Thread: Clutchmasters FX500 install; UPDATE w/ videos on starting problem

It is a great clutch. I have one in my nx2k. It is the PP that is really nice. Lots of grip, smooth light throw. And, if you ever want to go to a full face disc if the unsprung is too much, you would be coupled with a fantastic PP.

"True"(two chains voice)
Wasnt tryn to bust your balls or anything but i know my clutches like those are really stiff and r usually ran on 300+ whp set ups. But you cleared it up for me cause your going boost this summer.

And what if he is NOT going to boost that car?

...........

Get a new friction disc(they cost like $50), put the clutch in and move on with life. /

I run a 6 puck fx500 and have zero chatter with stock pedal effort. Love this clutch

Both of my lowly, underpowered, NA VVLs are running fx500s. The reasons I will continue to recommend this clutch to anyone who'll listen are basically:

Its a clutch that will take anything that you're likely to throw at it at any power level that most of us are likely to be messing around with.

CM uses a slightly different fulcrum point on the pressure plate to provide excellent clamping force while maintaining a stock-like pedal effort (actually lighter than the JWT PP I took out). This is in stark contrast to the ACT Extreme PP and six puck unsprung setup that I had in the b13 many moons ago. I think the ACT setup was what makes people think that this is too much clutch for a lower powered or daily driven car. The ACT chattered badly, had very heavy pedal effort which helped speed along clutch cable failure, and, worst of all, made the car less enjoyable to drive. The FX500 does not behave this way.

Regardless of actual TQ load, I do not like sprung disks in applications that that will constantly see high rpm engagement.

Great clutch, great feel, reasonable price, ready to be abused for years to come.


now... the issue of overclutching could be argued for turbo cars or other high tq setups running b13/b14 trannies with that glass third gear. I that case you might want a lightert clutch that will slip some instead of just shearing teeth off... but that is another issue.

I've been considering this clutch setup as per @Kyle 's recommendation, but still unsure. I still have a good amount of life left on my B15 setup so I may just transfer it over to my new motor.

@ny5speed pretty much summed up my 2cents. If the pedal effort is as nice as they say rock on. And if going boost makes more since.

Do you mean you have the B15 setup totally? Press plate and disc?

Like I said my B15 disc lasted *almost* 2 years. That's pretty damned good considering it was mated with a JGY/ACT PP whatever the heck brand it is. (I was told JGY rebrands ACT) AND I was really on it at redline with quick shifting and all. With clutches on street cars, unless your doing auto-x, hot laps/road races, I say drive the car until the clutch needs to be replaced. It will usually start to give you signs it's on it's last legs. For me both times it was sudden (having to shut the motor off at a stop sign, put it in 1st gear, start up the motor to get going again) but usually it will start to slip, especially in the summer going up hills etc.

I still am in the middle of so much car related stuff that haven't quite finished the install but very close. BTW if anyone wants my JGY PP asking $35 shipped for it, it's got plenty of life left. Just pair it up with a stronger disc unless your car is near stock or just a few bolt ons on a DE.

That's a possibility, too. It depends if I want to put more even more $$ into the car, and I'm talking about complete not until mid September. Depends on a number of factors, some things have to go my way. To tell you the truth, although non-car people who have been in the passenger seat when I redline it say I'm nuts and it's plenty fast, it kind of bores me. The problem is there's not much else I can do besides even more weight reduction, the Q45 throttle body, and of course pulling the engine apart and doing something what Pilot did to his SR24VE, but I don't want to try and fix what isn't broken, that shit costs a lot, and takes more technical knowledge than slapping on a modest turbo. I'd be satisfied with a modest T28 setup throwing in an extra 80+WHP. I toyed with the idea of a 75-wet shot but said F that don't want to ruin such a nice motor. I know some of you guys love the stuff but everyone I know who has done it has regretted it. Maybe I just know people who suck at nitrous installs.