Looking for clutch upgrades

A stage 2 or stage 3? What are you talking about? Stages are company specific, so if you can give me a company I can explain, is this a twin-disc? single-disc? carbon? metallic? ceramic?

So I'm assuming you're already putting down at least 350+whp to require a new clutch? Your stock one will go bad in about 5 years depending on how you drive it. I think you're safe for now, and I really don't know of any after market clutches for our transmissions yet.

Mazda put in a decent clutch, you really should not have any need for one now. Unless... well I won't go there :lol: .

no matter how hard ive dropped the clutch, it has never hinted at a slip. It grabs and holds on well. as far as aftermarket clutches, I bet anything for the ms6 will work for us, same trans, same engine, just a hunch.
I have yet to see anything MS3 specific so far and im always lookin.

The way I drive it makes me want something more robust. One of these days I'm gonna grenade it, I can feel it in my bones. For example, if you powershift you can prolly get an extra quarter second in a 1/4 mile... Another thing to consider, this is an every day driver that will eventually be turned into a garage kept race car for the weekends, a turbo swap is definitely in its future somewhere... What I basically want is advice or information that would help me select a clutch that would better hold up to a beating than the stock one.

[quote author=kopf link=topic=70467.msg1245445#msg1245445 date=1172884856]
The way I drive it makes me want something more robust. One of these days I'm gonna grenade it, I can feel it in my bones. For example, if you powershift you can prolly get an extra quarter second in a 1/4 mile... Another thing to consider, this is an every day driver that will eventually be turned into a garage kept race car for the weekends, a turbo swap is definitely in its future somewhere... What I basically want is advice or information that would help me select a clutch that would better hold up to a beating than the stock one.
[/quote]

if you had bought a matrix xrs clutch replacements are part of the scheduled service lol jk. for me, i know i won't be thrashing my ms3 when it gets here

[quote author=kopf link=topic=70467.msg1245445#msg1245445 date=1172884856]
The way I drive it makes me want something more robust. One of these days I'm gonna grenade it, I can feel it in my bones. For example, if you powershift you can prolly get an extra quarter second in a 1/4 mile... Another thing to consider, this is an every day driver that will eventually be turned into a garage kept race car for the weekends, a turbo swap is definitely in its future somewhere... What I basically want is advice or information that would help me select a clutch that would better hold up to a beating than the stock one.
[/quote]

we understand, but we don't evem know how much power the stock clutch can handle yet or even how much power the tranny can handle.

also keep in mind, its better to let the clutch take the wear/abuse rather than the drivetrain itself.

Upgrading to a stronger clutch will result in more aggressive engagement, not-as-easy to feather, and will result in lots of driveline shock. Which will eventually dance a jig to your transmission repair bill.

Just another word of caution: Our cars have a "dual mass" flywheel, which means the flywheel is in two parts with springs between the two parts. The clutch disk does not have any springs like most. This is normally only found on high end cars like Porsche (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_968).

What this means is that the flywheel cannot be machined, you have to replace the flywheel when you replace the clutch, an extra $800 on your clutch job. So treat it nicely, and if you want to upgrade, include a flywheel in your budget.

An article can be found here: http://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/bf40459.htm

good read. Thanks.

Nice. $2000 clutch job. Cant wait.

[quote author=Chipotle link=topic=70467.msg1323300#msg1323300 date=1176171595]
Nice. $2000 clutch job. Cant wait.
[/quote]

I have a 96 jetta, stock clutch. And my mustang I owned for almost 5 years with well over 100,000 miles, stock clutch (she was supercharged too).

Dont worry about it... As long as you dont ABUSE the clutch, youll be fine. Overheating/overworking is what kills clutches. When people glaze the shit out of their clutch, you have premature wear and gotta replace it.

Youll be fine. Hakuna Matata, or whatever

[quote author=Boost Addict link=topic=70467.msg1323720#msg1323720 date=1176180863]
[quote author=Chipotle link=topic=70467.msg1323300#msg1323300 date=1176171595]
Nice. $2000 clutch job. Cant wait.
[/quote]

I have a 96 jetta, stock clutch. And my mustang I owned for almost 5 years with well over 100,000 miles, stock clutch (she was supercharged too).

Dont worry about it... As long as you dont ABUSE the clutch, youll be fine. Overheating/overworking is what kills clutches. When people glaze the shit out of their clutch, you have premature wear and gotta replace it.

Youll be fine. Hakuna Matata, or whatever
[/quote]

+1

When I replaced the clutch and flywheel on my 06 MZ3 I was impressed by how transparently cheap the disc was and overly heavy the OEM flywheel was. An Exedy light steel wheel with Spec stage 2 clutch assembly was a necessary modification which vastly improved throttle response, clutch feel and performance. It is one of the OEM upgrades Mazda did on the MS3. Giving us a decent clutch