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Spec Problem....

R

Reebs

meester super sleuth
Joined
Feb 14, 2006
Messages
2,727
Location
Southeast Michigan
Hey guys,

Has anyone installed a Spec Stage 3+ ?!?! I would like to see pics of it, because I think spec sent me either the wrong pressure plate or something is defective with what they sent me. My flywheel has the correct step, and with the pressure plate from my Stage 3+ kit pressed all the way up against the flywheel, I have some serious play with the clutch disc. When the pressure plate is all the way against the flywheel, the clutch disc is supposed to be tight and have pressure on it, but instead I have a 3/8 inch gap and the clutch disc is sloppy as could be. I am not happy right now because I couldn't finish my 3L because of a wrong part. The stage 3+ kit is supposed to have a stage 5 pressure plate, and the pressure plate Spec sent me looks like my stage 2 pressure plate did. Has anyone ever had this problem where the pressure plate can't clamp the clutch disc between the flywheel? I guess the only other option is that the clutch disc isn't as fat as it is supposed to be!?!?


It would really help me out if you guys could post pics of whatever stage clutch you have so that I can try and figure out what pressure plate I have. Am I supposed to call spec or the dealer to try and get this sorted out? Any info would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

Jeff
 
Nevermind....


Just found out that Spec sent me the Zetec clutch. :( I don't own a Zetec and I never will so why do I need a zetec clutch!?!? :)
 
Reebs said:
Nevermind....


Just found out that Spec sent me the Zetec clutch. :( I don't own a Zetec and I never will so why do I need a zetec clutch!?!? :)
Click to expand...

Sounds like a company that really knows what they are doing.
 
Yeah, SPEC &%^$s up more orders then you think. Some of the time you get the wrong throw out bearing.. I'm done with SPEC - is a Ford OEM clutch can hold up fine to a 3L S/C motor why go with anything else?
 
KyleQ said:
Yeah, SPEC &%^$s up more orders then you think. Some of the time you get the wrong throw out bearing.. I'm done with SPEC - is a Ford OEM clutch can hold up fine to a 3L S/C motor why go with anything else?
Click to expand...


I agree 100% unfortunately a few people have been telling everyone on here to get Spec even if they do not need it. That BAD advice has caused problems because the Spec product does not appear to be dependable. One is good and another can have issues at what appears to be a significant rate. The botom line, there are a few people out there who need a clutch with more grip than stock. For the rest of us that got a Spec because of the the direction given by those individuals it was not necessary and not appropriate. Perhaps if the admins put up a sticky many of those with mild to moderate mods who are now stuck with Spec would have a stock SVT clutch without these problems.
 
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Pudmunkie said:
Because it wont last long in a 3.0 turbo charged car with jeff driving....
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Well, being that I said 3.0 S/C means it couldn't possibly be him..

tasso said:
I agree 100% unfortunately a few people have been telling everyone on here to get Spec even if they do not need it. That BAD advice has caused problems because the Spec product does not appear to be dependable. One is good and another can have issues at what appears to be a significant rate. The botom line, there are a few people out there who need a clutch with more grip than stock. For the rest of us that got a Spec because of the the direction given by those individuals it was not necessary and not appropriate. Perhaps if the admins put up a sticky many of those with mild to moderate mods who are now stuck with Spec would have a stock SVT clutch without these problems.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I regret getting my SPEC, waste of money. For such a popular product, you would think it would actually be dependable and relaible..
 
drivebymashing said:
can you use a fidanza flywheel aluminum with stock svt clutch?
where can you get a stock svt clutch new ?
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You can use any clutch you want to with the Fidanza, Spec, SVT, or regular flywheel. Just make sure you have a clutch that matches your engine.:blackeye: You can get a new SVT clutch from Bill Jenkins. Use the search function to find his info.

KyleQ said:
Yeah, SPEC &%^$s up more orders then you think. Some of the time you get the wrong throw out bearing.. I'm done with SPEC - is a Ford OEM clutch can hold up fine to a 3L S/C motor why go with anything else?
Click to expand...

Spec always sends out the wrong throw out bearing. You need to replace it with the Ford OEM unit.

tasso said:
I agree 100% unfortunately a few people have been telling everyone on here to get Spec even if they do not need it.
Click to expand...

I think what people tell everyone to do on this forum is to search. I read tons of posts that said it was preferable to upgrade to a SVT clutch rather than the Spec. Terry Haines told me to use the SVT clutch or Luk(they made the OEM). I decided I wanted a little more clamping power and was getting the Spec flywheel as well, so that's what I got. As far as quality goes, you can't beat the OEM or Luk, but they only have so much clamping force. I figured I was going to go forced induction someday, but that it would happen before I would replace the clutch agian, so I got the Spec.

Has Spec recently changed their quality control? Who knows. It seems like it, but maybe there has been an increase in Spec purchases lately, and there was a bad batch. Have they been installed incorrectly? Who knows. Mine was done right because I did it myself.:cool:

At least Spec is sending Reebs the right clutch.
 
muntus said:
Spec always sends out the wrong throw out bearing. You need to replace it with the Ford OEM unit.
Click to expand...

as I recall it was ford who put the zetec throw out bearing into boxes with the duratec part number, after all I do believe spec uses Ford tob's ... not really their fault ...

but you said it right, search and research and make your own choice, no one here the support spec forced you to install a spec .... and it still isn't known if all of the failures where 100% on the clutch disk or if some other factor, re an install error caused the problem ...
 
BrApple said:
as I recall it was ford who put the zetec throw out bearing into boxes with the duratec part number, after all I do believe spec uses Ford tob's ... not really their fault ...

but you said it right, search and research and make your own choice, no one here the support spec forced you to install a spec .... and it still isn't known if all of the failures where 100% on the clutch disk or if some other factor, re an install error caused the problem ...
Click to expand...


Let me clarify: Terry Haines advised me when he did my transmission that the throwout bearing that Spec sends with their clutch kits are not so good(not Ford OEM) and that it is preferable to replace what they send you with an OEM unit for reliablity. IMHO, It would be a shame to have to replace the throw out bearing if it fails, since you have to pull the tranny, due to reliablity. I guess the same could be said about anything in the aftermarket that isn't OEM.

One funny thing about this whole topic is that nobody is saying that Ford is a crappy company because their differentials in our cars exlpode.:shrug:
 
Thats a good point, I gues it is a simple fact that we cannot get around easily. A clutch is much easier to do then a diff.. I expected it anywase, a 3L swap isn't any kinder on drivetrain then the 2.5, so it comes with the territory.. I havn't heard of a lot of 2.5L's blowing up diff's just daily driving. Almost all of the guys that got 3L swaps in MN blew up their diffs shortly after and most of them were driving to or from work. (1 silly person blew theirs up at the track :crazy:)
 
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