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Spec clutch failed after only 5 months

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Dsmkauai

10+ Year Contributor
4,658
421
Feb 20, 2010
Kauai, Hawaii
So yesterday I started hearing a noise like a clunking but only when pressing the clutch in. I figured right away what it could be, so tonight I pulled the trans out. Sure enough I was right the stinking dampner spring has just about popped out and the little spring inside is just gone. The noise was from the spring hitting my flywheel bolts which chewed them up abit. I also can see that the spring retainers are flaking off on other springs as well. Looks like alot of this metal was getting caught inbetween the clutch disc and flywheel/pressure plate, as I can see the groves and also heat marks. I am pretty pissed and very disappointed with spec will never buy there products again. I am asking them for a full refund as I really don't want another one of there clutches. Anyway just thought I'd warn you all.
 

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Ya but this was there stage 3+ supposed to handle 500+ flb of torque. I very upset that this has happen and of course spec is saying its not there fault its because its a dsm. It's funny how my stock clutch setup never gave me these problems and is still in good shape. I am actually putting back in the car till I figure out what I'm going to do. If you type in spec problems on google search you will find tons of pics with this same problem.
 
my old 92 talon was at around 300-350whp on a spec3, tons of launches, lots of track time, lots of racing, etc etc. DD'd it.

Ran consistant 12.7's.
Never had a problem with mine.

Looks like you just got one made on a monday/friday maybe.
 
Update got the unsprung disc back from spec at no charge. All installed and in break in period, so far it feels great. Did a few long slow pulls and car feels amazing again, definitely is holding all the power. Also the full faced unsprung disc really feels great under my foot. It's not a harsh ride at all, way smother than my buddies act 6 puck sprung disc. Anyway just wanted to update and say spec is ok in my book. They went out of the way to fix a problem and supplied a solution. I will say I will definitely be using unsprung disc from now on.
 
I never understood how those springs have enough force to pop out like that. Is it from dropping the clutch repeatedly? The only way I can see it popping out like that is if the whole clutch disc flexed.
 
Update got the unsprung disc back from spec at no charge. All installed and in break in period, so far it feels great. Did a few long slow pulls and car feels amazing again, definitely is holding all the power. Also the full faced unsprung disc really feels great under my foot. It's not a harsh ride at all, way smother than my buddies act 6 puck sprung disc. Anyway just wanted to update and say spec is ok in my book. They went out of the way to fix a problem and supplied a solution. I will say I will definitely be using unsprung disc from now on.

That is kind of concerning as I primarly use SPEC on all of the LS1 6-speed and 5-speed Mustangs I work on. Having said that I know that if you don't follow the instructions you can and WILL have problems. Some of the cars mentioned above are producing more that 900 ft. lbs of tq. at the wheels. I have had a few come back and after some talking the customer always admitted hammering on it "Just a couple of times" AFTER being provided with the instructions AND being to told to drive it in a NORMAL manner for 500 miles in stop and go type of traffic in order to let the clutch seat itself properly.

Having said that by your own admission you are doing some "long slow pulls" and that it "definitely is holding all the power". Did you put the 500 miles on it as instructed?
 
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Yes Jeremy from spec used my same clutch disc from the failed sprung center. So its already been properly broken in, and I gave it 200 miles again before my slow pulls. I've been a tech for over 15 years have had this dsm for 14 so I think I know what I'm doing. What I mean by long slow pulls is fourth gear at about 40 slowly getting on the gas and let boost build kinda gradually instead of like a hard launch. Anyway when I first installed clutch I put close to 800 miles on break in of clutch with no pulls and almost no boost. The clutch had only two days of track use when it failed on me. But like I said so far so good for unsprung center got about 300 miles on it already and it feels amazing. I really like the feel of the unsprung and full face disc, way nicer than my friends 6puck. I am confident the disc will hold all the power I plan to throw at it as it did before without springs piping out. For reason spring popped out I don't know. But after inspecting disc you can see that the metal that's ment to hold spring into place is what failed. On three out of the five springs you can see how the metal had flaked off. The spring that popped out had no metal left on the side. A fix would be thicker retainer for the spring or maybe kryogenic treatment to center portion. Or go unsprung and not worry about it. I'll add this during time I was waiting for disc to be inspected by spec, I swapped in my old clutch which was just a oem type. I probably put another 1000 miles on it during the wait, and guess what came out with no problems or springs popped out. And that clutch was in the car for like 6 years prior, and many launches. Just wouldnt hold the power anymore after all my mods. Just saying the clutch failed it was from nothing I had done. I followed break in instructions and some, because it wasn't my first clutch break in. I'm glad spec was able to do something about it and it's over with and my cars back on the road ready for another season of racing. Well sorta LOL got plans to step up to a hx35 soon and almost got my two other motors done one for my eclipse and one for my talon I can't wait.
 
I'm looking to get a stage 3 spec for my dsm, most of what I've read on them has been great, biggest complaint was noisy deceleration/chattering. did you experience these?
 
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