XC92
Proven Member
- 1,573
- 358
- Jul 22, 2020
-
Queens,
New_York
Based on the advice of several folks here and some research, I ordered a South Bend Clutch Stage 2 Daily Driver clutch kit. It sells for around $335 on a bunch of sites, and with a 5% coupon and tax it came out to a bit under $350. I just got it today. Opening it up, it consists of a pressure plate, clutch disc, release bearing, alignment tool, brief manual and a warranty card.
Looking at the disc, it says that it's made by Exedy, model # MBD081U. A quick check online revealed it to be selling for between $40-$45. Given that the tool goes for around $5 and the release bearing is a cheap metal sleeve NSK that sells for around $10 (I separately bought a different NSK that's an OEM part, with a resin sleeve), am I to assume that the pressure plate is what I'm mostly paying for, around $280?
Thing is, when I spoke to SBC a few weeks ago, they told me that the only difference between the Stage 1 and Stage 2 kits was the disc, which they said was organic and more durable, and the pressure plate was the same between the two. Given that the Stage 1 sells for around $100 less than the Stage 2, I could have gotten the Stage 1 with a lesser disc and had enough left over to buy 2 additional Stage 2 discs.
Or am I misunderstanding something?
Btw, the manual referred to a step value that the flywheel is supposed to be resurfaced to, but didn't give the actual step value. It was also somewhat poorly written and hard to follow. I'm sure that these are good parts, but if I'd known all this I would have gone the Stage 1 route and gotten the organic Exedy when it was time to replace the clutch disc. I might actually do that if return shipping isn't too expensive.
Looking at the disc, it says that it's made by Exedy, model # MBD081U. A quick check online revealed it to be selling for between $40-$45. Given that the tool goes for around $5 and the release bearing is a cheap metal sleeve NSK that sells for around $10 (I separately bought a different NSK that's an OEM part, with a resin sleeve), am I to assume that the pressure plate is what I'm mostly paying for, around $280?
Thing is, when I spoke to SBC a few weeks ago, they told me that the only difference between the Stage 1 and Stage 2 kits was the disc, which they said was organic and more durable, and the pressure plate was the same between the two. Given that the Stage 1 sells for around $100 less than the Stage 2, I could have gotten the Stage 1 with a lesser disc and had enough left over to buy 2 additional Stage 2 discs.
Or am I misunderstanding something?
Btw, the manual referred to a step value that the flywheel is supposed to be resurfaced to, but didn't give the actual step value. It was also somewhat poorly written and hard to follow. I'm sure that these are good parts, but if I'd known all this I would have gone the Stage 1 route and gotten the organic Exedy when it was time to replace the clutch disc. I might actually do that if return shipping isn't too expensive.