Zoom "Performance" Racing Clutches... thumbs down.

hubbazoot · 02-27-2011, 12:27 AM

So when I did my transmission job, I pulled a major nono: Bought a 'performance' clutch from a company I've never heard of for far cheaper than it should have been to save a dime.

I'll keep this short and sweet: Zoom Performance clutches don't work so well, and their customer support is spotty, at best.

This clutch has about 4500 miles, tops, and it completely fell apart. Metal shavings everywhere.

And the throwout bearing that came with it:

And the bell housing, full of metal shavings:

rlacasse1 · 02-27-2011, 12:32 AM

Hmmmm. The zoom clutch that I used from NAPA worked well. Never had an issue with it. Even after quite a few hard launches.

hubbazoot · 02-27-2011, 12:41 AM

For me, it always dragged just ever so teeny little bit. It handled a couple hard launches, but apparently that was about it. Also, when these ones get hot, they get WAY sticky.

When I called customer support, they were a very far cry from knowledgeable. All they told me was that it only needed .003" to fully disengage, and that I had the right part number.

SpawnedX · 02-27-2011, 12:42 AM

99% of the time a clutch fails this way it has been installation error by the installer.

mindset · 02-27-2011, 12:44 AM

ehh id go with 95%

SpawnedX · 02-27-2011, 12:46 AM

Fine, I will let you have 95%.

hubbazoot · 02-27-2011, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpawnedX

99% of the time a clutch fails this way it has been installation error by the installer.

Flywheel remilled before installation, .612", alignment tool put in before I bolted down the pressure plate, kept the trans nice and straight putting it on, bolted everything down torqued to spec, new throwout bearing, pivot ball shimmed with a washer, new clutch master, new pedal assembly, adjusted to it'd start to slip about an inch off the floor. It ran fine after installation for the first four thousand miles or so.

Does this sound about right?

SpawnedX · 02-27-2011, 12:51 AM

Doesn't sound like you properly adjusted it according the video Jack from Jack's Transmissions. It is recommended that your step height be .609 to .610 with .612 being the high tolerance. Did you use a quality torque wrench that has an accuracy rating of +/- 3% or less, or was this a Harbor Freight special?

hubbazoot · 02-27-2011, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpawnedX

Doesn't sound like you properly adjusted it according the video Jack from Jack's Transmissions. It is recommended that your step height be .609 to .610 with .612 being the high tolerance. Did you use a quality torque wrench that has an accuracy rating of +/- 3% or less, or was this a Harbor Freight special?

:ohdamn:
1. Jack is not the end-all be-all. I just rebuilt one of his transmissions for someone else. Yes, he's good, but he's not a god.

2. Yes, I properly adjusted the pedal. .612 is the stock spec, mine was .6115, measured at about 10 different spots on the plate.

3. Yes, I used a good torque wrench. Yes, the assembly was still bolted on correctly when I went to take it apart.

SpawnedX · 02-27-2011, 12:58 AM

Jack may mot be a "god" and I certainly don't consider him one or my transmission would not be from "Shep," but that is the best method to adjust by, period.

Now how badly were you abusing this car?

hubbazoot · 02-27-2011, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpawnedX

Jack may mot be a "god" and I certainly don't consider him one or my transmission would not be from "Shep," but that is the best method to adjust by, period.

Now how badly were you abusing this car?

Mainly I'm just really sick of hearing about the guy. I live 75 mi from him, so it never ends here.

16psi with a small 16g, The highest RPM launch I ever did was 4000 rpm, and that wasn't too often. I actually kinda babied it, I rarely shifted fast or hard, and NEVER powershifted or w/e that is. Once it was in gear, I'd shift at 6500rpm, but I was always smooth on the gas and smooth off the gas. And I NEVER popped the clutch.

SpawnedX · 02-27-2011, 01:03 AM

Then sucks to be you, but you just joined the 5% of people who have had a clutch fail in this manner, some of the other members include Fidanza, Centerforce, and ACT clutches. Every clutch has a bad apple or two, but it doesn't mean it's because it was a Zoom.

See if they will replace it, that's what the other clutch companies have done when it happens.

hubbazoot · 02-27-2011, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpawnedX

Then sucks to be you, but you just joined the 5% of people who have had a clutch fail in this manner, some of the other members include Fidanza, Centerforce, and ACT clutches. Every clutch has a bad apple or two, but it doesn't mean it's because it was a Zoom.

See if they will replace it, that's what the other clutch companies have done when it happens.

I already ordered an centerforce. This one had a 90-day warranty on it, and it's not 90 days old. They already told me they won't replace it. I've had a very negative experience with Zoom so far, and I wanted to share my experience.

Edit: Centerforce, not ACT.

SpawnedX · 02-27-2011, 01:11 AM

I would recommend the Hangout next time, if you post this in the Newbie forum, it is going to be assumed it is a thread in which someone needs to questioned on how they installed it and how to prevent it from happening again.

hubbazoot · 02-27-2011, 01:21 AM

I can only post in the newbie forum, or so I thought. Guess that makes me a newbie in its own right... :D

Silly forums, always working so differently.