Review/mini diy: Stage 2 F1 Racing 16lb Flywheel Clutch Kit

[SkyylineGTR]

So I know many of you have been asking questions about these kits, and deciding whether to get it or not. Well, the answer is YES.

I ended up getting the whole kit for about 500 shipped from gripforce on ebaymotors.

So I was doing a ton of research before doing anything to the car. I found out what kind of parts I needed, what I should replace while in there, what kit to get, etc. So to everyone who still needs help and doesnt feel like researching(your loss), here you go! Just because Im feeling good today.

Sachs Pressure plate
F1 Racing Stage 2 6 sprung hub clutch disk
F1 Racing Stage 2 16 Lightweight Flywheel
Clutch Pedal - 35311158659
Clutch Pivot Pin (steel replacement) - 21511223281
Slave Cylinder - 21521159045 or 21526775924
Throwout Bearing Guide Tube - 23111224845
Throwout Bearing
Clutch Fork Lever - 21511223302
Pressure Plate Bolts (x8)- 07119906045 (I reused my old ones, I felt it was fine, but if your picky get these!)
Flywheel Bolts (x6) - 11222243051
Pilot Bearing - 11211720310

Shifter Parts:
Understeer SSK Kit with modified selector rod and Derlin Bushings
Shift Carrier Arm Bushing (tranny) - 25117507695 (Dont get this if u get the derlin ones from Understeer)
B*tch Clip - 25111221849
Shift Carrier Arm Bushing (chassis) - 25111222015
Shifter Bearing - 25111220600 or 25111469397
Lower Shift Boot - 25111221700
Selector Rod Endlink Clip (2x) - 25117571899
Shift Rod Coupler - 25111222688



Seals: (I didnt do any seals, but I guess its a good idea if you have the money)
Rear Crankshaft Seal - 11141432240
Transmission Output Shaft Seal - 23111224799
Input Shaft Seal - 23211224820
Rear Main Seal - 11142249533
Selector Rod Seal - 23121282394

Exhaust:
18301716888 - Exhaust gaskets, triangle header flange (Asbestos Free) X2
18101405737 - Exhaust gasket, midpipe to catback (Asbestos free) X1
18111723379 - Exhaust gasket, midpipe to catback X1
11621744232 - Exhaust nuts X4
07119912524 - Exhaust bolts X4

I also did the UUC SS Clutch Line, CDV removal, new UUC Clutch arm bushings, and a new Clutch Master and slave cylinder.

Soo..I pretty much did everything clutch related

My guibo looked almost brand new, so I didnt touch that. But if yours looks like shit, replace it by all means.
Heres how it looks:





Now..the process.


1.First, drop the exhaust by removing the nuts from the header area(6) and then remove the hangers from the muffler(2 nuts). and get the midpipe hangers off the car and get the exhaust out.




2.Take off the sound deadening(6 screw/nuts I believe)
3. Drop the driveshaft. I only took off 3 bolts that is held on to the guibo. There are I think 2 or 3 types of bars or cross members under the driveshaft to hold it in place in case something horrible happens, take those off too, just nuts and bolts.



4.Now drop the tranny. This isnt really DIFFICULT if you think about it. i believe there are 9 Fat torx bolts that hold it in place. If you buy E6-E16 sockets, your good to go for the whole car.


Now, the key to removing the tranny is having trouble with the top 2 torx bolts.

This is waht you need, its the magic wand in this operation.


5. Once the tranny is removed, you can do all the shifter parts very easily, and add in all the stuff that goes in the bell housing. Heres what mine looked when I dropped it..horrible!



do the clutch now. Remove the bolts that hold the pressure plate, then the flywheel bolts, replace everything and align it with the alignment tool.





NOW, put everything back in reverse order and your done! took me 3 weeks only working on weekends because i had limited parts available and i was researching at the same time. but about 10 hours of work while eating a ton of sandwiches!

Bleed the clutch after your done, and break in that new baby for about 500 miles with no revs more thatn 4k in my opinion.

I have about 10 miles on the clutch kit and i have no gear noise. everything runs PERFECTLY, and my clutch point is dead on in the middle.

I really hope this helps everyone as everyone has helped me in 2 years of my owning of the m3. Im just giving back now that I know a lot more than I did 2 years ago.



BTW, this is my first clutch job! Feelin soooo accomplished and more together with my m3 now. <3

[M3TAL]

Great work, I'm loving ur list of parts as I'm just starting to accumulate all I can for this job. So far I think the only extras I'm gonna add are the detents and a flex disc.

[SkyylineGTR]

Great work, I'm loving ur list of parts as I'm just starting to accumulate all I can for this job. So far I think the only extras I'm gonna add are the detents and a flex disc.

I was going to do the detents, but I had all the parts ready to go and to be installed, i just decided not to because this is my dd

bump to anyone who hasnt seen it.

[SkyylineGTR]

Bump. Thanks for the support guys..

[das borgen]

good work

how is the pedal feel with this stage2 clutch?

How is the clutch grabbing feel compared to stock parts?


you need gear pullers and stuff to replace the TO-bearing?

[SkyylineGTR]

good work

how is the pedal feel with this stage2 clutch?

How is the clutch grabbing feel compared to stock parts?


you need gear pullers and stuff to replace the TO-bearing?

pedal feels amazing. its right in between firm and soft. its exact. clutch point is right in the middle too.

I feel like the clutch grab is like oem feel. but you do not need gear pullers or anything. just some standard tools.

[mindstorm00]

AWESOME job man!
Reading your review will definitely help a lot of guys change their heavy noisy flywheel for a better one.
Thanks
Feel any performance boost from the lighter flywheel?

[SkyylineGTR]

AWESOME job man!
Reading your review will definitely help a lot of guys change their heavy noisy flywheel for a better one.
Thanks
Feel any performance boost from the lighter flywheel?

Dunno yet because I havent been rough with the clutch yet! I have to break it in for a good 500 miles then I will let it rip. i havent passed 3.5k rpms yet haha.

its only been about 50 miles

[phamine]

updates?

[Volf]

Looks like an OEM flywheel with holes drilled out of it. You get what you pay for

[Karuza]

I've heard great things about these clutches and will be putting mine in soon

[NHbmw325I]

Mine failed after a few thousand miles probably hit and miss as some owners have had great results.

[Vespoli]

I've been using the Stage 4 clutch flywheel combo for about 6k miles now and no complaints

my .02 is cheap and effective product. would buy again

[SkyylineGTR]

its been 1200 miles. update:

solid as hell. I hear no gearbox noise at all, revs much faster in 1st and 2nd.

no problems at all.

whoever is still considering. GET IT.

[shim]

another +1 for gripforce racing!! i got a 14.45 lb LTW fly (exactly as they stated on their ads), flywheel bolts, Sachs organic clutch, Sachs pressure plate, Sachs throw-out bearing and clutch alignment tool for the killer price of $448 shipped!!

LTW fly weighing in at 14.45LBs (exactly what they stated)...flywheel bolts were 0.85LBs


Sachs clutch + pressure plate: 14.10LBs



so altogether, 29.4LB rotational mass with the new kit...the stock setup is like a 30lb (95 M3) dual mass flywheel + approx 14lb clutch/pp coming to a toal of about 44lbs. approx -14.6LBs sounds good to me

[tejawxyz]

What is that "magic wand" that you talk of?

[Poppa Boner]

a bunch of extensions in 1/4".
The picture is above. When you see it, you'll see it.

[tejawxyz]

THats brilliant, so just undo the driveshaft and use a lots of 1/4th extensions to take the top torx out?

[shaeff]

a bunch of extensions in 1/4".
The picture is above. When you see it, you'll see it.

Not 1/4". You want to use 3/8", or if it fits, 1/2" though the 1/2" likely isn't necessary.

1/4" would probably snap, or strip, break, be excessively wobbly.

[SkyylineGTR]

Not 1/4". You want to use 3/8", or if it fits, 1/2" though the 1/2" likely isn't necessary.

1/4" would probably snap, or strip, break, be excessively wobbly.

truth, not enough torque

[NeilM]

I have a 30" long 1/2" drive extension that I use for that. Much easier to apply breakaway torque with it than using a 3/8".

Neil

[shaeff]

I have a 30" long 1/2" drive extension that I use for that. Much easier to apply breakaway torque with it than using a 3/8".

Neil

For sure. I use 1/2" whenever I can for stuff like this. Having an impact gun certainly helps, too.

I just meant that whomever is doing the job would want 3/8" at a minimum.

[Blink21Me]

any updates on this clutch kit?

[SkyylineGTR]

any updates on this clutch kit?

No problems at all as of yet, and its been a while too. im currently at 162k.

the only problem is the throw out bearing went out...soooo pissed about that.

when i clutch in no noise, but clutch out and theres noise, and only when its warmed up thoroughly.

Other than that, greatttt buy!

[RahgBag]

Looks like an OEM flywheel with holes drilled out of it. You get what you pay for

Except the OEM ones are dual mass

I've had mine for almost 15k now, no issues at all.