New SPEC clutch...
02-11-2008, 07:39 AM
#1
Audiworld Sponsor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 19,700
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New SPEC clutch...
(long and wordy... scroll down if you just want the pics)
I finally got around to pulling my motor due to a small RMS leak (the previous RMS seal was slightly kinked on install). I decided I wanted to upgrade the clutch while I was in there since the RS4 clutch was struggling.
In fairness to the RS4 clutch, it did hold my pump gas power nicely and survived race gas power with only one person in the car. However the torque of race gas and the weight of 4 passengers left my car with a strong clutch odor (no noticeable slipping though). I know a lot of people complain about the RS4 setup not being up to the task of Stage 3 (and beyond) power levels, but I've had two of them and they've both performed admirably.
Anyway, I decided I wanted to put in something with more clamping force while I had the car apart. Based on my research, no one is modifying the RS4 pp (likely due to the added complexity of the SAC mechanism), so my only options were Clutchmasters and SPEC, who both use a different, non-SAC pressure plate.
I spoke with Simpply and he was very helpful but let me know that the Clutchmasters Stage 3/4 hybrid would probably be insufficient for my needs and the Stage 4 and up required the used of a LWFW due to the different clutch disc design (interference with the flywheel bolts). My rotating assembly was precision balanced with a stock flywheel so throwing that off with a LWFW wasn't an option for me.
So I opted to go with SPEC. SPEC is now using the non-SAC pressure plate pictured below instead of one based on the SAC S4 or RS4 pressure plate. Mark P. was (one of, if not the) first to use this pressure plate and its still holding up well for him over 2 years later.
I went with a Stage 3+ unit, which couples the pressure plate with a full face carbon metallic disc. It has more holding capacity than their pucked or segmented discs. I'm hoping the full-face nature will keep it more streetable, but I'm not deluding myself into thinking it'll be anywhere as smooth as my previous RS4 setup. I'll be sure to report back once the car is on the road (should be this weekend).
On to the pics...
Pressure plate:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5236.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5237.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5238.jpg">
Clutch disc:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5233.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5235.jpg">
New OEM Luk flywheel (SPEC also includes a new needle bearing for the FW, but my new FW came with a needle bearing installed):
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5240.jpg">
Metal faced Sachs TOB:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5252.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5251.jpg">
Shiny new RMS:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5242.jpg">
Flywheel installed:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5244.jpg">
Clutch disc on:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5245.jpg">
Pressure plate mounted:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5246.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5247.jpg">
Transmission mated up:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5253.jpg">
If you are interested in a SPEC clutch, EPL can source one for you that meets your needs.
I finally got around to pulling my motor due to a small RMS leak (the previous RMS seal was slightly kinked on install). I decided I wanted to upgrade the clutch while I was in there since the RS4 clutch was struggling.
In fairness to the RS4 clutch, it did hold my pump gas power nicely and survived race gas power with only one person in the car. However the torque of race gas and the weight of 4 passengers left my car with a strong clutch odor (no noticeable slipping though). I know a lot of people complain about the RS4 setup not being up to the task of Stage 3 (and beyond) power levels, but I've had two of them and they've both performed admirably.
Anyway, I decided I wanted to put in something with more clamping force while I had the car apart. Based on my research, no one is modifying the RS4 pp (likely due to the added complexity of the SAC mechanism), so my only options were Clutchmasters and SPEC, who both use a different, non-SAC pressure plate.
I spoke with Simpply and he was very helpful but let me know that the Clutchmasters Stage 3/4 hybrid would probably be insufficient for my needs and the Stage 4 and up required the used of a LWFW due to the different clutch disc design (interference with the flywheel bolts). My rotating assembly was precision balanced with a stock flywheel so throwing that off with a LWFW wasn't an option for me.
So I opted to go with SPEC. SPEC is now using the non-SAC pressure plate pictured below instead of one based on the SAC S4 or RS4 pressure plate. Mark P. was (one of, if not the) first to use this pressure plate and its still holding up well for him over 2 years later.
I went with a Stage 3+ unit, which couples the pressure plate with a full face carbon metallic disc. It has more holding capacity than their pucked or segmented discs. I'm hoping the full-face nature will keep it more streetable, but I'm not deluding myself into thinking it'll be anywhere as smooth as my previous RS4 setup. I'll be sure to report back once the car is on the road (should be this weekend).
On to the pics...
Pressure plate:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5236.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5237.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5238.jpg">
Clutch disc:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5233.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5235.jpg">
New OEM Luk flywheel (SPEC also includes a new needle bearing for the FW, but my new FW came with a needle bearing installed):
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5240.jpg">
Metal faced Sachs TOB:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5252.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5251.jpg">
Shiny new RMS:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5242.jpg">
Flywheel installed:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5244.jpg">
Clutch disc on:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5245.jpg">
Pressure plate mounted:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5246.jpg">
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5247.jpg">
Transmission mated up:
<img src="http://pramanik.net/galleries/cars/2001_Audi_S4/SPEC_Clutch/IMG_5253.jpg">
If you are interested in a SPEC clutch, EPL can source one for you that meets your needs.
02-11-2008, 08:12 AM
#7
Audiworld Sponsor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 19,700
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To the best of my knowledge, the failures were related to the SAC mechanism of the RS4 pressure
plate. They are now using a non-SAC design. As I mentioned, Mark P has been running this pressure plate for over 2 years w/o issue, so if its good enough for him, its good enough for me. 
