2G WTF happened to my clutch?

[EvoSlapper]

I bought my GSX a few months back from an old friend. He bought it in 2016 and did a ton of maintenance and upgrades and only put a little over 1k miles since then.

What was replaced? OEM slave with extension, braided clutch line, ACT solid 6 puck with 2,600lb plate, Fidanza lightweight flywheel, forged release fork and pivot, and OEM release bearing.

What happened? Initially, I noticed third gear starting to be difficult but not bad enough to really raise concern. The following day it started doing the same but then I quickly lost the clutch. I was only able to get it into reverse and it would slightly grind into reverse with the clutch pedal to the floor. While driving in reverse, and the pedal to the floor, the car would shutter. So at the point I realized the clutch won’t fully engage.

I get it home, put the car on jack stands, and start looking everything over. No leaks. I bled the slave a few times. A friend that was helping said to start it in 1st. Did that and TING TING TING this falls out of the bell housing! How?!

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[steve]

Time to pull the trans and see what carnage the broken clutch pressure plate finger has caused and what got it to start with.

 

[pauleyman]

What caught my eye is extended slave rod. These are a personal pet peeve of mine. I hate them. They can NOT do anything without large compromises.
Read this

 

[motomattx]

What caught my eye is extended slave rod. These are a personal pet peeve of mine. I hate them. They can NOT do anything without large compromises.
Read this

Exactly, if it overextended the throw on the clutch fork it will break the fingers off like that.

 

[EvoSlapper]

Exactly, if it overextended the throw on the clutch fork it will break the fingers off like that.

Reading through other threads the overall consensus on the slave extensions seems to be unanimous. Why do people use them? I can’t see the need for it in this application since he replaced everything with new parts.

Should I keep the Findanza flywheel or go with something different? I haven’t pulled it apart yet to assess the damage but I’ll probably end up buying everything new again.

 

[motomattx]

I dont care for the lightweight flywheels, you lose the momentum and inertia when pulling away from a stop and it makes the car much easier to stall out, also it has been noted that it is harder on the main bearings.

 

[pauleyman]

Reading through other threads the overall consensus on the slave extensions seems to be unanimous. Why do people use them?

because they don't understand hydraulic systems. They do work but not under hydraulic principles. If a clutch doesn't disengage there is a problem to be found, not a bandaid to be applied.

I can’t see the need for it in this application since he replaced everything with new parts.

Should I keep the Findanza flywheel or go with something different? I haven’t pulled it apart yet to assess the damage but I’ll probably end up buying everything new again.

 

[jdxnc]

Those extended rods are nothing but a band aid.

That said, depending on the age of that ACT pressure plate, they had a run from around 2014-2016 where they were breaking fingers off left and right with an oem slave cylinder, I suspect a change in fabrication location around that time.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

If you daily your car, I would recommend the same as @motomattx said and put a stock flywheel on your car. I didn't like my lightweight flywheel on a mild build. It just doesn't have enough weight to get away from a stop sign without revving the piss out of it. The stock flywheel will retain so much more stored energy. Unless it's a racing application, I would always run the stock unit. Just my experience.

 

[92AWDHX40]

The extension is only a bandaid for the real underlying issues you already have.

 

[jed344]

Like said that could have been one from the batch they had this issue. But being it was used before just fine i would say your extended rod was overextending and did this. I only once have seen one needed with a ACT clutch and that was with a car with ACT flywheel, ACT 2600 6 puck, and comp clutch fork. We have used the ACT and stock flywheels with stock forks for over 10 years with act clutches and never needed a extended or shimmed pivot ball. Always was a different issue and the 1 car we did was a car i tune that did sick summer last year and it was overnight we had to do a clutch swap and fix stuff and we ran out of time so just made it function to finish the week.

 

[EvoSlapper]

This clutch kit was purchased between 2014-2016 from Extreme PSI. The previous owner is a friend from high school and he kept every receipt. It’s a long shot but I’ve reached out to ACT last week and haven’t heard back from them yet.

I’m not really sure why the extension rod was used especially since everything was replaced with new parts. I’m having a friend do the job hopefully soon after the holidays. I’ll report back here with any finding.

I appreciate everyone’s input. Thank you!

 

[EvoSlapper]

Like said that could have been one from the batch they had this issue. But being it was used before just fine i would say your extended rod was overextending and did this. I only once have seen one needed with a ACT clutch and that was with a car with ACT flywheel, ACT 2600 6 puck, and comp clutch fork. We have used the ACT and stock flywheels with stock forks for over 10 years with act clutches and never needed a extended or shimmed pivot ball. Always was a different issue and the 1 car we did was a car i tune that did sick summer last year and it was overnight we had to do a clutch swap and fix stuff and we ran out of time so just made it function to finish the week.

My setup has the comp forged fork. Would that make the need for the extended push rod?

 

[pauleyman]

My setup has the comp forged fork. Would that make the need for the extended push rod?

No. Please read my post #3.