I know the stickies on the 3.5 swap say at minimum Stage 1 clutch upgrade, but I'm wondering how a stage 1 will really hold up to the 3.5 with some bolt ons and a mild tune. I have a new Exedy Stage 1 sitting in my garage that I had intended for my 3.0, but now have started down the road of building my 3.5 on the stand for a later summer install. The car will be making probably 30 or so passes a year at an 1/8th mile track and I really don't feel like doing a clutch job every 6 months. Wondering if I should just part with the Stage 1 and look for a Stage 2 or more. This is my DD and often find myself in stop and go traffic, but could care less about streetability. Holding power is my concern.

Opinions Please...

 

It's not too difficult of a decision, especially if you have any doubt all. Get a stage II if you have any concern whatsoever.

 

im actually looking for an exedy stage 1 and i found one but if you want to sell yours to me ill be glad to take it off a fellow orgers hands.

 

IIRC the Exedy Stage 1 is only rated for 236 ft-lbs or so...

I'd go stronger with a 3.5 personally. Check up on it though, that # is from memory right now, and mine can be dodgy at times.

 

I think Exedy measures their clutches in clamping force at the pressure plate, and not the typical ft/lbs. of torque like many of the other manufacturers. IIRC the Exedy Stage I is 1760 lb/in., the OEM 4th gen is 1275 lb/in. and the 5th gen is 1400 lb/in.

Gunny11218, make me an offer and I will think about it. I think Justin sells them for $291 shipped from Importcarpartsplus.

 

I got a Spec Stage 2, holds nicely, and feels like stock.

 

Spec Stage 2 is what I have. So far since the swap in October I've put 26 track passes at both 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile tracks. Clutch held up fine after 11 "hot-lapped" 1/4mi passes last nite. No slip at all, and feels just like stock. Grabs like a **** when you dump it, crap will fall off your dash, lol. But you can slip it just like a normal OEM clutch. Its great

 

I've done the 3.5 swap with a 2001 AE 5th gen OEM clutch. On the clutch, it was clearly imprinted "Exedy" along with Nissan Part numbers. I was told by the Dealership that it's basically an Exedy Stage 1 clutch.

With that swap, I've had loads of mods: Cattman's Full exhaust, JWT ECU, Fidanza Flywheel, Underdrive pulley, Variable Intake, Splifire Ignition Coilpacks, and a bunch of other stuff, even had JWT S1 cams in it. No problems with the clutch at all. Only the motor blew before anything else shows failure.

Question answered, Exedy stage 1 is already good enough. Plus, it felt great, no chatters, and shifts really nice without the racing clutch thumps...

-Peter-

 

Hey good thing you brought that up. That is one thing that I experience with my Spec Stg2. Even when slipping it nicely, driving around the street, if I turn down the music I can actually hear the engagement by a thump. It doesnt suddenly grab and start moving, movement wise its a smooth transition, but there's defiantly a distinct thump when it grabs.

On the 3.0, my OEM 5th gen clutch did the same thing, just not as loud.

Its not a bad thing at all, doesnt affect the car's driving. Its just audiable, and only if the radio is off, otherwise you wouldnt even tell.

 

idk dude, maybe. is it used? at all or still brand new

 

Brand new and is still in the packaging. MN is a couple days UPS Ground and not too expensive. If you decide you don't want it, I'll post in the classifieds.

 

Excedy Stage 1 is still holding up strong in my car even though I don't have it anymore. The clutch was installed during my 5 speed swap in the summer of 2005. The the 3.5 was installed in September. Clutch was holding up very well. People that drove my car stated that the clutch grabbed like crazy. I think you will be fine with that clutch.

 

Thanks for the input guys.

 

Exedy Stage 1 holds the power from my cammed 3.5 just fine.

 

Okay, so I decided to call Exedy today and ask them if the Stage 1 will hold the power of a modified VQ35. Here's the information direct from Exedy:

Stage 1 has a clamping force of 1760, which is rated @ 231 lb/ft at the wheels. The Stage 2 has same pressure plate, but different disk and is rated @ 263 lb/ft. They are currently looking into other option for me, possibility of other products they produce that may work for the VQ35 with VQ30 flyweel and trans. We'll see what they say. At this point, I'm not really optimistic and will not be installing the Stage 1 unless I go with the Stage 2 disk.

 

I would not recommend the stage 2 Exedy as it is a 3-puck sprung hub disc with some rather harsh engagement. Mine was harsh enough that over time it broke my 3-4 shift fork and that was under normal driving conditions. If you have to go with an Exedy product I would recommend the stage 1 setup. I also had a stage 1 disc and PP with a Fidanza flywheel. I ran that setup with some bolt-ons and a 75 shot. I dyno'd the setup and I put down ~325 lb-ft fwtq and the clutch showed no signs of slipping. Although I personally would NOT go with an Exedy setup as I've had nothing but bad luck with them.

 

*clears throat*

Ahem...

Thanks for checking, nice to know my memory is not completely shot all the time lol

 

You were pretty much dead-on with your memory. When I was talking with Exedy, they factor in a 25% power loss to the wheels, which we all know the Maxima drivetrain is more efficient than that. I would guess the Stage 1 is more likely around the 250 lb/ft at the wheels. I may keep it, as there does not seem to be much interest in the kit in the classifieds section.

 

Well if that's the case it might explain why some have used it on 3.5's without problems.

 

ACT street i say is the best clutch i ever had i have never worn one out.

ITs what the fastest manual all motor maxima uses ,then it should work fine for you

 

Okay, well it's a done deal...I'm keeping it. What's the worst that could happen, I wear it out and have to get another one. After the swap, doing a clutch job will be as easy as an oil change.

 

Won't wear out my man......

 

I sure hope not. When that 3.5 goes in, it will be driven hard daily. Not to mention it will be seeing some passes at the track every couple weeks or so. I'm hoping with some tires it does mid 13 sec. passes. We'll see.

 

I second that... I've put 1000 miles on my Exedy stage 1 and i'm pulling it today. The entire car shook and rattled when engaging the clutch.... It's so bad the TO bearing started going bad at <500 miles...

I'm replacing it with the 350z and fidanza flywheel... sooo much money lost... but hopefully it's a better option... And with any customer service, Exedy will let me return it.

 

Like krismax i use ACT street,i did not tried other brand but go for it lol

i would not recommend stage 2 or 3 for NA application

 

stock 4th gen is fine. but not recommended.. stock 5th gen is fine....i run a spec stage 3, i love it.

 

Their customer service is horrible. good luck with the return. you'll need it.

 

There is a huge miscommunication that goes on constantly on the .org.....

There is an exedy stage 1 racing clutch, I believe that is the 1750 pp, than there is what many people call the 5th gen clutch, the problem arises when people call the 5th gen clutch the 'exedy stage 1' and then people confuse that with the 'exedy stage 1 racing clutch'

Why am I saying all this? because I get halfway through this thread and see it happening and get all confused, could people please stop calling the 5th gen clutch an exedy stage 1, just call it a 5th gen clutch or exedy replacement, and also start calling the exedy stage 1 RACING clutch exactly that..........

 

ok, back on topic.......... Has anyone used the RPS clutch? I recently did a clutch job on a Z32TT and removed an act and installed an rps, I was VERY impressed with the rps clutch over the act that was in there and was just curious if anyone is running one on a VQ as I only recently found that they do make one for the A32...........

 

my stock 5thgen cluth is doing fine, didnt go to the track yet and I try not launch too much, knock on wood

 

ACT makes POS clutches, I had 2 of them go bad within 30K miles and one of em also took out my 4th gear. I am about to install my 2nd Exedy Stage 1 into my car. Yes it has almost 200K miles.

 

yeah i dont care for the exedy stage 1 racing clutch, mines pretty new, and im probably going to need a new clutch, while its been in the car 3.5 years ive put very few miles on the car in that time. if i get quick runs at the drag strip it already starts to smell like clutch. i need a real good clutch myself, possible something lightweight lol, maybe act street is for me ? any thoughts ?

 

Ceaser, I've since answered that question, TWICE. And man is that clutch the shiznit. ACT < RPS by MILES. There sport series will be good for your set-up, they also have a hybrid combo that uses the max pp & sport disc, it's pretty nice as well but not really needed for you.

Clutchmasters, act, spec........ Nothing can touch the quality of these rps clutches, that's not on some "imho" either, it's the truth.

 

im so happy to come across this thread, my ACT HDSS help up nice all motor, but after about 3000k of boost it went bye bye.......its not even a year old and about under 10,000k. Even just going around the block now all I smell is clutch, when the car goes into boost when it usually breaks tires......all thats there is slippage.


So RPS huh, any links?

 

http://www.turboclutch.com/

They don't sell directly though, so you need to google there part #'s for the best prices. And if you want a semi-custom setup (mismatched disk/pp) you have to call them up for that, but there customer service is pretty bomb. And on top of that even their female service reps know more about clutches than me

 

well i dont know what to do ? i just want a freaking good clutch that will last, holding up to lots of drag racing abuse. in searching around what is up with amazon.com selling clutches? are they taking over the world ?

maybe bumping up from organic to that kevlar material would hold up much longer but who wants to pay that big high dollar price up front ? lol

act, rps, exedy, clutchmaster, spec, jwt ??? what to do ??

 

jason, you were running a lightweight flywheel ? im going to do a search on that to see what I can find out, generally I read no good for drag racing but what were your thoughts ? i weighed the stock flywheel on some bathroom scales and got 20 lbs.

i wonder if the stillen lightweight flywheel would hurt me that much ? they say its only 5 lbs lighter putting it in around 15 lbs, and then your fidanza is around 12 lbs right ?

dan are you still following the thread ? were you running a lightened flywheel ? i may just take a chance on this but will go with the middle ground with the stillen fly???

 

here is my exedy stage 1 racing clutch ! totally wasted ! I looked up the mileage I had put on it.

17,945 miles

That seems pretty low on a clutch, like I was saying mine was total garbage when we pulled it out.

 

Closer pics of the disc, and also pp surface needed.

Was the flywheel resurfaced?

 

Need to see a closeup.

Chris did you have a rear main seal leak?

My 3.0 currently has an Exedy Stage 1 + Unorthodox flywheel. I have been happy with it so far but that's <3k miles. I think if your clutch is really dead after <20k miles there's something else going on, that's far too little.