Re: Swapping Clutch on a 5 speed?

["Toby Peterson" <tobyp@xxxx>]

Dave - When I installed my Centerforce clutch, the assembly still had 
the counterweights as a design feature. As is the case with many of 
the parts that we use for this car (and others), the personal 
preferences are just that. I am aware that Valeo supplied the basic 
pieces, and Centerforce added to, and modified them. My understanding 
was that Centerforce used pressure plate springs with a higher spring 
rate, and added the counterweights to reduce the effective pedal 
pressure. This, according to the literature, provided higher clamping 
forces on the clutch disk without appreciably higher pedal force 
requirements. If the current Centerforce parts are now identical to 
the Valeo parts, but are more expensive, then you are correct ... save 
your money and buy the less expensive parts. It would be interesting 
to get the Centerforce version of the current story, just to see if 
they are "blowing smoke". If talk of clutch configurations starts a 
"holy war", we have way too much time on our hands. ;-)

Toby Peterson VIN 2248
Winged1

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Dave Swingle" <swingle@xxxx> wrote:
> Not to start a holy war, but what the hey.. it's been a while. 
> 
> I was in a position a few months ago to compare a current-design 
> Centerforce Clutch with a current OEM (Valeo) clutch assembly, side 
> by side fresh out of the box. As far as I can tell, there is NO 
> difference between the two other than the 50 cents worth of gold 
> paint on the CF version. The clutch disc, in both cases, carries 
> the "Valeo" label ink-stamped right on the facing. All other 
> stampings and codings are identical.
> 
> A few years ago the CF had some additional flyweights on the 
> pressure plate, but Valeo re-designed the plate and the weights 
> don't fit anymore. So - CF just leaves them off. No change in 
> price. Centerforce NEVER manufactured their own PP, they have always 
> modified, painted, and repackaged the Valeo. I assumed that they did 
> something special with the disc facing, but does not seem to be the 
> case, at least now. 
> 
> So - At this point you may as well go with the Valeo version and 
> save yourself a hundred bucks or so. Both are available from the 
> usual vendors, I believe. And I'll bet that the stock Valeo is very 
> common where Jan lives. 
> 
> Dave Swingle