ACT vs OEM T.O.B. Poll(Vote off Experience Please)

[spadepro22]

I pretty much know the anwser to the question from the research on here, but my builder says to take a poll of guys that really has had a ACT t.o.b. failure. So only if you have had ACT t.o.b failure, vote and post your story here. Same as if you had OEM failure.

 

[buddy3824]

I had an oem. about 6 months (3-4k miles)down the road it started squeaking, especially at red lights.
I now have an act in it and shes been quiet and good feeling since day one. its got 4000 miles on it.

 

[Racejunkie05]

I pullled the act tob apart, cleaning it, and repacking it with grease. It didnt come with much grease, but i packed it full before i put it back together. Quiet as can be no problems so far.

 

[WES_393]

I'll tell you what I haven't had: A single OEM (Mitsu) TOB failure. My Spyder is at 133k on the original clutch and the TOB is just now starting to make a little noise.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Oem, need i say more? Ive had both.

 

[spadepro22]

My OEM had about 12k and my builder said it was starting to look like crap. We got into a debate on which is better. I can't speak on the ACT, but going off what I've read I've choose to back with OEM. Deep down in his heart he knows the OEM is probably better, just didn't want to pull the tranny to put the new OEM back in. (I know he's reading )

Oem, need i say more? Ive had both.

What happend may I ask as in why you choose OEM over ACT?

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Yeah the act one started to rattle after 2k miles, clip was installed correctly.

The act has plastic parts whike oem has metal backing plate, if you look at both oem has the quality, plus its MADE FOR DSM

 

[luv2rallye]

I'm not taking sides but here's some interesting info/pics someone has on them: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...b-vs-act-aftermarket-tob-explainedw-pics.html.

 

[LaserRS92]

Is it necessary to self grease these tob's upon install? I have an ACT2600 with a sprung street disk with 1800 miles on it. I've only done like ten 3rd gear pulls and zero launches but my OEM tob is squeaking away already. I've noticed on here some people stuff their wheel bearings and tob's full of grease and other people just throw them in as is.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Oem never a problem with mine why chance it.

 

[xxNocturnalxx]

I've ran a couple different ACT kits on a couple different DSMs and have never had a problem running the ACT TOB as is. My current project is running a ACT TOB with no issues. I have never seen a ACT TOB issue in person. I have also never had OEM fail on me either but of course those were stock OEM cars.

Although my comparison is unfair as I've only ran ACT TOBs for 10k miles or so before the car is sold traded or whatever, OEMs seem to last the life of the clutch 60-100k miles and have already proven them selves.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Ive heard packing the act with grease helps prolog life, but dont do this to the oem one.

 

[honda_burner]

Ive heard packing the act with grease helps prolog life, but dont do this to the oem one.

Packing grease around a clutch part would scare me, once it heats up it turns to jelly and gets all over the clutch, contaminating the disc.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

No you have to dissassemble the act tob, by taking the plastic top off pack with grease clean it up and put the cap on. You cant do this with oem cause its better quality . I havent personally ran a second act tob to try the grease pack, but there is a youtube vid out there.

 

[92nolatist]

I had an act fail after maybe 30k miles, I don't really remember when I put it in. But it first seized up and thus created a squeaky noise, then proceeded to melt the plastic part pretty badly, and there went my clutch. I have pictures if you want evidence. But other than that, not a single problem with it. I now have oem (I prefer oem parts for EVERYTHING because I appreciate quality).

 

[spadepro22]

I had an act fail after maybe 30k miles, I don't really remember when I put it in. But it first seized up and thus created a squeaky noise, then proceeded to melt the plastic part pretty badly, and there went my clutch. I have pictures if you want evidence. But other than that, not a single problem with it. I now have oem (I prefer oem parts for EVERYTHING because I appreciate quality).

Post them if you can.

My builder spoke with a tec from ACT and he said there t.o.b was revised years ago and is made by the same company as OEM. My case is for OEM until proved otherwise.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Do the revised OEM ones last as long as the original OEM ones? I remember when the OEM ones didn't have a plastic sleeve at all. Now they do. I can see this maybe preventing wear to the belhousing, but does it hold up as long?

 

[ReggieRay]

Post them if you can.

My builder spoke with a tec from ACT and he said there t.o.b was revised years ago and is made by the same company as OEM. My case is for OEM until proved otherwise.

How many years ago? I've had issues with the ACT TOB too, squeaking with the clutch pushed in kinda stuff that just didn't sound healthy. This was with an ACT TOB maybe 2.5 years ago. After reading about all the failures at the time I went OEM and never looked back and just trashed the ACT ones. It could be a waste of cash but I hate doing the clutch twice. I heard about a revision but I never heard any more about it and people still swear by the OEM.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Do the revised OEM ones last as long as the original OEM ones? I remember when the OEM ones didn't have a plastic sleeve at all. Now they do. I can see this maybe preventing wear to the belhousing, but does it hold up as long?

Was unaware there was a revised one, my oem was all metal.

 

[onyxtyson]

Ive ran both act and oem. Both have done me just fine. No complaints about either.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Was unaware there was a revised one, my oem was all metal.

Yeah they're plastic now. Look at the pictures in the link from post #8.
I just did one in a members car last month, and it was plastic in the middle. They all are in the last few years.

 

[spadepro22]

Well I called today and spoke with a tec myself and they said there bearings is supplied by a 3rd party and suppose to meet OEM specs. When I asked about the revision, he told me there was no revision on there behalf and that the 3rd party makes those changes. I'm guessing its who would be making them at that time will depend on if your receive a metal one or not(Im assuming here). I asked about a warranty and he said 90 days and they would need the t.o.b back for inspection for the vendor. When I asked about expected mileage(I know theres no set point here) he said it should outlast the clutch.

As far as the poll goes, it seem more people has had OEM failure unless there reading the poll wrong and saying they use OEM or ACT

 

[ReggieRay]

I think the poll was confusing and people are choosing what they think is the better of the two. I had to read it twice to make sure I was selecting the right choice.

 

[LaserRS92]

I misread and voted for the best option, OEM.

 

[92nolatist]

^^I did the same, misinturpreted the poll vote. Heres the pics of my failed ACT, which was installed in 2009 I believe.