Traveling in my 944 :)

[Ez-Bone]

Hi everyone!

Got a few questions about clutch set ups and their tune

Ok heres the story, I have a meeting in Pittsburgh, PA next year (Jul/2nd-6th) and I want to drive there but the clutch I have is still the crap rubber centered one from the factory 20somehting years ago. Needless to say there's a *CLUNK* noise like someone setting a hollow porcelain platter atop another when I depress the clutch and let off. This doesn't happen when in motion.
When in motion it's different, the car jerks and has a *clank... clank.. clank. clank-clankclank* juggle noise before it finally settles once I've got up to speed in what gear I may be in. It's hard to explain but I will try and get video footage or at least a sound clip for those who need/want it.

For those of you who pretty much know already what I'm talking about, is that the flywheel? or clutch not gripping? I plan to replace it but I'm torn by what stage kit to get.
I want to know what's the difference in stages but I want a R/T (Road & Track) or 'Pro street' tune/feel but at the same time I want it to be durable for long drives as the one I'll be making (from Missouri to Pennsylvania). Which do you all think (or know) would be best for my babe? Just elaborate, I want as much detail as possible.

1. Lindsey Racing offers Sachs spec clutch kits ranging from stage 1-4. What are so different about them that they have to be labeled in stages? And are they worth the asking price? http://www.lindseyracing.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LR&Category_Code=CLUTCHSPEC944

2. Lindsey Racing also offers spec lightweight fly wheels. Should I invest in a light weight flywheel or get a heavier one? If heavier, what weight?

3. eBay has a Sachs spec clutch kit as well but for 400something dollars, is it worth it? And what would you guys think the performance is from it? http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Sachs-Clutch-Kit-For-Porsche-944-924_W0QQitemZ400008139140QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors _Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item400008139140&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

4. Lastly, might any of you guys know if other clutch manufactures make applications (spec) for my car? It seems Sachs is the only that does from what I've found and Centerforce makes applications for my car too but I was told they weren't very good. Any help would be great!

P.S: I assure you, I do not care about ride comfort, I had a Mustang that I dropped so low with such a stiff suspension that I could literally feel almost EVERY road defect. So if the choice of clutch given to me will be a rough ride, good, it's something I've actually grown to like!

Thanks in advance to you all!
Evan

[J1NX3D]

Hi, I'm in the hunt for a clutch too and have the same symptoms as you. In fact I only posted about them last week!

For me the stock cltch will do. My stepdad ('86 944) and a friend (944S2) raced with centreforce clutches and had no problems.

I've found a stock OEM spring centre clutch plate on Zims for $299.00

[nynor]

i have the centerforce clutch and abuse it all the time. it works great.

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by nynor

i have the centerforce clutch and abuse it all the time. it works great.

So Centerforce is a good balance of road and track performance? And when you say abuse it, what do you mean exactly in terms of abuse?
Plus, how would it hold up to a 1000mile drive? Is it durable?

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by mAd924

Hi, I'm in the hunt for a clutch too and have the same symptoms as you. In fact I only posted about them last week!

For me the stock cltch will do. My stepdad ('86 944) and a friend (944S2) raced with centreforce clutches and had no problems.

I've found a stock OEM spring center clutch plate on Zims for $299.00

getting allot of feed back about Centerforce, I'm starting to think otherwise about them from what I've been told by the locals. So they really are that good ay?

How long has your step-father's friend have this setup? and how well you think it would hold up to a 1000mile drive?

[nynor]

i drive my car HARD. i autocross nearly every month in the summer, this is two seasons on this clutch. as i've stated in another post, i don't know of many cars that can stand up to the abuse i dish out on this one.

as for a 1000 mile drive, i have about 12K miles on it. i drove from slc to portland and back. i think round trip, including a lot of pleasure driving in oregon, it was about 2500 miles. sometimes at autocross, i get a little overexuberant and smoke the tires at launch and it holds up just fine. YMMV.

[J1NX3D]

Originally Posted by Ez-Bone

How long has your step-father's friend have this setup? and how well you think it would hold up to a 1000mile drive?

I will ask. Hes had his S2 for a few years now and its only seen the track for wheel to wheel racing.

[J1NX3D]

Actually, while I'm here i'd like to put forward another question to the board: I'm not driving my 944 at all due to its clutch problems. It's a weekend fun car anyway, but how much regular driving can the clutch 'get-home' tabs take?

[HondaDustR]

I've put 50,000 miles on the OEM sachs clutch that's in my 924S and it's still got more than half of the usable material left on it according to the inspection hole measurement. I don't outright abuse it, but I often drive it fairly hard by daily driving standards. I've had no problems with it at all.

If it were me and money wasn't a problem, I'd get the spec stage 2 and the aluminum flywheel, either the spec flywheel, or the one Fidanza makes. If people are saying good things about the centerforce, I would say go with that. The OEM spring centered clutch is just fine if you don't really want to spend extra or don't need the upgrade.

[nynor]

i wouldn't drive on the 'tabs'. at all.

i opted for the centerforce clutch because i know i am hard on it. otherwise, i'd have gotten the OEM setup.

[porsche4life]

Good luck having it changed by next week.

[fast924S]

I have the spec stage 2 flywheel and the spec lightweight flywheel. I love both of them, The flywheel makes loads of difference to how the car revs and the clutch grabs very well. As far as day to day traveling and heavy traffic, I would say stay stock, The light weight flywheel makes it a tad more of a pain for stop and go traffic. but if you dont mind then i dont mind

[mattdavis11]

The spring centered sachs that was put on my car 16 years ago is holding up just fine. I couldn't tell you the exact # of miles that are on it, but it's 100K or more. The stock rubber centered went out at 80K, but that was because some high school kid was double clutching it and killed it prematurely.

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by nynor

i drive my car HARD. i autocross nearly every month in the summer, this is two seasons on this clutch. as i've stated in another post, i don't know of many cars that can stand up to the abuse i dish out on this one.

as for a 1000 mile drive, i have about 12K miles on it. i drove from slc to portland and back. i think round trip, including a lot of pleasure driving in oregon, it was about 2500 miles. sometimes at autocross, i get a little overexuberant and smoke the tires at launch and it holds up just fine. YMMV.

Well then! sounds impressive indeed! Maybe Centerforce really isn't all that bad afterall And from the voting poll I've put up it looks like I will be going for a light flywheel and a Centerforce kit as those two percentages are the highest at the moment.

Also, would you happen to know anything about the Sachs stage 2 and 3 clutches in comparison to Centerforce? I was told to stay away from Stage 3 and 4 since take offs would be like getting whiplash but THAT'S THE FEELING I WANT!!! lol I want that babe to grip so hard you'll have to visit the cryogenist on a regular basis haha

But since you've been on long trips in a 944 already, I know other things will need to be checked for a safe and reliable trip, care to share some pointers?

Thanks so much!
Evan

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by fast924S

I have the spec stage 2 flywheel and the spec lightweight flywheel. I love both of them, The flywheel makes loads of difference to how the car revs and the clutch grabs very well. As far as day to day traveling and heavy traffic, I would say stay stock, The light weight flywheel makes it a tad more of a pain for stop and go traffic. but if you dont mind then i dont mind

I don't mind at all, I love that since I can feel what exactly is going on with the car rather than it have a 'luxury' feel with everything numbed down. After I did the mods to the Mustang I had I fell in love with a sport set up (yes I dumped ALLOT of money into that thing just to get it to sport spec and not so much muscle spec and I must say was very successful with it).

But yea, I don't care how rough the ride is, that's what I urge for lol but I was curious, what about Stage 3? overdoing it? especially for a long drive?

[nynor]

safe and reliable? just the usual: all maintenance current (including timing belt), synthetic oil, correct coolant, new alternator belt and a spare in the trunk, extra motor oil, check all the oil seals to make sure none are weeping, and take a set of metric tools. i've never had the car break down on a road trip.

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by nynor

safe and reliable? just the usual: all maintenance current (including timing belt), synthetic oil, correct coolant, new alternator belt and a spare in the trunk, extra motor oil, check all the oil seals to make sure none are weeping, and take a set of metric tools. i've never had the car break down on a road trip.

Cool! what brand of oil would you recommend? I thought about Royal Purple as it did the engine I put in the Mustang a ton of good, or is there a better brand?

As for coolant, what type (brand) should I use? I always took the car to maintenance (just recently stopped as I'm just going to do the small things from now on myself) and they changed all that for me, but what's best for it?

[nynor]

oil: whatever you like. there as many opinions on this as there are posters on this board. i've been using amsoil, but will be switching to mobile extended use, as it is a pain to get the amsoil.

coolant: again, a lot of opinions. just find some that is phosphate free and good for use in aluminum engines.

[thedge]

KEP+Lightened stock flywheel is my vote.

Having driven Specs and Centerforce cars, I think the KEP feels MUCH better. It doesnt have that nasty "melted block of butter" pedal feel like the Spec and Centerforce both do.

[nynor]

i am not sure i've experienced the "melted block of butter" with mine. it feels pretty solid and engages nicely at high RPM's, or low.