The Critical Link Between Engine and Wheels
Your clutch assembly is the direct connection between engine power and drivetrain—the component that determines whether your modifications translate to forward motion or simply spin in place. Factory clutches are engineered to handle stock power levels with an emphasis on smooth engagement and long service life, but they quickly become the weak link once you've increased boost, added supporting modifications, or simply worn through the original components. A performance clutch and flywheel upgrade ensures your drivetrain can reliably transmit every bit of power your engine produces.
Clutch Disc and Pressure Plate Components
A complete clutch kit typically includes the clutch disc, pressure plate, throw-out bearing, and alignment tool, with some kits also including pilot bearings and hardware. The clutch disc friction material determines engagement characteristics and torque capacity, while the pressure plate's clamp load dictates how firmly the disc is pressed against the flywheel. Heavy-duty pressure plates provide increased clamp force without requiring aggressive disc materials, offering a good balance of improved holding power and reasonable pedal effort for street performance applications.
Flywheel Selection and Weight
The flywheel stores rotational energy and provides a smooth friction surface for clutch engagement. Factory dual-mass flywheels isolate drivetrain vibration but add significant rotating mass and can fail under performance use. Single-mass flywheel conversions eliminate this failure point while reducing weight. Lightweight flywheels—whether aluminum with replaceable steel friction surfaces or chromoly steel construction—dramatically reduce rotational inertia, allowing the engine to rev more freely and respond more quickly to throttle inputs. This improved throttle response comes at the cost of some low-rpm driving smoothness, as the reduced flywheel mass provides less momentum to smooth idle and clutch engagement. The right flywheel weight depends on your balance between streetability and performance response.
Matching Clutch to Power Level
Selecting the appropriate clutch requires honest assessment of your current and planned power output. Undersizing leads to clutch slip, accelerated wear, and potential failure at the worst possible moment. Oversizing results in unnecessarily harsh engagement, increased pedal effort, and added stress on other drivetrain components. Most manufacturers provide torque capacity ratings for their clutch kits, allowing you to match the clutch to your engine's output with appropriate headroom for future modifications. When in doubt, sizing for your planned power level rather than current output prevents the need for repeated clutch replacements as your build progresses.
Vehicle Applications
Our clutch and flywheel selection covers Subaru WRX, STI, BRZ, and Legacy GT; Honda Civic Si, Civic Type R, S2000, and Accord; Toyota GR86, Supra, and 86; Nissan 370Z, 350Z, and GT-R; Mazda MX-5 Miata and Mazdaspeed3; Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution; and additional manual transmission performance vehicles requiring upgraded clutch capacity.