The Fidanza clutch thread.

[99gst_racer]

OK, I did a little search and didn't come up with much of anything.

I'll be replacing my clutch this winter and I was originally just going to replace it with another ACT. But then I stumbled across the Fidanza clutches.

I'm not sure who is manufacturing them, but they look well built. They have four different kits available for us DSMers:

2.1 - Carbon Kevlar disc
3.2 - Kevlar disc
4.3 - Ceramic disc
5.4 - Sintered iron disc

From what I gathered, each kit uses the same 2300 pressure plate and each one uses a more aggressive friction material to gain more holding capacity. This is a much more efficient method than simply increasing the clamping force of the pressure plate.

These are very affordable, and I have them in stock here, so I'm really considering running the 4.3. If anyone has any input on the Fidanza clutches, or if you've been running one and have an opinion on it, please post in here.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Merkles]

I have the Fidanza 4.3 and fidanza flywheel combo, It took about a week to get used to but I love it now. I've had it for a couple months and can't say enough good things about it.

 

[MrBoxx]

I still love driving with this clutch combo, but I do notice a wee bit of chattering engaging 1st gear when accelerating slowly from a stop, or trying to maneuver in tight spaces. I'm sure that's just not giving it enough gas, though. I still need to play around with it more, but the engagement when driving aggressively is still butter smooth. I just need to work on my shifting... and my tranny..... and get some of biglady's solid engine mounts.

 

[ArcaineGST]

What kind of mileage is everyone getting out of their Fidanza kits? I installed the 3.2 kit in December and since then it has been great. After the 500-1000 break in wow. I installed it with an ACT flywheel. My car started to make a knocking noise about 4 weeks ago, I just discovered is was loose flywheel bolts. I've got 6500 miles on the clutch and flywheel since the install and it's a good thing it started making the noise because the pads on the disc were worn to the bolts and scratching the pressure plate.

 

[vanilla gorilla]

I have the Fidanza 3.2 with fidanza flywheel. I like it. Its not the same feel as stock, engagement is a little harder, pedal is a little stiffer, but this is all to be expected when upgrading. Still a very good clutch and I really like it. Very streetable also. As far as longevity goes, I'm not sure, I have only put 1750 miles on it.

 

[silver97GSXLKP]

I just put a Fidanza 3.2 with a ACT flywheel only have 50 miles on it but all feels good so far. Ther is some chatter in first and revese not to bad if you keep the rpm's up a little, and it's starting to go away the more I drive it. All in all feels good.

 

[Dallas J]

I cant find out how much power these hold. I have an EvoIII pretty much maxed out on my setup (2.4l, 1g head, working Cyclone mani, E85...etc) on my Autox car and my old CFDF with the ACT disc just doesnt want to hold the power at even 20psi.

Im not sure how much power its making but I know it makes my friends 110mph trapping car feel slow.

Im thinking I probably need the 4.3 if I want it to last but it would be nice to run the 3.2 for driveability.

 

[nfernotalon]

Anybody have this problem with their Fidanza clutch?
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/306816-pressure-plate-rubbing-clutch-fork.html

 

[daren_p]

Well its been a couple more months since we've had any updates, so guys running these clutches how are they performing?

I will probably be swapping my clutch when I do the awd swap & after some looking around, I'm liking the 4.3 & have also looked at the CF DFX. They both use less PP pressure vs your typical ACT 2600, which is a good thing for my 7 bolt & rely on disk materials to achieve the desired torque capacity. For the guys running the 4.3, what do you think about drivetrain shock on launches with it? Seems like it will be alright for the daily driver, as this is the main purpose of the car.

 

[99gst_racer]

My 4.3 was a bit of a PITA for the for 500 miles. It would chatter every chance it got. From 500 to 1000 miles it progressively got a little bit better; either that or I just got used to it. But after 1000 miles, it was like someone flipped a switch. Chatter was greatly reduced, and driveability increased greatly. This clutch is awesome after it's fully broken in.

 

[teamo2t]

I have the 3.2 with the fidanza flywheel. It has been about 2200 miles... No more chatter after about 800 miles (and I got used to the driving the light flywheel).

Holding good with no slipping. I haven't beat on this thing though...

 

[mach4g63t]

Yea, I have the same. 3.2 with an ACT flywheel. Very nice setup. Takes a bit to get comfortable with driving it at first, especially when trying to realize when you can cruise at low speeds without getting chatter like in small parking lots. This kit was better than my buddy's 2900 with ACT 6-puck in terms of chatter though.

 

[92DSMErdrick]

Sounds alot like the break in process for an LSD

 

[tsunari]

Okay . . . 12,500 miles on a Fidanza aluminum flywheel and 3.2 clutch Kit. Was coming home from the store a couple of days ago and noticed the clutch pedal felt . . . different.

Made it home and shifting had become slightly notchy. Pulled in the driveway and with the clutch depressed, I could hear a rubbing/whining sound from the engine/tranny. Finally pulled everything out today and this is what I found - pretty much the SAME problem as the old ACT clutch/flywheel/pressure plate that this thing replaced.

Broke it in with 500-1000 easy miles as recommended, and afterwords was just daily driven with a weekend or two of track events and one redline time attack event.

Will be contacting Fidanza on Monday.

 

[daren_p]

^ So whats the update with the clutch? It seems alot of DSM clutches fail in the same way (no matter what the brand), wondering if maybe its an adjustment issue? Any other guys running the Fidanza's with higher milage? I got around 30K out of my CFDF & its still holds fine, just doesn't like the launches on DR's so doubt it will like the AWD launches this summer

 

[tsunari]

^ So whats the update with the clutch? It seems alot of DSM clutches fail in the same way (no matter what the brand), wondering if maybe its an adjustment issue? Any other guys running the Fidanza's with higher milage? I got around 30K out of my CFDF & its still holds fine, just doesn't like the launches on DR's so doubt it will like the AWD launches this summer

Sent it in to Fidanza, they took a look at it and are standing behind their product. They're sending out a new pressure plate, clutch, and putting a new friction disc on the flywheel. They are not sure as to why this happened . . . quality control not doing their job?

Either way, I'd definitely like to get it figured out as even though nothing really got 'damaged' here . . . it sure is a PITA and inconvenience every time this happens.

Fidanza has been MUCH more help than ACT was when this very same thing happened on their full-face clutch.

 

[nfernotalon]

Mine did the exact same thing, I have the 4.3 and 2 maybe 3 months later my tranny wouldnt go into gear. Took it apart yesterday the springs were about to fall out! So now the car sits in the garage, what do i do contact Fidanza?

 

[tsunari]

Mine did the exact same thing, I have the 4.3 and 2 maybe 3 months later my tranny wouldnt go into gear. Took it apart yesterday the springs were about to fall out! So now the car sits in the garage, what do i do contact Fidanza?

That's really too bad . . . Yup, call em up and tell em what happened. Keep us updated on how it goes and see if you can get an explanation as to WTF is going on with these things?

Personally, if this one goes in the same manner, I'm seriously considering getting an un-sprung clutch next.

 

[nfernotalon]

Thats what I put in it, a solid disc from clutchmasters, well see how that goes.

 

[tsunari]

Thats what I put in it, a solid disc from clutchmasters, well see how that goes.

Get your money back from Fidanza??

 

[2gGSX]

An update from me--

I've had this in my car for a good while now. The clutch has held fine and was reported to have no problems when my engine was taken apart earlier this year. It's currently holding 54 lbs/min of airflow with no problems.

 

[TJs91tsi]

Hey guys, i installed a fidanza 3.2 clutch in my 91 talon. has maby 2000 miles on it.

the flywheel was machined to .609 i bought a new tob, fork and pivot ball. its an auto to manual swap so new master and slave... I shimmed the ball, welded my pedal assembly and adjusted it out, but im still having problems with it engaging right off the floor.. I was boosting in 3rd and it began slipping too.
When i first installed it, bolting the p plate to the flywheel, the bellvue springs on the pressure plate looked nearly flat. Is that just how the fidanzas look? Im getting really agrivated with this.

If anyone with info or experience with a fidana clutch, let me know. im out of ideas. Tyler.

 

[jdodds]

Im just under 10k on my 3.2. Its started giving me a pretty bad vibration when starting out and its slipping on full boost under 4k rpm. There should be no reason Im having problems with it right now. I ran low boost(9psi) for the first 700 miles(fidanza says the break in period is 500 miles) and havent had any other issues with the car. Everything in the clutch system is new. Master cylinder, slave cylinder, clutch line, clutch fork, pivot ball, throw out bearing, flywheel stepped at .609(verified upon pickup from the machine shop 3 times) and everything was torqued to exact factory specs. Im calling these guys on monday to try to figure out whats going on here. Im hoping they stand behind their product. My biggest problem is that I cant afford to buy another clutch right now and I cant afford to have my car down for more than a day. This is my daily driver and money is really tight right now. Ill keep you all updated on what happens with it.

 

[nfernotalon]

Well here is an update on my clutch from Fidanza, I called them today and told them what happened and they said to send the clutch in and theyre gonna look at it.

If its a manufacturer problem theyll replace it for free and send me a new one, he said 9 out of 10 times when the springs fall out it is their fault. Hopefully this goes well, Ill let you guys know.

 

[junior72]

Hello, ok I was pretty sold on the Fidanza 4.3 kit as I am planning on putting down 300-350 horse this spring but now I'm starting to have second thoughts. Seems like a lot of horror stories going on right now. I am glad to hear so far that Fidanza has been standing behind their product but I sure don't want to be replacing a clutch every few months. I'm begining to think I'm not going to be able to find a clutch that will handle daily driving and some weekend track abuse. Anybody got any success stories with the Fidanza setup yet?

 

[2gGSX]

No problems with mine still.