I need an Aftermarket Clutch

[swimmernate]

I know we talk a LOT about our clutches but I can't find anything on my question.

I have a 2002 SVTF with 54,000 miles and my clutch is (finally) going out. I want a Centerforce clutch but they say they only have one for 2003-2004 SVTF. I know Clutch Masters has a couple of clutches for our cars but they're too expensive and I hear nothing but good things from Centerforce. Does anyone know if the Centerforce clutch will work on a 2002, or does anyone know of other clutches?

This is a chance for you to say who you think is best. I need to buy a new clutch so any help is great.

[db9]

I had contacted Centerforce and didn't get much help. The tech support basically didn't know, however if the part number is the same for a 02 as it is for a 03/04 then I would suspect that it would fit.

just my 2 cents worth....

[TriniSVT]

Hey guys,

I'm sorry that I never passed on some of my knowledge on this topic earlier. I was one of the fortunate(?) guys who was able to afford an aftermarket clutch and flywheel, and forgo the whole Ford clutch TSB issue altogether, after my clutch started slipping at xxxxx kms. What's the sense putting back the same stock clutch/flywheel assembly back in for it to just fail prematurely again? I put in a Clutch Masters Stage 1 clutch assembly and Clutch Masters aluminum flywheel and to make a long story short, the fix/upgrade has worked really well for the past xxxxx kms or so.

But there are some disadvantages to replacing your heavy, dual mass flywheel with a light, solid aluminum flywheel. (Note: I weighed both flywheels on an electronic scale here at my workplace and the stock one weights approx. 24.5 lbs and the Clutch Masters aluminum one weighs approx 12.5 lbs). The thing is that when my stock clutch originally started started to fail on me I still never used to get that gear rattle sound that everyone talks about when the gearbox is engaged (e.g. when you're at a standstill in neutral with the clutch pedal up). However, it's only when I installed the Clutch Masters clutch assembly and flywheel that I started getting the dreaded gear rattle.

I've spoken to a master mechanic, Clutch Masters and even a couple of helpful engineers at Getrag out in Germany about this gear rattle since then and everyone agrees that it's because of the change from the dual mass flywheel to the much lighter aluminum flywheel. I mean the whole reason of Ford putting in the 'more complex and costly to manufacture' dual mass flywheel into the SVT is to dampen the vibration from the engine being transmitted to the Getrag Transaxle Type 285 in order to keep down the inherent noise associated with it. So, if you're getting gear rattle even with the stock, dual mass flywheel installed then it's because the dual mass mechanism of the flywheel is malfunctioning.

Also, with a a lighter flywheel teamed up with a 'grabbier' clutch you're going to have to dial up some more RPMS in order to pull off from a standstill or else the upgraded clutch will just pull your RPMS right down due the lighter flywheel having less inertia and you'll 'bog'. But I have to say that the Clutch Masters Stage 1 and flywheel have worked very well and one of the the main advantages of the Clutch Masters Stage 1 in particular is the much lightened effort needed to operate the clutch pedal. When I jumped in the car for the first time after I got the clutch/flywheel upgrade I almost pushed the clutch pedal through the firewall because I was used to having to use so much effort to depress the 'stock' pedal before that.

Anyways, I'm going for lunch right now............I'm not finished on this topic as yet.............

[SVTfocusO3]

I believe I have the rattle at stand still, with the clutch pedal out. But everything seems to work great as far as I can tell, Im not that hard on my clutch though as probably some of you other guys are, but I will see what happens as I am still under warranty. Looking at clutches though, what stage i should go with, i have no idea.

[TriniSVT]

Unless you are running some form of forced induction I would go with a stage 1 set up. Clutch Masters does not make a stage 2 for the SVT Focus for some reason and to take the step up to the the stage 3 might be too much unless you're turbo/supercharged or doing some track/(road?)racing. (Stage 4 & 5 kits are overkill for a road going car and it would be a pain to drive around normally in parking lots and in traffic). Also, if you're going with Clutch Masters just be aware that the Focus SVT is like one of three cars in which the throw out bearing is not supplied together with the clutch kits. This is because the throw out bearing is integrated with a hydraulic slave cylinder in the Focus SVT. I didn't find out about this until after I opened the box and realised that there was no throw out bearing enclosed with my clutch kit and started to make inquires. So when I changed my clutch I had to buy a new throw out bearing/hydraulic slave cylinder assembly separately from Ford because I personally wanted it changed. I doubt any other aftermarket clutch manufacturer will supply the throw out bearing/hydraulic slave cylinder assembly for this car either. The joys of owning a Focus SVT...............

[WD40]

^^^While that was the case, things have changed.^^^
Clutchmasters kits from Central Florida Motorsports do have the TOB.

Clutch master now includes the throw-out bearing in their svt focus clutch kits! This is usually a $100 part from the ford dealership. Clutch Masters has changed their part number and raised their price only about $50 for these kits. The price for a svt focus clutch master kit is now cheaper than a spec kit.

There are other companies still selling the older kits that do not include this throw-out bearing for the svt focus. This will end up costing someone more money later on.

We are one of the fist companies to offer these new updated kits from Clutch masters. We have these new kits in-stock ready to ship! Visit our website today to see these new kits.
__________________
__________________
Central Florida Motorsports, Inc. - Since 1996
sales@c-f-m.com / Online Customer Service / 407.339.9211

The above came from this post...>>>Clicky (http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=728888&#post728888)

[swimmernate]

Cool guys, thanks for all the info, still wanting to hear more. This is what I have so far- I went ahead and got a Fidanza flywheel and I'm still waiting on my clutch. I was stupid and bought the Centerforce clutch from Focus Central not realizing it was for the ZX3 only. I had the order cancelled and got my money back, which took WAY too long. 2 weeks just to get the money put back onto my card. I am talking with a buddy of mine at Shucks and he is looking into an aftermarket clutch from there. He is going to hook me up with all the discounts possible. I should find out tonight what's gonna happen.

Thanks again for the help and I'll keep you all updated.

[TriniSVT]

Do you get the gear rattle from your transaxle right now with the stock clutch/flywheel set up? If you do have the gear rattle currently, I'll be interested in finding out what effect the aftermarket flywheel has on the gear rattle, if any. I didn't have gear rattle with my stock flywheel but then I got the gear rattle when I installed my Clutch Masters flywheel. If you already have the gear rattle then it doesn't really matter.........unless it somehow goes away.

It would also be nice if you could take some digital pictures during your install. If you can take close-up, comparison pictures of the old stock clutch next to the new upgraded clutch, people would be able to see what a difference there is. I should have done it myself but I forgot naturally. I still have my old clutch disc lying around, with 95% of the friction material completely stripped off from the pressure plate side. If people were to actually see the stock clutch disc they will laugh. It doesn't not have a sprung hub and the backing consists of flexible, very thin gauge material.

P.S. - Don't forget to have two bottles of Red Line MT-90 handy during the day of your install. You may also want to have a small bottle of the Ford DOT3 brake fluid available if you're replacing the throw out bearing/hydraulic slave cylinder.

[SVT ZX3]

SPEC also makes a clutch for the SVTF, I have a SPEC stage 1 in my Stang and have to complaints so far. Find them at speccluch.com, here's a snip of the SVT listing...

Ford - Focus
Application Flywheels Aluminum Pressure Plate
Year Span Engine Includes Steel Aluminum None Option None
2002 2003 2.0L SVT n/a SF30A
Pricing: $n/a $459 $
Choose Your Application Here
Performance Kits
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 2+ Stage 3 Stage 3+ Stage 4 Stage 5 None
Product Number: SF001 SF002 SF003 SF004 SF005
Torque Capacity: 299 340 425 425 600
Pricing: $499 $549 $ $569 $ $569 $699
Choose Here
Comments:
Remove rotating mass with our lightweight clutch option for $79.!

[ouikikazz]

SPEC also makes a clutch for the SVTF, I have a SPEC stage 1 in my Stang and have to complaints so far. Find them at speccluch.com, here's a snip of the SVT listing...

Ford - Focus
Application Flywheels Aluminum Pressure Plate
Year Span Engine Includes Steel Aluminum None Option None
2002 2003 2.0L SVT n/a SF30A
Pricing: $n/a $459 $
Choose Your Application Here
Performance Kits
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 2+ Stage 3 Stage 3+ Stage 4 Stage 5 None
Product Number: SF001 SF002 SF003 SF004 SF005
Torque Capacity: 299 340 425 425 600
Pricing: $499 $549 $ $569 $ $569 $699
Choose Here
Comments:
Remove rotating mass with our lightweight clutch option for $79.!

won't light weight mean more easy to wear?

[swimmernate]

Well guess what I just heard guys? I just got off the phone with Centerforce and they don't have a clutch for the SVTF. They said that, "Ford gave us the wrong numbers for the clutch. People were buying the clutches and installing them and they were not working."

Centerforce is working on a new clutch for the SVTF. As of right now, we don't have one. I guess what happened was people were installing the new clutch from Centerforce and the cars just wern't going anywhere. I guess I'll have to look at Clutch Masters?

[SVTfocusO3]

Well that's not good!

[1turbofocus]

I have very good pricing on the CM clutch and have sold many of them and run a SGT4 in my turbocharged SVT Focus and love it


Tom

[ouikikazz]

I have very good pricing on the CM clutch and have sold many of them and run a SGT4 in my turbocharged SVT Focus and love it


Tom

what kind of pricing can you get on a CM stage1? as well as CM's flywheel?

[swimmernate]

Hey guys, question. I went to autozone and they said they have a clutch for our cars, it's a Duralast clutch kit, NU31335. Cover type: D, OD: 9, Spline: 1, Teeth: 23, DOHC ENG. Slave cylinder included exc. Getrag 6 SPD Trans.

Would this clutch work for our cars? Any help?

[SVTfocusO3]

Well if it excludes the Getrag specifically, I wouldn't think so.

[swimmernate]

Well the guy at Autozone thought that it might ment "Slave cylinder included except for the SVT." Think so?

[SVTfocusO3]

The part number I pulled up is one less than what you have, NU31334.

DURALAST CLUTCH SET-MATCHED for a 2003 FORD FOCUS

Unit Price: $267.99

The slave cylinder doesn't show by itself or does any other clutch part, so your probably correct. This isn't aftermarket correct?

[swimmernate]

Well that was another question I had. Is this our stock clutch or aftermarket? I sure as hell don't want to go with stock again, unless they've made some modifications on it that would make it worth while. Does anyone know?

[fogman]

Well that was another question I had. Is this our stock clutch or aftermarket? I sure as hell don't want to go with stock again, unless they've made some modifications on it that would make it worth while. Does anyone know?

surely it's an aftermarket clutch. the question is, what company is manufacturing the duralast-branded clutch for autozone? the clutches may be made by a reputable company with only slightly different specs. than the "real" mccoy for that particular company.

[swimmernate]

Ok, so then should I go with the Duralast one or should I spend the more money and go with a Clutch Masters Clutch?