Steve Burger

iTrader: (33)

I installed a Spec 4F in December and broke it in per the SPEC instructions. I put 700 city miles on it and broke it in at the strip the way I was supposed to. Once on the ET Streets The disk welded itself to the flywheel so bad I had to use a 5# rubber mallet to get it off the FW. Spec warrantied the clutch after a lot of back and forth.

The 2ND clutch I was told to put 1000 city miles on it before I raced. I put on 1200. Took it to the track on the Nittos and avoided the water box for a night per the SPEC recommendations. Put the ET Streets back on last night and took it to the track. 1st pass out it locked shifting into 2nd.

This time I knew what had happened. I managed to get into 2nd with a little rev matching and beat it a little. After getting into 3rd and jumping on it the disk broke free. Sounded like snaping a 2x4. That's when I knew the disk was free.

I have yet to test drive the car after this as I put right back on the trailer.

I'm done. 3 SPEC clutches in a year. I have about 20% of the total miles on my car into breaking in SPEC clutches.

Gonna go TH400 and be done.

NOSjohn

iTrader: (9)

What kind of launch were you doing? RPM and tires? Just curious as we will be installing a clutch on my friends car soon.

AaronR

iTrader: (8)

Why do people keep buying those clutches?There is pages of threads about how they suck and always have issues.

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

SPEC clutches are not for me.
I would never own one after reading the numerous fiascos with them.

stevieturbo

Doesnt inspire me with confidence....ive just fitted mine yesterday... Still taking it easy though, although initial impressions for normal driving are good.

smokeum99ta

iTrader: (15)

I feel the same way about Mcloed clutches. But i'm not here to stand up for spec or any one else, it's just that one person out of a hundred has a problem with something and everything that company makes now is junk because thier the only posting negitive stuff about that product.What you seem to forget is that there is 99 satified customers that dont say anything. Even though I too feel like I'm that 1 in a 100 like yourself.

Steve Burger

iTrader: (33)

The first one that welded was a very hard launch on ET Streets, full drag suspension and 6k Dump on a preped track. The second one that stuck was a light launch of 4K on an OK preped track.

Seems like chips from the edge of the disk are what is making them stick.

Looking for a TH400

Armageddon

iTrader: (41)

Had the same damn thing happen to me... Took a lot of back and forth for the warranty from SPEC too... I will never own another SPEC clutch.

2002z28

iTrader: (1)

i agree with smokeum99ta. i think there are alot of satisfied spec owners. i have about 1100 miles on my spec 3. it will chatter if you try to baby the clutch off a start. it likes to be slipped out around 2200rpm.
but it does hold great when im shifting hard.

justin

platniumta

I have had my spec clutch for about 2 years and I am very satisfied with it. The only problem I have had is one of the springs on the disc broke after about a year. I sent it to specs and they sent me a new one at no cost and it has been in the car for about another year. It's like anything else some are bad and some are good.

Steve Burger

iTrader: (33)

Just talked to Spec again. They assured me that I am through the breakin process now and should be good to go. It seems this is an issue with high HP and hard launching cars. Kindda sux that this is considered the "Breakin Process".

I agree with some of the above posts. There are a lot of satisfied customers and all clutches seem to have issues.

But.....

I have had the trans out 3 times in a year changing clutches. My car had 17000 miles on it when I changed the first one and now has 21500 miles after all of the "break in" crap. I ordered this clutch as more of a race part than a street part. I expect it to work at the track, and be a little less than civil on the street. To date I have not been able to run the car at the track to it's potential. Its been a very frustrating season.

This is my .02, your milage may vary.

One more clutch issue and I will have built TH400 and be done!

Comment away...

bowtieman81

iTrader: (35)

Wow Steve, you are not having much luck at all . It sounds a little fishy to me that this is normal break-in (but I am not a clutch genious by any means). I guess I would take spec's advice and give it another try.

FWIW, I still have not decided on a clutch for my car yet.

Steve Burger

iTrader: (33)

Yeah, If J didn't have bad luck I would have none at all.

I guess it's the 2 in a row that gets me.

bowtieman81

iTrader: (35)

I hear ya. You know, it just gets me that even if that is "normal" break-in, why do you have to tear up your synchros like that to break a clutch in. Seems kind of stupid to me. I mean, is a race type clutch THAT much different than a normal factory clutch? Maybe I am missing something.

rons 00z

iTrader: (10)

is the 4f iron or ceramic?

stevieturbo

my 4F was a full face iron disk.

F apparently meaning ferrous metal.