Mark A

iTrader: (1)

Interested in peoples views on paddle/sprung clutches.

Mines on its last legs & wonder if there's an advantage to getting a paddle clutch.

Also anybody using a ceramic/metalic clutch, again any advantage/disadvantage or organic

johnfelstead

Mark,
dont use a paddle clutch on your road car, they are not needed. Paddle clutches are a pain in the *** in trafic. As to cerametalic, dont go there, they are far too viceous and needed only for full race apps with very sticky tyres.

Use something like an AP Racing uprated organic clutch. It will give a lovely progresive bite and can handle the torque quite easily. Just dont go doing 7000rpm launches in it OK!

CMA

I'll go with the other reply on this Mark.

We use a creamic paddle clutch on our Group A Escort Cosworth which Briam finds a really pain if ever a road (non competitive) section goes through a town.

I was advise by Alan at Questmead (Mintex and AP competition parts supplier) to avoid ceramic or paddle clutches on road cars when my '92 Legacy turbo clutch needed replacement in March. He did quote for an AP organic spring clutch but was uncompetitive...

firefox

Howdy..

I agree witht he others about not using a paddle clutch.

I have used these in the past.. and are an absolute **** to use.

Cermatalic is ok... try not to get confused with sintered clutchs.

3 types: organic, cermatallic, sintered

Organic is your bogo stock type clutch material. Cermettalic is a little harsher, but can handle higher temps (more slip). Sintered is an ****.. material designed for race applications. Normally found on paddle clutches, or button clutches (pad design is the same as paddle).

J.

johnfelstead

****. i have my head up my *** right now.

Sintered is what is used for full race apps, usually in multiplate aplications. We use a 3 plate 7 1/2" grey presure plated sintered clutch in the Esprit 5 litre race car.

Paddle clutches use a cerametallic material. We use a 4 paddle unit (they come in 4's and 6's) in our GroupA Escort cossie forest car. It's fairly easy to drive on the road but really toss in trafic.

Organic is your bogo standard type material although AP Racing use a high quality version with stronger presure plate.

If you are feeling flush you can buy carbon/carbon clutches too.

[This message has been edited by johnfelstead (edited 12 August 2001).]

submannz

Try the 8 paddled paddle clutch not the solid type the ones with the springs. They are great, even not to bad around town.

Dan

coyote

As stated above, increased clamping pressure can solve any slippage problems whilst still having a nice car to drive. I'm currently using a pressure plate with 2700lb of force (50% up on standard). By altering the pivot point you can retain light "road car" feel as well. This is unless you have 350hp that you're trying to get off the line at the drag strip. If that's the case, then you need to look at more than just clutches.

PeterPerfect

I've used an AP cerametallic paddle with mega clamping force on my GrpA 205.
I changed to a sprung cerametallic clutch using original pressure and clamp plates.
This was much nicer in traffic...good bite compared to the 'grab' of the paddle clutch
I once needed to do a lot of 2nd gear starts after damaging 1st gear....involved LOTS of slipping. Examined the friction material and was very impressed with the minimal wear.
Somehow I do not think an organic clutch would have coped

Pete

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

Have any of the Aussies here tried the MRT clutches & what your verdict as regards to the above posts.