To new Evo X owners: Save your clutch (and $1500)

CrackaBoi · Sep 17, 2009, 03:58 PM

I'm just gonna throw out some friendly advice to fellow Evo X owners with stock engine setups, advice I learned the hard way.

The Evo has superior AWD, and the stock Advan tires grip like glue on tarmac, especially when its hot out. With almost 300hp under the hood, there is a lot of torque generated when you attempt a hard launch of the car. The engine is small and therefore the clutch is limited in its capacity, and naturally it becomes the weakest link when you rev up the engine and try to boost the car from a dead stop.

So the clutch will wear quickly when you do this. I've been doing it every now and then since I got the car a little over year ago, and now recently the clutch started slipping. I take it to the dealer, and they tell me the clutch is worn out, and that it costs $1,500 to replace it, mostly due to the 10-12 hours of labor that goes into the process.

I am no professional driver and there is of course an optimal way of launching it, but the Evo needs a high rpm to get off quick from a dead stop, and this will wear the clutch to some degree. So try to avoid it. I wish someone told me this when I got the car.

stokEd · Sep 17, 2009, 04:40 PM

How miles you have on it? And just an exhaust and stock tune?

CrackaBoi · Sep 17, 2009, 04:53 PM

Have about 8,800 miles on it. Yes just aftermarket exhaust.

DannyK24 · Sep 17, 2009, 05:26 PM

Hell I knew clutches in Evo's were the weakest link even before I bought one. Right now I'm just counting the days..

Fortunately, I've only launched the car twice in 5k miles so hopefully it'll last longer than yours did.

4wdrifter · Sep 17, 2009, 05:39 PM

i have a 03 and my clutch went out with 11k on it completly stock. i bought the exedy twin disc for 1500 and never looked back. i know i don't have a X but its still the same experience. now they have the twin HD and so on. i got my clutch before ACT was even doing them for the car. i just figured do it right the first time and you wont have to do it again.

Clark_Kent · Sep 17, 2009, 06:10 PM

This isn't news. If you didn't know the stock clutch sucked then you didn't do enough research prior to your purchase. Not trying to be a jerk but I'm just saying.

4wdrifter · Sep 17, 2009, 06:13 PM

don't get me wrong, i knew this back in 04 when mine went out. i agree with above post that you should do you research... especially if you are even thinking about launching your car.

DaveGSR · Sep 17, 2009, 06:48 PM

I applaud you for trying to help new Evo owners out, but this is similar to telling people to fill up their gas tank when it reaches E.

dimitry715 · Sep 18, 2009, 10:52 AM

good advice .

nbpal4000 · Sep 18, 2009, 10:59 AM

did dealer said anything about your aftermarket exhaust? or did you take it off when you went to the dealer?

tsitalon1 · Sep 18, 2009, 11:02 AM

My "stock" clutch lasted 25k miles....In fact it wasn't slipping when I pulled it out. I have recently replaced it in preperation for higher power levels...

It's all about how you drive it...Oh...and it ran 12.9@108

murlo26 · Sep 18, 2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsitalon1

My "stock" clutch lasted 25k miles....In fact it wasn't slipping when I pulled it out. I have recently replaced it in preperation for higher power levels...

It's all about how you drive it...Oh...and it ran 12.9@108

I agree, I am still on the stock clutch, making 150 extra wheel torque over stock and have 15k miles on my car. Stock clutch still isn't slipping.

ugakirk · Sep 18, 2009, 11:35 AM

I agree with the last two posters.

The stock clutch is def soft. But there are alot of factors that play in to clutch life. It has ALOT with how you drive, riding the clutch, the way you shift, how many times you launch, how bad you suck at launching, how freaking fat the X's are, the power you are making. Even an aftermarket clutch won't last if you can't drive, it'll just hold more power... and then go out.

Guru · Sep 18, 2009, 01:30 PM

Mine started slipping at 15,000 miles and was god aweful when i pulled it out finally at 22,000 miles. Disc was worn to nothing. Keep in mind I had an FP Red and some other mods which actually probably helped the situation since the red makes a tad less torque than the stocker (at least in my state of tune). All EVO clutches have always been bad. I've seen them go at 4000 miles even. Just a cost of owning the car. I did the clutch change myself but most people should probably not attempt it, as it was a biatch.

mlomker · Sep 18, 2009, 03:15 PM

I've never launched my car and probably never will. I'd imagine that the shifting that I'll do on future track days are going to do a bit of wear, regardless.

I hope you went with an ACT rather than another stocker. I'll probably do a fly wheel as well when I do mine.