Best clutch for 1800 mx5? - Drifting forum

touge_5lider · 16-09-2008, 21:49

Another day, another question...

I'm quite a parasite for information on here! Anyway...

It's beginning to look like the mx5 (Eunos import) I'm trying to get ready for drifting is going to be pretty much stock at its intended first outing apart from some weight stripping.

The circuit I aim to be competing (read not crashing

) at most of the time has a particularly abrasive/grippy surface and I'm guessing one of the first things to require replacing besides tyres is the clutch. I will of course try and extract as much life as possible from the original before spending any money!

Given that clutch kicking is going to be a regular occurrence, can anyone recommend a decent clutch that can take abuse but won't break the bank? The car won't be any more than about 130hp unless I can afford forced induction (anyone want to sponsor this?!

)and tyres will probably be a selection of 14 and 15" inflated to 35-40psi. Plans to swap my Kaaz diff into it are on hold until Mazda get the parts I ordered, so for now it will remain Torsen.

Hope that's enough info to get started.

Kind regards as ever
Mike

jamie k · 16-09-2008, 23:59

I havent actually looked into a clutch upgrade yet and ive been abusing the shit out of mine since January so i think you may be surprised just how much abuse it will take.

Have you used it with the Torsen yet?

You could try the owners club for clutch upgrades. Fairly usefull site for info tbh

touge_5lider · 17-09-2008, 00:19

I'm a member of the owners' club and visit the forums quite regularly. Just thought I'd try here first as there are only a few peeps on there who are into drifting and most of them are on here anyway.

I have driven an mx5 with a Torsen and found it pretty reluctant to kick out, even compared to the open diff my car came with although granted it only tried to spin one wheel. The Kaaz really requires you to stay in the power band, but I have practised some fairly low speed lift off oversteer and it seems to be fairly predictable.

Hopefully that all makes sense!

mazdachris · 17-09-2008, 08:25

My standard clutch has been in there since I got the car, over three years ago, and it's put up with all the abuse I've thrown at it and never really missed a beat. I'd just use the clutch you have till it wears out, then maybe think about getting something like a Spec stage 2. Personally I've had no problem with the standard clutch though, seems to work well enough for me. The 1.6i might be a different story, I don't know.

Captain Muppet · 17-09-2008, 08:38

I've got a standard 1.8 clutch in my 1.6 turbo (155bhp) and it's been in for 3000 miles and a season of BDC. I did have trouble with it slipping after three days of abuse at Norfolk Arena's BDC-spec clutchkicktastic 2nd gear chicane (taken at about 10mph) but when it cooled down it was fine.

ringer · 17-09-2008, 09:34

Yea, a decent Mazda OEM clutch is a good 'un. Decent replacements would be a Sachs item. Otherwise if your set on a turbo spec clutch, just avoid the unbranded ebay junk items and go for the Spec clutches etc.

Seal · 17-09-2008, 15:38

Yeah took my eunos 1.8 for my first drift day the other day and the torsen diff was great. More than good enough to learn how to drift on.

Had to inflate my rears to about 40psi though as i found the car quite understeery.

Save your money on the diff and spend it on some lowering springs (and shocks if you have the cash).

My stock clutch has been fine with all the clutch kicking i've been doing.

May think of turboing my mx5 although it dosen't look as straight forward as turboing a 1.6.

jamie k · 17-09-2008, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seal

Yeah took my eunos 1.8 for my first drift day the other day and the torsen diff was great. More than good enough to learn how to drift on.

Had to inflate my rears to about 40psi though as i found the car quite understeery.

Save your money on the diff and spend it on some Coilovers if you have the cash).

My stock clutch has been fine with all the clutch kicking i've been doing.

May think of turboing my mx5 although it dosen't look as straight forward as turboing a 1.6.

touge_5lider · 17-09-2008, 17:32

Thanks for all the replies, some good stuff there. There seem to be so many duff clutches about, especially on the well known online auction site that I was scared of buying rubbish. It sounds like the standard one could last a while so fingers crossed it will survive a few events.

I've been offered a fairly new 1.8 Jackson Racing supercharger kit for about £600 which is a real tempter, but engine management to suit would take it to over £1000 which I can't justify at this stage. A guy put it on his son's car without any changes to fueling or timing and blew his engine at a track day. He's selling it to fund the replacement engine.

I was thinking of getting the

coilovers since the £200 price drop, but again that money would cover a good few days at the track. At the moment I see seat time as the main priority and after some practice I might see areas of the car worth spending money on.

Next on the list would probably be safety gear like a roll cage, bucket seat, fire extinguisher etc. A standard car is OK for the test sessions at the UDC, but not to enter the competition. The guy who runs the events also makes cages so at least the end result should pass scrutineering.

Seal · 18-09-2008, 14:26

Seat time is exactly what i'm booking a lot of before i spend too much on expensive mods. Will give me a better idea of what I should get so i can improve the car in line with my skills!

16-09-2008, 21:49	#1 (permalink)
touge_5lider tail slider Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Down, Northern Ireland Posts: 134	Best clutch for 1800 mx5? Another day, another question... I'm quite a parasite for information on here! Anyway... It's beginning to look like the mx5 (Eunos import) I'm trying to get ready for drifting is going to be pretty much stock at its intended first outing apart from some weight stripping. The circuit I aim to be competing (read not crashing) at most of the time has a particularly abrasive/grippy surface and I'm guessing one of the first things to require replacing besides tyres is the clutch. I will of course try and extract as much life as possible from the original before spending any money! Given that clutch kicking is going to be a regular occurrence, can anyone recommend a decent clutch that can take abuse but won't break the bank? The car won't be any more than about 130hp unless I can afford forced induction (anyone want to sponsor this?!)and tyres will probably be a selection of 14 and 15" inflated to 35-40psi. Plans to swap my Kaaz diff into it are on hold until Mazda get the parts I ordered, so for now it will remain Torsen. Hope that's enough info to get started. Kind regards as ever Mike

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16-09-2008, 23:59	#2 (permalink)
jamie k -NightWalkers- Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southwales Posts: 399	I havent actually looked into a clutch upgrade yet and ive been abusing the shit out of mine since January so i think you may be surprised just how much abuse it will take. Have you used it with the Torsen yet? You could try the owners club for clutch upgrades. Fairly usefull site for info tbh

17-09-2008, 00:19	#3 (permalink)
touge_5lider tail slider Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Down, Northern Ireland Posts: 134	I'm a member of the owners' club and visit the forums quite regularly. Just thought I'd try here first as there are only a few peeps on there who are into drifting and most of them are on here anyway. I have driven an mx5 with a Torsen and found it pretty reluctant to kick out, even compared to the open diff my car came with although granted it only tried to spin one wheel. The Kaaz really requires you to stay in the power band, but I have practised some fairly low speed lift off oversteer and it seems to be fairly predictable. Hopefully that all makes sense!

17-09-2008, 08:25	#4 (permalink)
mazdachris Jam Hot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MK Posts: 2,206	My standard clutch has been in there since I got the car, over three years ago, and it's put up with all the abuse I've thrown at it and never really missed a beat. I'd just use the clutch you have till it wears out, then maybe think about getting something like a Spec stage 2. Personally I've had no problem with the standard clutch though, seems to work well enough for me. The 1.6i might be a different story, I don't know.

17-09-2008, 08:38	#5 (permalink)
Captain Muppet EuroDrift's slowest loser Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: three feet away from a tiny little turbo Posts: 1,607	I've got a standard 1.8 clutch in my 1.6 turbo (155bhp) and it's been in for 3000 miles and a season of BDC. I did have trouble with it slipping after three days of abuse at Norfolk Arena's BDC-spec clutchkicktastic 2nd gear chicane (taken at about 10mph) but when it cooled down it was fine.

17-09-2008, 09:34	#6 (permalink)
ringer Trackday Films Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London - Nurburg Posts: 1,044	Yea, a decent Mazda OEM clutch is a good 'un. Decent replacements would be a Sachs item. Otherwise if your set on a turbo spec clutch, just avoid the unbranded ebay junk items and go for the Spec clutches etc.

17-09-2008, 15:38	#7 (permalink)
Seal doughnutter Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 32	Yeah took my eunos 1.8 for my first drift day the other day and the torsen diff was great. More than good enough to learn how to drift on. Had to inflate my rears to about 40psi though as i found the car quite understeery. Save your money on the diff and spend it on some lowering springs (and shocks if you have the cash). My stock clutch has been fine with all the clutch kicking i've been doing. May think of turboing my mx5 although it dosen't look as straight forward as turboing a 1.6.

17-09-2008, 17:32	#9 (permalink)
touge_5lider tail slider Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Down, Northern Ireland Posts: 134	Thanks for all the replies, some good stuff there. There seem to be so many duff clutches about, especially on the well known online auction site that I was scared of buying rubbish. It sounds like the standard one could last a while so fingers crossed it will survive a few events. I've been offered a fairly new 1.8 Jackson Racing supercharger kit for about £600 which is a real tempter, but engine management to suit would take it to over £1000 which I can't justify at this stage. A guy put it on his son's car without any changes to fueling or timing and blew his engine at a track day. He's selling it to fund the replacement engine. I was thinking of getting the coilovers since the £200 price drop, but again that money would cover a good few days at the track. At the moment I see seat time as the main priority and after some practice I might see areas of the car worth spending money on. Next on the list would probably be safety gear like a roll cage, bucket seat, fire extinguisher etc. A standard car is OK for the test sessions at the UDC, but not to enter the competition. The guy who runs the events also makes cages so at least the end result should pass scrutineering.

18-09-2008, 14:26	#10 (permalink)
Seal doughnutter Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 32	Seat time is exactly what i'm booking a lot of before i spend too much on expensive mods. Will give me a better idea of what I should get so i can improve the car in line with my skills!