Leigh

My scoob is having the head gaskets replaced on thursday, and while the engine is out, I may take the opportunity of replacing the clutch. (No extra labour charge)
I believe the AP and Sti clutches cost roughly the same, circa £300 approx? So which should I go for, bearing in mind it's my daily driver, and I get stuck in lots of traffic on my daily commute? -It's a 95 WRX, btw.
Thanks
Leigh

Blackscooby

I use an AP Racing Sprung Paddle clutch on my UK94. It takes a **HUGE** amount of abuse to be honest. I did have my flywheel skimmed as the previous AP clutch was starting to judder like a juddery think.

The AP is very good ~ but certainly agressive. Its not good in stop start traffic as its very "grabby". Its still light though.

I wouldn't go back to a standard clutch.

Mark

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

you could always try a Helix clutch??

Tony

Adam M

Black scoobies experience is not typical of all ap clutches, but mostly of paddle clutches.

I have an ap clutch on my sti, and it is quite simply the best thing I have bought for the car. The standard exede clutch was a juddery nightmare and was on the way out. the AP i replaced it with made the car drive like a normal road machine but can still handle the over 300lbft of torque I am currently throwing at it.

Blackscooby

Sorry for the misleading post... I don't have any experience with anything EXCEPT paddle clutches. So that's what I've got used to.

I haven't tried any other AP Racing clutch

Cheers

Mark

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

Don't you need to skim & balance the flywheel ?

Anybody tried the ceramic clutches by AP or Alcon/tecno2 metal clurches

Sam Elassar

the AP organic clutch will be far better than the sti. i don't think the comparison is actually fair for the sti clutch.

imho off course

sam

Neil F

Guys.

Best place to get an AP clutch and how much?

Neil.

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

Ok we know the AP item is good, but are you guys using the ceramic or organic drive disc & is the plate sprung/unsprung ?

Also is the helix,alcon or Tecno2 cheaper & as effective as the similar AP clutch.

I wonder if people when buying AP are paying for the name ?

Leigh

Thanks for the replies chaps. The AP clutch I'm considering is the organic one, called AP 'Formula' I think??
The reason I compared it with the Sti clutch is that Roger Clark's (who are going to be working on my car) reckon I should go for the Sti one, whereas the only other person I've asked (Mike Tuckwood) says I should go for an AP one.
Methinks the AP is the way to go, the one in it at the moment, which I believe is standard, slips if you try a 'full bore' start, (ie, 4k+ revs, feed in clutch and floor throttle!) - only tried it once, mucho smoke and a whiff of burning!!
It also could judder for England!
Any more opinions appreciated!

Blackscooby

Sprung AP Paddle (unknown whether its organic or whatever), but the only smoke I get on standing starts is from the tyres

Hillclimbed last season with car running about 2bar boost. Clutch coped with 5500rpm standing starts.... Shame the same couldn't be said for the gearbox

Mark

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

Mark
Were these gearbox problems made worse by your paddle clutch,ie increased drivetrain shock or general chocolate gearbox internals ?

And would you recommend a paddle clutch for commuting work. I drive to work 4/7/52 travelling 50 miles into London pretty early but don't want my left leg twice the size of my right.

Blackscooby

I think the main gearbox problems were because of Sprinting the thing and effectively dumping the clutch at 5500 five times each event

The clutch weight is as normal I think. Or its quite light anyway. My only issue is trying to stop myself "Kangarooing" in traffic as I end up looking a total pillock.

I travel about 50 miles per day in queued traffic. Sometimes it gets annoying, but it would in any car.

My left leg is the same as the right and I've been driving with a paddle clutch for two years or so.....

Mark

Adam M

For advice, on this, you could ask pete Croney. I dont think the AP clutch is particularly more expensive, plus the thing you should remember is that AP have a name for a reason.

I have heard good things about helix.

I believe my clutch is a formula too, but cant remember if it is organic or not, I am tending towards not. I simply asked for the best one possible in standard fitment, and this is what I received. My clutch is only typical of the twin plate however. "Normal" imprezas are single plate.

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

My clutch is only typical of the twin plate however. "Normal" imprezas are single plate.

Twin plate ?
Are all the impreza AP Formula clutches like this ?

steve McCulloch

I bought an AP cermattalic clutch several months ago as a spare!
Just waiting for the sti clutch to go.... but the way things are looking its not even close to going

In peoples experience do they just suddenly go or do they do slowly and up the rev range - My AP cossie clutch exploded when it failed (net result a call to the RAC and a tow home!- hence the reason I keep a spare on me at all times!)- whereas on a previous car I got some warning

EvilBevel

One more quick vote for the AP Formula clutch. They do work.

Theo

Leigh

AP formula clutch ordered, being fitted when the engine goes back in next week!
Cheers
Leigh

Adam M

Mark A,

the 22B has a twin plate clutch as standard and so the uprated AP was twin plate too. It is mounted to the flywheel in a different way.

Non 22B imprezas are single plate. I have only heard good reports about the formula clutches, in both single and twin plate setups.

Trouser

You did the right thing mate!!!

the thinking mans choice!

See u on the next meet??

Trouser

Leigh

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Trouser:
<B>

See u on the next meet??

Trouser[/quote]

You will if the head gasket swap sorts my scoob's cooling probs mate! (See my other tread in Drivetrain - Cooling problems...)