it even possible.

I find it funny how some of you think that a clutch disc specified to handle 365 ft/lbs of torque and is made to grab hard is at fault because it burned up after 15 passes at the track (not 9 - the 9 was all from last saturday, lenny ran i think 2 other days on the new clutch, 3 passes each 3+3+9=15) and I'm sure he's making more torque than the rated capacity... And on Drag Radials and Slicks no less...

remember that the upgraded clutch is made to GRAB and HOLD - it is not made to slip, and slipping is what burned up Lenny's clutch. I don't believe purpose built drag cars sit and slip their clutches do they? No, they bring up the RPM's, drop the clutch, and it grabs like a mother.

And as for the powershifting issue, I think it's pretty obvious that because the lightened flywheel actually accelerates slightly when the clutch is pushed in (since there's less mass for inertia to slow down - same reason a hub cap blows past a car if it pops off the wheel) and doesn't decelerate like the heavier stock one, that the transmission is no longer in the right RPM range for powershifting.

at least this is my $0.02

It's also funny how some of you think that you're clutch experts now and know how a high performance clutch for this car is SUPPOSED to work... As opposed to a very well known company that's been around for many many years and specializes in making high performance clutches...

Don't blame the company because Lenny got the wrong friction plate for how he drives... Either buy the OEM clutch which allows a lot of clutch slipping (because it's designed to accommodate all levels of manual transmission drivers - Mazda can't expect everyone to know how to drive stick properly and without slipping it all the time) or get used to the fact that high performance clutches aren't made to slip, they're made to grip - bring the RPMs up and let the clutch out, don't slip it out...

9+3 is 12 asshole.

and wtf do u know about clutches or drag racing roy..u never ran quicker than 14sec in your entire 40 year existence.

the clutches are rated at 365ft lbs tq... my shit makes 373tq.... and per ACT the numbers are low balled ..really are closer to 400tq.

what the fuck are clutches in the aftermarket for if not to race..... i have 340whp.....i trap 106mph...this aint a fucken big block camaro running nitrous.

i slipped the clutch minimally trying to find the threshold of tire spin vs grabbing. my oem lasted 80k miles.....u really think that i forgot how to drive now cuz my fucken clutch pressure plate is yellow>>????

gtfo ...go give advice about something u know roy.



p.s. btw roy........ tell us a buit more about your own clutch findings....tell us about the pilot bushing and how it came apart......or was that also excessive slipping driving style??

I talked to ACT today, he said he didn't know about the pilot bearing because I didn't send it in - I'm guessing it got destroyed because of the vibrations caused by the bent rod - after all, the vibrations that get transmitted to the pedal get transmitted through the pilot bearing first. They also said spring movement was normal, flywheel surface is normal, pressure plate is normal, throw out bearing normal. The only thing they found were stressed/stretched bolts/rivets in the clutch disc caused by hard shifting or launches (which i didn't admit to). I ended up buying a 6 puck instead because I plan on exceeding the 365 ft/lbs rating... they actually offered me a much discounted rate than what you paid, and also threw in a new pilot bearing for free...

As for drag racing, yes you're right, I don't spend my days dragging like you... you win.

And you obviously ignored the logic in what I posted, went straight to the name calling instead of addressing my points of logic above. Do drag cars slip their clutches when dragging? no.

You should have bought the right kit in the first place - don't go out blaming the company.

edit - and i said "I think 2 other days" so 12 is still > 9

cruz..... talk to hnda-etr... he'll explain to u how its your fault.....if you repeat something to yourself enough times u can actually start to believe it.

the oem clutch is rated for less than the ACT street disc.... I have had 400 passes easily on the OEM.... I know julio has had 200 easily also.... both on drag radials and street tires... he's caught just as good a 60ft as myself so the load is identical..... his clutch was replaced at 90k..mine at 80k..... but all of a sudden we forgot how to drive.....

keep dreaming..

Well Anthony uses the stock clutch.. drives on slicks and the OEM clutch works for his application.. its a STREET clutch designed exactly how lennys clutch is...

Now, lets say lenny purchased the wrong clutch... lets omit the fried disc... can you give me your expert acknowledge as to why the car wouldnt go into gear under load at wide open throttle during daily driving Roy? Wait, scratch that..

Can you explain to me why the second socal car, with the exact same clutch, having the same exact issues with no slicks used and 98% street driving?

Yeah, it cant be the design whatsoever.

then it sounds like it is not built for a fwd, if you can't slip it a little, cause if you can't you'll
be up in smoke if you have any power?
btw my stock clutch is the bomb!!

Oh the street disc slips, just not like the stock one.. that's why lenny's went up in smoke, too much slippage I'm guessing...

remember, the stock dual-mass flywheel also absorbs a lot of slippage by design, the single mass lightened flywheel is not so accommodating...

funny we talked yesterday and u told me that your motor wasnt pulled apart, so now u didnt know it was bent rods yet.... but I guess ACT already knows that to be the cause of your bearing failure from 40 miles away huh..... now who is being ignorant???

your logic is based on ignorance therefore meaningless to me , how the fuck am i gonna listen to one word you say when u have never drag raced???? i listen to people that know more than me, not less. you got a refund?? awesome, good for you....my time is more valuable than $200 .... so for me having a clutch hold the FIRST time is more important than getting a second disc for free.

and as far as how to drag race..... u dump the clutch if the fucken track allows....now if that causes the tires to spin and u end up with a three second 60ft then common sense tells u to change the strategy. will it wear out the clutch sooner?? sure, should it last 12 passes?? ridiculous.

and dont take my word for which disc is the one to get, ask the guy that drives the ms3 with the quickest 60ft IN THE ENTIRE FORUM!!!!! let me repeat myself.....when I dont know enough, i listen to those people with higher accomplishments than myself....its how we learn.

u keep listening to the guys that sell u shit, god knows they are objective...not like they are trying to make money off you or anything odd like that.

there is a reason why you to this day trust PTP and are getting your motor from him dude, ...u lack basic common sense when it comes to quality of products.

i think it is geared for auto x, who in the right mind would go lighter on the flywheel ?
i wouldn't, not for drag racing
it still should of lasted way longer

too much slippage??? wtf are u talking about niggah??? were u in my car on saturday??? were u the one launching???? I slipped the clutch less this time than any other time with oem clutch.....because I was actually pushing the limits of traction....first pass I blew the tires off....so i adjusted by leaving softer..then i started going wot sooner and sooner until i was almost going WOT and dropping the clutch right off the bat.

please dont talk like u know wtf goes on in my car or how i drive.... I got more miles than any of u motherfuckers and i didnt blow my shit up for being a dumbass. so keep your fucken opinions to those people who u have done more than...NOT less.

reading comprehension fail Lenny...

I never said ACT said the problem with the pilot bearing was because of bent rods, I said he didn't know and that I am guessing it was from bent rods...

I also never said I got a refund, I said they offered me a DISCOUNT...

The difference between us is that I don't automatically start blazing away both guns drawn like you and kevin do - I actually will try to see the other part of the story... If you had asked ACT in the beginning if the street disc was up to drag racing, I'm sure they would have said No fucking way... but instead, you assume that because it's an aftermarket part, it's made to take the abuse you throw at it?

what else causes a clutch to burn up and no longer hold? Umm... slipping?

And I didn't say it all happened saturday, it is probably a combination of beating on it on the street and beating on it at the track for 12 runs...

try not to get personal lenny, you're blood pressure is climbing, i can see it from here...

i would still expect it to out perform a stock clutch

im pretty sure u get the point of what im saying.....

should i call mazda and ask them if the oem clutch is up for drag racing????? should I assume with a reasonable expectation that a "performance" product will have better performance and durability than a stock one?

did u call pauter when u bought those rods and ask them if they would bend as easily as the MZR ones????

cmon roy....im 38 and u are 40...if you are gonna defend ACT , defend them with shit that makes sense.

and if I cannot expect ACT to make a street disc that can handle more abuse than a fucken oem mazda disc.... then FUCK ACT AND THEIR FUCKEN CLUTCHES.

buy act then because they are nice and yellow..looks real pretty down there...but if u want added performance, dont buy it because it isnt mean to be abused.


weak ass argument.

Ive been telling these noggers this for years and no one gets it.... They claim free hp with a lighten flywheel.. you know, ricer math?

If you can't get the power to the wheels due to slipping, whats the point of the lighter flywheel? Amen

im not as dumb as i type, ive been building transmissions for 20+ years and you need the weight of the flywheel to get the clutch out, plus it smooths all the shit out id go heavier if anything...

so.....here is your logic roy.

brand new broken in correctly (400 miles) street disc , high clamping pressure plate, light flywheel ACT product... rated at 365ft lbs ....12 passes and about 3k miles of driving.

vs

oem mazda clutch, pressure plate, and dual mass flywheel..... 400 + launches, 80k miles of daily abuse, 30 drag radial passes a tleast at the strip and another 30 on the street



now after comparing those 2 scenarios...the 80k mile clutch still drove normally on the street.....vs the ACT that basically ran like the clutch was covered in oil.....hmmmmmmm

yes, let me consult the friction analyst authorities..... brb


and i dont personalize roy.....if i did I wouldnt call you out on your noobish opinions, I actually get some grease under my fingernails every now and again so my opinions aren't based on theories.

one last thing roy. listen for a second to what you are arguing about..... and think if you were an honest spokesman/salesman for ACT..... how you would have to sell their clutch.


"hey mazda lovers out there, if you are looking for a nice shiny yellow clutch kit that is an actual downgrade from the oem mazdaspeed product....please get our STREET DISC CLUTCH KIT!!!!"


am i right????? because there is no arguing that fact here is there??? think about it for a second before you go defending blindly..... we are customers and are entitled to quality.

hahaha, i wanted to read the debate between roy and lenny, but that shit is waaaay tl

u should see roy debating pink rods then....quite humorous. nub