Mk3 Uprated clutch...

How much can the standard clutch handle?

 

I don't know what the official is but my 225 clutch is taking 315 bhp and 345 lbft torque with no problem

 

I suppose it depends how much this (TTV?) one is and the spec, can't see any harm in an uprated one if it gets.... used well

 

If you fit a twin plate unsprung clutch with a SMF to save the gearbox, I think you have it all wrong. My 2c.
S.

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Hey Neil,

I will try to give you my opinion based on past experience with a multitude of different clutches.
As I was saying before the clutch works based on clamping force x friction torque (where friction is surface x coeff x clutch diam) - rough formula.

The main reason for twin or triple disc is to increase the friction surface where you cannot increase the clutch diameter. Then you can move to twin disc when you use smaller disc, so you trade friction surface to clutch diam in order to gain less inertia and weight on the whole package (F1 cars have 8-10 disc around 10cm diameter).

240mm twin sintered clutch is good to hold 700hp in a Evo or Subaru, so I would say wildly overkill for a Megane. Also I expect the total weight (flywheel and complete clutch) will be slightly heavier than what you have currently without any benefit of reduced inertia.

Sintered disc will give you a very abrupt engagement due to the high friction coeff. Having more than 1 disc makes the engagement point les evident so even harder to slip the clutch for a smooth start.

If the clutch in the picture is what you bought, I can't see any springs to consider it sprung. In stock form, the springs are in teh DMF and the clutch disc is solid. In the older version with OEM SMF, the springs are between the clutch material and the clutch hub. This are made to take out some of the judder and change and start and lower the acceleration the gearbox sees when you lift the foot from the clutch.

The reason why gearbox has a harder life with unsprung clutch is during fast shifts where you dump the clutch fast and the gearbox will accelerate very fast.

S.

 

Talk about palming off solid advise eh ^^^

 

Can you please show some pics of the whole clutch (all parts). I'm curios to see how one plate is sprung and one is not. You learn something everyday.

S.

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I would also be interested to understand why you think 2 disks are better than one and discuss this as well with engineering judgement behind.
Is obvious you will install that but it may help you understand better the behaviour you get afterwards.
I'm always up for good discussions if people are interested. If not, I def expect an unbiased review on it.

S.

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So just to clear a few things up, the clutch is a twin plate strap driven clutch that essentially behaves like a spring clutch.

The flywheels isn't sprung neither are the clutch plates/discs, it's the pressure plate that bolts to the flywheel that's sprung/strapped between the pressure plate friction surface and the clutch plates and also has the sprung engagement of both discs, it's quite a trick design but I'll post some pictures up once I'm back in the workshop tomorrow.

The clutch is rated to 550ft/lbs which is high yes, overkill possibly, but supposedly with the design the pedal will be light and controllable. So it's not the lightest design in the world and will more than likely have more rotational inertia than a single plate unsprung simple clutch design but the pedal will be far lighter and the engagement will be much smoother, aiding driver comfort and liveability, alongside reliability and longevity which are the main priorities in this particular build.

One we've got it fitted and the car back on the road (next week) we'll be revealing more details on how the car drives with the clutch and we'll be putting on some miles to ensure pedal feel is perfect e.t.c then release the results.

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Well at least someones looking at and trying options.

 

Can you let us know a price for it? Can you also build it with organic lining rather than pucks?
I would definitely like to see the strap driven idea. I do get an idea about what you are saying but a pictures makes for 1000 words.

S.

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We're not going to release anymore details regarding price until it's fitted and tested, once we've done that we'll release pricing e.t.c

 

Everyday we learn new things. I did more research on your version of "sprung" clutch and I have to say I admire the idea. Definitely got my curiosity regarding the feeling. Still think an organic version would be better due to enough torque capability and less grabby initial bite, but this diferite discussion.
I always had in mind a twin disc for my diesel but space was always a problem. Your idea in one solution.

S.

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Fucking hated my car with smf and paddle clutch was like driving a tractor

 

That is the paddle in my mind. Organic should give a nice clutch feel. What are you running now Odinson?

S.

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Who did the 500hp one with a video of a lap on the norsdchleife? Seem to remember it looked by far and a way too much power for fwd..

 

Thing is we know 300ish bhp Megane do mid 7s. Team93 Megane with 400bhp looks to go very very well indeed

 

A lot of the fast Meganes run sub 7:45.

 

This is a side profile of the clutch with the extra plate held up which goes between the friction surface and the flywheel.

As you can see there's essentially two sprung/strapped friction surfaces bolted to the pressure plate which help engagement.

The clutch will be rated to 550ft/lbs which means we've plenty of headroom and hopefully wear time at the 380ft/lbs mark we're going to be aiming for on this particular project, but the main thing is pedal feel, initial bite and comfort.

This would future proof us for future builds though and people who're going for BIG torque figures while still retaining daily drive ability.