Centerforce Pressure Plate...... Goes Bye Bye

[kmoore]

Well, I went to the track a couple weekends ago and on my first run, something went wrong. Couldn't get the car into gear and everything was messed up. Finally decided to drop the trans last night and this is what I found:

Something doesn't look right....

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Atleast I found out why my car wouldn't go into gear....

 

[white_dsm]

Wow, so is this a common thing or was it not assembled right?

And props for dropping the tranny so fast, how long did it take you?

 

[kmoore]

I personally think it might be just a defect. I will be having a word with Centerforce on Tuesday.

And hell, I don't know. Maybe 6 or so hours. It was my first time ever dropping this trans, so it was a little longer. No power tools just brute strength.

 

[DSMunknown]

This used to be a good article for us 2G FWD guys, but the pictures have recently turned into the dreadful "X". If someone wants to registar and ask the OP to fix the photos, by all means....

 

[blcknspo0ln]

That's not so bad Just get the flywheel resurfaced when reinstalling

OT: I swear, I think i'm the only retarded guy out there that is INCAPABLE of putting a transmission back into the car when the engine is there. The last time I dropped the trans, I ended up pulling the engine because I couldn't get the splines to match

 

[kmoore]

Well, we'll see how putting the trans back IN goes. If it's anything like I've read about.... its going to be a pain.

The hardest part, and what stopped me from dropping the trans sooner was that charcoal canister and all the emissions stuff got in the way of that rear motor mount. So, I've ripped all that crap out now so it will be a little easy to put it back in.

And Tom, do you really think I should need to resurface that flywheel?

(I guess this might be an important piece of information.... but this clutch combo has less than 2k miles on it)

 

[xi Talon ix]

That's not so bad Just get the flywheel resurfaced when reinstalling

OT: I swear, I think i'm the only retarded guy out there that is INCAPABLE of putting a transmission back into the car when the engine is there. The last time I dropped the trans, I ended up pulling the engine because I couldn't get the splines to match

haha. It's cool man, I wish you were closer and I would come help ya out. I had my ACT and GVR4 tranny in my Talon in about half an hour.

 

[daren_p]

Wow, that sucks, have you pulled the clutch off to try & see exactly what happened? It will be interesting to see what Centerforce has to say. I've ran my CFDF for atleast 2 summers (it may be 3, can't remember) so has atleast 25K on it, has always seen atleast 300hp & for the past summer, much more, probably have 40-45 passes on it & so far so good.

 

[kmoore]

I have pulled the clutch disc off, and the actual disc looks fine, but obviously the PP is toast. I'm hoping I can just keep the clutch disc and get a different pressure plate.

We'll see what Centerforce has to say tomorrow.

 

[1glaserturbo]

I personally think it might be just a defect. I will be having a word with Centerforce on Tuesday.

And hell, I don't know. Maybe 6 or so hours. It was my first time ever dropping this trans, so it was a little longer. No power tools just brute strength.

You're welcome

Nah, but seriously I'm good aren't I? Figured something with either the TOB or pressure plate had gone wrong, not clutch forks. Brian is obviously very inexperienced with diagnosing problems.

As for the pressure plate take a few pictures for me or I might stop by before you put everything in to take a look see. If it's never been turned it won't hurt but considering you'll be using the same clutch disk you'll probably be just fine.

We'll see though! Wasn't too bad of a job eh?

 

[kmoore]

Chris, your beastly arms were very helpful.

And yes, You guessed it.

And it was a pain in the ass getting that trans out. And when I read "put the jack underneath it and lower it" is a bunch of crap. But it wasn't that bad I guess... ppssshhhh.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

I would at least take the flywheel to a machine shop to have it checked out for flatness and step height. Who knows what happened when the PP started heating up like that. IMO, not too sure if i'm super anal, but I would replace all of the pieces that potentially could go wrong. No sense in spending yet another 6 hours dropping the trans.

new clutch fork, fulcrum ball, clip, TOB, and PP

 

[99gst_racer]

kmoore - Aside from it failing, how did you like that clutch? I have one sitting around in my garage, but I've never used it. I was considering throwing it in my buddy's GSX, but I figured I'd get some input first.

 

[kmoore]

The clutch was great. I like the pedal pressure and it held just find. Personally, I would have like the pedal pressure be a little stiffer but thats just me. But yes, it was a decent clutch.

And Tom, I will check the flywheel.

And depending on what Centerforce has to say today, I might go with a Fidanza 4.3... heard pretty decent reviews on it.

 

[daren_p]

Hopefully they'll come through but if you have to go a different route, I'd check out Exedy as well. Always have heard great things about them, believe its what they call their "stage 2". Depending on when mine goes, I'll either go with another CFDF or one of these.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

Vote for 2900 + ACT streetlite!!! pedal pressure is just like a 2600, but it's a grabber!

 

[DSMunknown]

Vote for 2900 + ACT streetlite!!! pedal pressure is just like a 2600, but it's a grabber!

Not so sure about that recommendation. Here is what one of my Evo friends said last week:

Please spare yourself the pain, and DO NOT get an ACT clutch for an Evo! Will it hold the power, yes. Will you be able to shift at high RPM's, no! I have one in my car (previous owner installed it) and it locks me out of almost every gear at the track. Makes my should be high 11/low 12 second Evo run 13's :crap: Spend the extra dough and get a twin disk. If I had the money I would get an Exedy in a heart beat!

And even though a ton of DSM'rs run an ACT 2600/2900, almost all of the faster ones (11.0 and faster) have switched to a twin disk (Quartermaster or Exedy). The reason why ACT is so popular is because it holds the power, is cheap, and are (somewhat) reliable. But they do not work nearly as well in an Evo. I think the clutch disk itself is too heavy, although I am not positive if that is the reason or not. Anyways, save your self the trouble as mentioned and do it right the first time!

 

[kmoore]

I would totally be up for the 2900, but this 7bolt has me a little worried.

Anyway, I talked to Centerforce today, and what they want me to do is send in both the pressure plate and the clutch disc and they'll look it over. Hopefully, I get a whole new clutch... but we'll see.

Paul, I was researching the Fidanza 4.3 and I noticed that you purchased one a while back.... how did you like it?

 

[99gst_racer]

Paul, I was researching the Fidanza 4.3 and I noticed that you purchased one a while back.... how did you like it?

I only got about 250 miles on it so far. The car has been down for a bit. I'll be putting mileage on it again within the next week or so. So far, so good, though. I've been happy with my purchase thus far.