Have done a bit of a search but havn't found the EXACT answers im after.

Getting a conversion done on my verada where a 2000 model TH 3.5 motor and 5 spd gearbox are going in. The clutch is starting to slip at the moment so i figure i should change the clutch at the same time. I do have a habit of a heavy foot sometimes and may be looking into FI down the track.

From what i can gather excedy clutches seem to be a decent brand and mal is the best guy to get them from.

My question is what sort to get? I would say HD would last longer against my occasional fast driving. But do i upgrade the clutchplate? lighten or machine the flywheel? What size clutch kit to go for? Worth upgrading to a 380 clutchplate kit with a HD clutch?

What would you recommend and what are my options?? :headbange

Hi Mate,

Basically for your situation you have 2 choices, you can go for an OEM style clutch, whether it's from Exedy or from Mitsubishi etc, or you can go the HD from Exedy. I wouldn't bother with any other choices.


The HD from exedy is very easy, it doesn't have a hard pedal, it doesn't give you no room to launch etc, it is definitely a little harder, so for example, it's a bit easier to come off too quick and if you do due to the increased pressure it snaps up pretty quick and could be a bit jerky .. but that's mostly if you make a mistake. It's very easy to drive easily.

General change AIUI in the HD is the material is a bit more resilient to heat/fading.. a few hard launches etc are fine.. and the clutch plate I believe is slightly harder again than the Exedy OEM (which is slightly harder than the factory one, which incidentally, is also made by exedy from factory, back then, was daiken).


If you don't really drive hard much at all, you'd honestly be fine with a standard one, as MadMagna will say, there are plenty of people driving those without hassle but I wanted a bit of peace of mind and not to regret not getting the HD later, and I havent' regretted it at all, but if you just want to cruise around and not do much an OEM-level one might be SLIGHTLY better in terms of jerkyness if you are a bit lazy/make a mistake with the clutch.. but as I said, HD isn't really much of a hassle at all.


Machining the flywheel, you should definitely get it skimmed like a brake disk to smooth it out/remove any hotspots. If you get a 240mm clutch then you have to machine a step into it but if you just get a standard 230mm sized clutch then no need for that but you still want it skimmed. I wouldn't bother with any flywheel changes/machining other than that, etc. I went the 240mm figuring it would have a bit of extra grip, but again I'm not sure that was super necessary, cost a bit extra for the machining, etc.. probably not really necessary.

What I did luck on was the fact that the 240mm clutch is the same clutch as recommended by Exedy for a Legnum, whivh I just bought, so i'll be transferring the same clutch (as its only ~9 months old) into my new legnum, but i doubt that will be a factor for you :)


My personal opinion would probably be to go the 230mm HD clutch, should be all good and will have a bit of extra bite of you go a bit hard, do a few drags, etc. It won't hurt and will make you happy because you have the HD. :)

Xtreme clutch list the 3.5L and 3.8L clutch as 240mm diameter, the 3.0L as 225mm diameter.
When i put the Xtreme extra HD cushioned button 240mm clutch in my TH sports, NO step had to be machined into the flywheel. All i had done to the flywheel was a light skim to refresh its surface.

http://www.xtremeclutch.com.au/page.asp?parentid=3#

Okay so what i can gather so far is HD is the way to go for my driving style, and il need the 240mm for the 3.5 with the flywheel machined

Any other opinions?

Cheers guys :)

And whats the DBC clutch kit?

brass button clutch, you dont want that :P

Xtreme clutch list the 3.5L and 3.8L clutch as 240mm diameter, the 3.0L as 225mm diameter.
When i put the Xtreme extra HD cushioned button 240mm clutch in my TH sports, NO step had to be machined into the flywheel. All i had done to the flywheel was a light skim to refresh its surface.

http://www.xtremeclutch.com.au/page.asp?parentid=3#

[Completely re-wrote this post after I realised you were talking about both (a) a button design and (b) not an exedy clutch]

The diameter of the clutch isn't really the problem, it's actually the design.

The Exedy 240mm for example definitely fouls, I have confirmed this and a couple other threads of people having that issue have confirmed it too. But it's nothing to do with the diameter its stuff on the inside edge that fouls, from memory it was the springs.

So the real issue isn't the actual diameter so much as is the clutch plate design, the Exedy 230mm happens to fit, the exedy 240mm definitely does not.

Definately no problems or mods needed with the 240mm disc in my car....

I had replaced the clutch with 2 new stock units (care of MMAL) before fitting the xtreme unit.... Both the factory clutches on my TH sports measured 240mm :)

Completely re-wrote my former post to clarify things, makes sense now. :) By the way, the Xtreme clutch kits appear to be $200 or so cheaper but not as well proven/tested by members.

Well i use a xtreme cushioned button clutch in my magna and i think EGO is using the same one in his TT magna, also Eddy wreckers here in SA are using a xtreme DSB extra extra HD clutch in there magna race car. Tzaboy is/was using the Exedy cushioned button in his ralliart which he reckons was quite good.

In my opinion for MR SPL's car, a standard organic clutch disc with a HD pressure plate would be the go.

So the excedy 240mm won't fit but the extreme 240mm will? lol Silly clutch makers. .

Any others?

Well i use a xtreme cushioned button clutch in my magna and i think EGO is using the same one in his TT magna, also Eddy wreckers here in SA are using a xtreme DSB extra HD clutch in there magna race car. Tzaboy is/was using the Exedy cushioned button in his ralliart which he reckons was quite good.

In my opinion for MR SPL's car, a standard organic clutch disc with a HD pressure plate would be the go.

Thats what i was leaning towards :)

So which brand and size?

Thats what i was leaning towards :)

So which brand and size?

Which ever is cheapest lol

Xtreme clutch are here in Adelaide (out at Wingfield), so ya could go out and chat to them about there clutches and what you would require and then get Mal to give ya a price on a similar spec Exedy clutch.

Only reason i went with the Xtreme clutch was beacuse i was working for a CNC machining place at the time and we use to make thrust bearing carriers and other small bits for them, so they built me a clutch at a good price after i told them what i required.

So the excedy 240mm won't fit but the extreme 240mm will? lol Silly clutch makers. .

Any others?

Not sure on xtremes "stock" style organic clutch discs but i know my cushioned button disc fitted with no flywheel mods.

With the Exedy 240mm clutch you will need an extra step machined into the inner part of the flywheel. Not sure what all this extreme stuff is you're all talking about... :P

The clutch you'll probably end up with will need the step machined in. So please see my thread from when I changed over mine.

Some pics -

http://www.joshuaburford.com/clutch%20change/IMG_20101002_115602.jpg
http://www.joshuaburford.com/clutch%20change/IMG_20101002_115608.jpg
http://www.joshuaburford.com/clutch%20change/IMG_20101002_132928.jpg

All I can say after fitting it.. HIGHLY recommended! As lathiat said, it's not hard to drive at all, it's very easy to operate when driving normally, and grabs instantly when you want it to.

Mal reckons i need the 230mm so il go with that. Heard nothing but good things bout it all so it sounds like the way to go :)

Cheers everyone!

Factory clutch for all TH to TW are 230mm, Exedy have now also corrected their site as well

The 380 clutch is a 240mm, it also has a slightly ligher flywheel. This is what I put into Magna's when the flywheel has excessive heat spots on it

For the street car, I would not bother with the 240mm unless you are doing the flywheel as well and then go the 380 set up.

The Exedy site did incorrectly list a 240mm as being straight bolt in, the Daiken Clutch Disk will NOT fit into a std flywheel due to the rivets which hold the outer disk onto the centre fowling unless the step is there. Not sure what teh Extreme uses for a clutch plate, this may be a different design or brand for that matter

Okay so if the flywheel is okay and just needs machining go for the 230mm kit. If it has heat spots go for the 380 kit HD? All good if you keep stock of both.

Out of curiosity what are the 380 flywheel kits worth?

Jason, how much was the xtreme clutch?

HD clutches have more clamp pressure, often over 2x more than standard. They're pretty damn drivable though. might take a few days to get used to tho.

If you're going to put a supercharger/turbo on at some point you're gonna want the hd clutch, having a slipping clutch waste hour power is devastating

Yeah the 230 over 240 is unlikely to make a huge difference so 230 should be fine, and yeah just go the HD, and you will be happy. :)


I think Mal was saying he just pops a 380 flywheel in if its too heat spotted to be skimmed by a machine shop.

Jason, how much was the xtreme clutch?

Not sure what RRP was on it.

Mine was given to me a "there cost" due to the CNC machining company i was working for at the time, making/supplying parts to xtreme clutch

Here is a pic of the clutch used in my magna, definately did not need any work done to the flywheel to fit it. Having said that i wouldnt recommend the actual "disc" part of the kit for everyday use (as its quite abrupt/grabby) the extra HD pressure plate is fantastic though in its feel and pedal effort.

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt226/zoomie_73/Magna/NewClutch1.jpg

Go standard ive had my fair share of clutch and gearbox problems. Im telling u the standard OEM clutch is very good its bites heaps.