OEM or Stg1 Clutch??

[farfrumwork]

I'm going to be pulling my motor for a TB job, including rear seal + other less necessary items (cams, maybe heads, etc...)

Anyhow my current clutch, which I believe is just a stock OEM clutch, slips a bit in my current power levels. Not during normal driving, but it doesn't launch for shit anymore and is feeling tired.

The current clutch has ~80kmi on it, car has 119kmi.


I want to balance between a non-slipping clutch for launching and some slip for tranny longevity...
Would a Stage 1 Exedy be appropriate? Or could I get by with an OEM exedy??

OEM's are CHEAP, like $140 and the stage 1 is ~$400 (big price jump) . But I'd rather not be in there replacing it again at the next TB job - and I want it to pull good 60's when I go the track.

This is my DD. '93 Leg, 16G sized turbo (VF12), AWIC, etc @ 13-14psi. Will grow in power level over the next few years too - maybe upwards of 200-220hp/ 250-270+ftlb at the wheels


Thanks!
Chad

[legacy92ej22t]

If you upgrade your PP be prepared to break trannies.......

Stage 1 kits are usually 2600-2800lbs pressure plates.

That's my opinion anyways. I never started breaking trannies until I went stage 1, then I broke multiple within a few months.

[farfrumwork]

Thanks for the input Matt. And yeah, I think a Stg1 would potentially lead to a new tranny faster than an OEM clutch would. I'd definitely try to be more friendly with slamming gears and the like.

Would an OEM hold 220/270? and for very long? (I don't do 6000rpm launches that often)

I'd love some PPG's someday so it wouldn't be the end of the world, but it is my DD and gears are planned for several more years out ($$ wise)

[legacy92ej22t]

WRX guys with 300 whp are running stock setups without issue, it's just how you drive. If you are going to be launching and stuff then you will probably fry the disc fairly quick but it is better then popping the tranny! When I broke my first tranny on my stage 1 setup, I rolled onto boost in second and it blew up as soon as I hit full boost. The second tranny I was babying and it went in 1st when I wasn't even on boost! That was a used tranny in unknown condition though but still.

Peeps here are running 6 pucks and shit though without issue yet so, my experience may not be the norm but if it's a tired tranny, I wouldn't put a heavy pp on it.

[farfrumwork]

I was reading up more on clutches over on nabisco, and yeah, it seems that the OEM clutches hold plenty of power and can stand some decent abuse.

Mine has held up fairly well considering...

I think I'll stick with the OEM replacement (cheaper to boot). When (if) I get into a badass gear set, I'll move to a stage 1 clutch.

Thanks

[asc_up]

Just to throw it out there, I have an Exedy Stage 2 and it's been holding up just fine for about two years now.

[ImprezaRSC]

I too have this same question. But, what I have is an N/A 5spd flywheel and clutch. Can an OEM n/a clutch handle the same power output of about 220whp?

[skid542]

The OEM WRX tranny is 'claimed' by the Nabisco crowd to hold 300-310 ft-lbs of torque at the crank. This is pretty substantially, stock STi substantial.

It's what I'm running (the clutch combo, not the power... yet ). I've been very happy with it thus far. It is an Excedy OEM kit - clutch and PP.

And FWIW, I know a lot of people say once they get a nice gearset they'll be willing to run a harsher clutch but for me, I'm doing everything I can to keep my $3k gearbox together. Unless you have a full PPG set or a 6sp, nothing's bullet proof. And even the PPG's have thier limit.

So that's my .02. I say go with the OEM setup. You can always swap clutches if/when your power levels require it.

[kimokalihi]

What is Nabisco? Is that just a nickname for NASIOC forums? Or is this a site I've never been to before?

[n2x4]

It's NASIOC.

If you want to use an N/A Clutch, I suggest one out of a 2.5RS. It's currently holding the power on my car with an NA tranny.
VF10 @12psi and 440CC injectors. It's done fine at the autox and dragstrip.