eClutchmaster's Stage 2 clutch...

[destrux]

Just figured I'd post this up for anyone who searches for this company in the future.

I took the chance on an "eClutchmaster" stage 2 clutch for my car, it was the MKIV NA kit (for the W58 trans). I paid $150 shipped. *When I bought it* (it has since been revised), it was listed to hold 380hp, or 367 ft-lbs of torque. It was also listed to have 2400 pounds clamp force. Well, it didn't. It slipped on the dyno at 215 ft-lbs (at the wheels). I figure this is about where a stock clutch would have slipped. I had a local place that rebuild truck clutches check the pressure plate and he said it was the same as the stock pressure plate I sent with it. The clutch was smooth and seemed to be good quality, but it was nothing but an apprently stock pressure plate with a 6-puck racing disc.

So I did some math (to figure out about what crank hp/tq it was making when it slipped) and confronted the guy via email, making sure to mention that I'm fully qualified to install the clutch (ASE Master), and being polite (if not slightly annoyed).

Some excuses and replies he gave...

• Your car is turbo, this clutch is for NA.
• This clutch is all dynoed and comes with 380hp.
• This is not stock pressure plate painted yellow.
• Another buyer loved it.

However, he was very polite, and offered me three solutions to my problem.

1. He could send me a "Stage IV pressure plate" for free, no shipping or anything.
2. If I send the clutch back (and I pay the shipping) he would give me a refund of the price of the clutch and original shipping.
3. He would give me back a reasonable sum of money, no returns required or additional questions asked.

My first concern was being out the return shipping and the clutch and not receiving any refund at all. I've had this happen before on ebay.

So I asked for half my money back. He sent it, no problem. He was very polite the entire time, and so was I.

So that concluded my business with eClutchmaster.

Here's where it gets more interesting.

The hp and torque numbers I told him were the MAX I *thought* the clutch could *possibly* hold at the crank... he revised his listings and put those numbers in (including the listing where I bought mine)! I laughed out loud when I saw this today. He also dropped the pressure plate clamp number to 2200 pounds (from 2400).

Now, I don't harbor any bad feelings against the guy, he did alright by me. I'm using the disc from his kit with a "name brand" pressure plate and it's holding all the power fine now (haven't had it back on the dyno yet to know how much exactly).

I should also mention that in the 2 weeks that the clutch was in my car, the yellow paint on the pressure plate actually melted and slung off and left a yellow ring inside the bellhousing :yelrotflm, and I only overpowered and slipped the clutch ONCE. The black paint on my severely overheated and abused Comp pressure plate never did that.

I just wanted to post this because I found it all a little amusing.

 

[tomsupra8683]

I bought one of those clutches for the 7mge w58 and im over 300hp and it holds no problem the same goes for a friends car.Maybe you got a bad one or the flywheel wasnt machined corectly.Did you give it a chance to break in before the dyno?

 

[destrux]

Yeah, I broke it in for 800 or so miles. I had the flywheel machined at the same place that does all my flywheels, they do good work.

I've never bought a clutch before that didn't hold the power it claimed to hold. Every puck style clutch I've ever bought held fine before it was even broken in. This one let go way too easily. The pedal effort was also extremely light, not even close to the Comp that I just put in.

Maybe there was a mixup and he sent a stage 1 pressure plate, I don't know.

 

[te72]

Well, good to hear he did right by you at least. For what it's worth, a stock clutch and pressure plate will still hold around 300-320ft/lbs. Mine never slipped until I upped the boost on the stock twins to ~15-16psi. I figure I was approaching the limit for a stock setup.