Clutches 101: How to Choose the Right Clutch for Your Build

The formula is simple: If you’re going to increase horsepower, at some point, you’re going to need to upgrade your clutch.  

Doing so can seem like a daunting task, especially if you consider the sheer amount of options out there. We’ll show you how to ensure the clutch you end up with offers everything you need, and nothing you didn’t expect. We’ll cover:

• Common Clutch Types
• Matching Clutch Capacity With Power Output
• Pros and Cons of Clutch Styles

Common Clutch Types

Listed from least aggressive and most user friendly, to most aggressive and least user friendly** 

• Organic Full Face
• Semi-Organic Full Face
• 6 Puck Segmented
• 4 Puck Segmented
• Multi Disc (Organic, Metallic or Segmented)*

*User friendliness and driveability of multi disc clutches can vary widely. We’ll touch on these clutch types, and when you may want to consider each one a bit later on. 

** All styles listed above feature “sprung” hubs. Many are available in “unsprung” variants which greatly increase aggressiveness / harshness. 

How to Match Clutch Capacity with Car Power Output

The first consideration is to ensure the new clutch can withstand the increased punishment you’ll be putting it through. A few things you’ll want to iron out:

1. How much horsepower and torque is your setup making, or if it isn’t done yet, likely to make? 

2. What’s the use case? Is the car a daily driver, track car, does it see autocross or grip racing, is it dedicated for drag racing only?

3. How much are you looking to spend on a new clutch?  

How do I know if I even need an upgraded clutch?

Most factory clutches are not rated to handle much more than factory power. In some cases, going from stock to simple mods like an intake, exhaust and tune is enough to make the stock clutch slip. A good rule of thumb to follow here is, if you’re going to increase power output more than 20-25% over stock, it’s time to upgrade your clutch. 

How do I know what style of clutch I need? 

Choosing which style of clutch you might need comes down to a few main factors as mentioned above:

1 - Power output

2 - Vehicle use case

3 - Budget

A good rule of thumb to follow here is to choose the least aggressive, most budget friendly option that will suit your power and use case needs. To put that in practical terms, sprung hubs and organic full-face discs will generally lend themselves to the most forgiving driving experience. 

As you move into harsher metallic disc materials, segmented or semi full face discs, unsprung hubs and heavy pressure plates; you can greatly increase capacity, however, you begin sacrificing user friendliness rather quickly. 

Multi-disc clutches can help offset this driveability vs. capacity tradeoff, but will come with considerably more cost involved (usually).

Finally, adding something like a lightweight flywheel can result in an additional performance gain, but will typically come with harsher clutch engagement. This is due to the lessening of the overall flywheel mass, which means less material to dampen the force transmitted by the clutch disc under operation. If this tradeoff is not something you’re interested in, we recommend resurfacing your OEM flywheel (if possible), or considering an aftermarket equivalent. 

Do you always need to replace your flywheel? No, but at a minimum, you must have it resurfaced for the new clutch to bed in properly. 

What to Expect With an Upgraded Clutch

There are benefits as well as tradeoffs to an upgraded clutch. This is why it’s important to do your research and select a clutch that meets all your needs without ruining your driving experience entirely (if you care about that sort of thing). 

Clutch Upgrade Pros

• Improved heat resistance vs. OEM
• Improved shifting at high RPMs (especially segmented clutches)
• Extended longevity at increased power and torque levels vs. OEM

Clutch Upgrade Cons

• More clamp force means a heavier clutch pedal
• More "bite" of the clutch disc against the flywheel. This leads to a harsher engagement feel, especially at lower speeds and RPMs.
• Excessively heavy pressure plates with substantially higher clamping load vs. stock can lead to master cylinder / clutch slave cylinder failures. Though this is rare, it's good to do your research and understand if an upgraded master cylinder or slave cylinder is required for your vehicle.

Shop Clutch Kits at MAPerformance 

Find the parts you need to upgrade your clutch on our website. If you have any troubles finding parts that fit your vehicle or need help with any questions, our support team is ready to help. If you want to learn more about part recommendations, fitment guides, or other helpful how-to’s, our blog is full of informative articles that can help you make the right choice for your build.