BEWARE: SPEC clutches
01-07-2011, 12:09 AM
#1
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BEWARE: SPEC clutches Im a owner of a 00' FRC C5. After owning the car for a few months it was time to upgrade my clutch after destroying mine at the track. So I originally palnned on going with a OEM C6 z06 unit with a aluminum ram flywheel, new slave, tick master, and a new pilot bearing. After doing some research on the forums, I found a great deal on a SPEC stage 1 from one of the vendors. I called them up and ordered the spec and a new slave. I then contacted tick and ordered one of their masters. SWEET! I was pretty stoked.
A week or so later, I gathered all of my new parts and started putting everything in. If you dont know what it takes to put a clutch in a c5, let me just say its no walk in the park. So, I get the stock flywheel surfaced and slap in all the new stuff along with a PFADT tranny brace and amsoil fluids throughout the entire car. 2 days later, I jump in the car and start her up. This damn car shook like hell. I knew the tranny brace would add a little of shake, but damn, this was not good. The next night a buddy and I jump under the car and remove the PFADT tranny brace and install the factory piece. This helped some but there was still a very obvious vibration.
Now its time to pull it all out again. I removed the clutch and flywheel, inspected, and reinstalled thinking maybe there was some way I installed the cltch disc somewhat off a bit. 6 hrs later, I start the car. I felt the same vibration. So I decided since I havent drove the car in a while, maybe I am just used to my nice comfy stock truck. I drive down the street a bit and its not as bad as I thought, but as soon as I got to 3k rpm and through to 5k it shook the entire car, the smoothed out.
The next day, I called SPEC and discussed this with the HORRIBLE customer service and told them my situation. The reassuered me a few times that theyre clutches and quality inspected and balanced within .5 of a gram.
I removed everything again (now I have this down to 2.5 hours with a buddy) and took it to a very respectable machine shop around here. I told him to zero balance my flywheel and the balance the clutch. Come to find out, this brand new clutch that was sworn to be perfect was 11.1 grams off.
Just a heads up, get your SPEC clutches balanced before anything.
A week or so later, I gathered all of my new parts and started putting everything in. If you dont know what it takes to put a clutch in a c5, let me just say its no walk in the park. So, I get the stock flywheel surfaced and slap in all the new stuff along with a PFADT tranny brace and amsoil fluids throughout the entire car. 2 days later, I jump in the car and start her up. This damn car shook like hell. I knew the tranny brace would add a little of shake, but damn, this was not good. The next night a buddy and I jump under the car and remove the PFADT tranny brace and install the factory piece. This helped some but there was still a very obvious vibration.
Now its time to pull it all out again. I removed the clutch and flywheel, inspected, and reinstalled thinking maybe there was some way I installed the cltch disc somewhat off a bit. 6 hrs later, I start the car. I felt the same vibration. So I decided since I havent drove the car in a while, maybe I am just used to my nice comfy stock truck. I drive down the street a bit and its not as bad as I thought, but as soon as I got to 3k rpm and through to 5k it shook the entire car, the smoothed out.
The next day, I called SPEC and discussed this with the HORRIBLE customer service and told them my situation. The reassuered me a few times that theyre clutches and quality inspected and balanced within .5 of a gram.
I removed everything again (now I have this down to 2.5 hours with a buddy) and took it to a very respectable machine shop around here. I told him to zero balance my flywheel and the balance the clutch. Come to find out, this brand new clutch that was sworn to be perfect was 11.1 grams off.Just a heads up, get your SPEC clutches balanced before anything.
01-07-2011, 07:51 AM
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I bought a stage 2 for my stock 98 ws6 it lasted about 3000 miles and started to slip took it out carried it to spec since its about 45 mins from the house. They would not warranty there part car was down bought a stage 3 plus that day then it would not disengauge so i had to buy a adj master needless to say they will never get another dollar of my money. Car spun a bearing about 6 months ago had eveything balanced and my machinst said the flywheel and pressure plate was very bad off could have cause the spun bearing.Just my .02
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01-07-2011, 11:42 AM
#12
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When I had my Formula, had a spec put in at MTI and they all said UH OH. Had issues ended up putting an ls7 in I think it was. Got this WS6, put in a 2+ and only complaint I have is it squeals everytime starting from a dead stop and has never went away. But when I had the 2+ installed at LMR they said samething UH OH its a spec.
So I don't know, my clutch engages fine and driveability(sp) is not to bad. Just my 2 cents.
So I don't know, my clutch engages fine and driveability(sp) is not to bad. Just my 2 cents.
01-07-2011, 11:43 AM
#13
How do you guys smoke a clutch so fast?
I had a used spec 3 with quite a few miles and I put 25-30k more on it and it was still working fine when removed. I just wanted a softer feel and went to a ls7 and loved it.
I know a few local guys with specs that hold up fine, I guess we just got lucky.
I had a used spec 3 with quite a few miles and I put 25-30k more on it and it was still working fine when removed. I just wanted a softer feel and went to a ls7 and loved it.
I know a few local guys with specs that hold up fine, I guess we just got lucky.
01-07-2011, 11:59 AM
#14
Launching!
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Very similar experience here. My spec was WAY out of balance when I got it (2+) and I paid dearly for all 15k miles it lasted lol (and I baby my car). RAM was actually worse. LS7 clutch/flywheel combo is amazingly smooth, light, and going great 22k miles later 
01-07-2011, 01:20 PM
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I dont have a spec in this car but i had a 3+ In my 92 TT Stealth and had absolutley no issues and that was with 400+ AWHP. NOW my buddy Had 4-5 in his VR-4 and LOL they all blew up. Kept busting the springs out of them.
01-07-2011, 05:12 PM
#17
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Wow never knew spec clutch's sucked so bad.Thanks for sharing.I got about 16000 miles on my ls7 clutch with no issues and it shifts very smooth.Unless your running big numbers(over 700 hp from what I hear)ls7 clutch is the way to go.
01-07-2011, 05:31 PM
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I had a SPEC clutch in my old Z28 and never had any issues with it but I had a friend with a Mustang and he went through at least 3 of them. FWIW if you want to do it right get a textralia clutch. I installed one in my 02 SS and after 30k and 585rwhp it was still in excellent condition.
