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Spec clutch sucks!

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Old 10-08-2004, 12:49 PM
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Default Spec clutch sucks!

I had my stage III on the car for less than 4000 miles, and the pad is already gone. I don't care how I drive, that is pathetic. I will never buy another Spec, and I don't recommend them to anyone. My Cartek lasted me 2 years, with the same type of driving and even a couple races. I didn't even race with this clutch, and this is the kind of thanks I get??? What a piece of ****. If some of you have had better luck with yours, I'm happy for you, but if you're thinking about buying it, I recommend that you pay a little extra and get something that's worth the extra money.
Old 10-08-2004, 02:34 PM
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Something's wrong here.
Old 10-08-2004, 02:39 PM
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I have 8,000 miles on my Spec Stage 3 and I beat the hell out of my car and have not had a problem, lots of track time and alot of street racing abuse I love mine and would purchase another one with out a doubt.

Dan
Old 10-08-2004, 03:03 PM
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Sorry to hear of the trouble Jack. I'd recommend trying to get the Ram Power Grip clutch. They have a Heavy Duty version if you have big power/gears. It will require a new flywheel, and a new adjustable master cylinder. More money I know, but I have seen few complaints with this clutch. It is the one I will be putting on my Formula when the body shop is done with it .
Old 10-08-2004, 03:20 PM
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that sucks man, I love my 3i... I don't know what to tell you
Old 10-08-2004, 04:20 PM
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Good to hear I'm not the only one who had problems with a Spec clutch. My Stage 3 Kevlar didn't even last 2,000 miles with boltons only. The shop that installed it tried working with Spec and the only thing I've found worse then a Spec clutch is Spec customer service.

Same shop put in a McCleoud single disc and I was good to go.
Old 10-08-2004, 11:36 PM
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I got just under 5000mi out of my piece of **** 3i. Thanks Spec
Old 10-08-2004, 11:53 PM
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I have a few thousand street miles and 25+ 6000 dumps on slicks and its still holding hard, i have the stage 4, im sure some of the problems are the actual clutch, but im willing to bet some are also bad installation.
Old 10-09-2004, 01:47 PM
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Ok guys, I have a confession to make. When I installed the SPEC, I did not change the flywheel, or resurface it for that matter, so it is entirely my fault. I was not aware at all that the flywheel having so many hot spots would mess up the clutch disk. I apologize to anyone who might be thinking about buying the SPEC. I truly believe that it is a good clutch again, and that I am the real idiot here.
Old 10-09-2004, 03:45 PM
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Im not apologizing. I installed mine with a brand new steel flywheel all done right. Ive installed about 8-10 LS1 clutches now and the only one to go was my 3i. Spec still sucks!
Old 10-09-2004, 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by TripleBlackRamAirT/A
Im not apologizing. I installed mine with a brand new steel flywheel all done right. Ive installed about 8-10 LS1 clutches now and the only one to go was my 3i. Spec still sucks!
I heard the i series dont last as long due to the matireal they use.THey were suppose to be more street friedly though.How many miles did you get out of it?
Old 10-09-2004, 07:06 PM
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right around 5000. Although there was about 20 low 11 second passes on it.
Old 10-09-2004, 07:29 PM
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Get a Mcleod and be done with it. I've got well over 300 trac passes, 50K miles on it and it never misses a beat. Drives like stock on the street, leave the line on slicks @ 6700RPM all the time
Old 10-10-2004, 02:28 AM
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Originally Posted by m1key99WS6
Get a Mcleod and be done with it. I've got well over 300 trac passes, 50K miles on it and it never misses a beat. Drives like stock on the street, leave the line on slicks @ 6700RPM all the time
which mcleod you have, twin disk? i had a single disk and first pass on slicks i toasted it.
Old 10-10-2004, 03:59 AM
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For me to have gotten 4000 miles out of like that is pretty impressive if you ask me. That was pretty much "like running hot butter over sandpaper!"
Old 10-10-2004, 09:11 AM
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how do you perform a bad clutch install that would cause a burnt clutch? I do not think hot spots in a flywheel will cause clutch material to wear out in 2k miles. It all seems very strange to me. I hate this clutch issue we all have. It is like a hit or miss not matter what. I am very, very happy with my Z06, but I know the clutch will not stay behind the car with future mods. I love my car's drivetrain from the flywheel forward
Old 10-10-2004, 09:25 AM
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i had a spec 1 for 40k with tons of passes, changed it out for a stage II when i put my cam in 20k ago, then added heads, and now have multiple 11 second passes on it

i will purchase another without thinking twice
Old 10-10-2004, 09:52 AM
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I am happy sith my S3. It has seen lot of abuse and is still holding strong after 2 years and ~150 passes on slicks.
Old 10-10-2004, 12:47 PM
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I'm telling you, if it was installed properly it would have lasted. I should have had the flywheel resurfaced- at a minimum. Your pressure plate and flywheel should both be smooth, and hot-spot free. You also need to make sure you have ZERO oil on the pad. Once it's on there, you're screwed, and you might as well just throw the pad away.
Old 10-10-2004, 01:41 PM
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I have about 2K miles on my spec 3 with only two track passes on it on BFG's and some street abuse every once in a while. It holds much better than my stocker, seeing as I did rip my driveshaft apart. I did do the complete 400 mile break in and it seems to be holding up pretty well. I'm hoping it will last me a long time. Sorry to hear some of you guys having problems with this clutch.


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