Cneterforce Clutch?

[KHeine]

I'm getting ready to install a new clutch on my 89 (stock). I'm going to be doing some mods later on, but nothing big. Pretty much just an HX35, PODs, and 4" exhaust. I was going to use a Centerforce clutch since I can get one from my buddy for an awesome price, but I hear some people saying they're not too good on the diesels. Does anyone know of any issues? It is a bronze button clutch rated for 800 ftlbs of torque. I mainly use the truck for towing and hauling. No off-roading or anything (I bought this truck to tow my off-road vehicles!). What do you guys think? Anyone know of a bad experience with this clutch? Thanks in advance!

 

[MMiller]

I have no experiance with a centerforce in a diesel application. I currently run one in my gasser truck and it has worked flawlessly. What I have heard on the diesel end of things is this0The centerforce can not take slipping on engagment, ie slipping the clutch to get 3rd gear lit while truck pulling. There are not many clutches that can take this anyways. In all reality my stock Sachs clutch has held up to its fair share of abuse, and higher then stock hp levels. I tow very heavy and run tall tires and gears.



Have you talked with Peter as South Bend Clutch? *I* think he can fix you up with a good clutch for a reasonable price.



Michael

 

[Got Smoke?]

KHeine don't use a Centerjunk if you can help it. I had a friend who had one with some BOMB's in a 94 and it didn't hold a month. Their pressure plates aren't designed to have the clamping force needed at really low RPM's to hold the TQ of our Cummins.





Call Peter @ SBC and see if he has a "ralley" style clutch for the 1st Gen's? Its a little cheaper than the CON O and designed for people who don't go all out with BOMB's.

 

[JDailey]

There is nothing wrong with a centerforce. Don't let the SB cult lie to ya. They don't like to be slipped. I've had good luck with them up to 400+hp. I think they're a great clutch for the money.

 

[Got Smoke?]

There is nothing wrong with a centerforce. Don't let the SB cult lie to ya. They don't like to be slipped. I've had good luck with them up to 400+hp. I think they're a great clutch for the money.

Hey JDailey I DO NOT appreciate being called a liar!



The man asked for any knowledge of centerforce clutches I offered a real world experience that a friend of mine went through. Paid good money for a clutch that didn't last a month holding @ near 400HP/800Ft/Lbs. Also what I stated about the pressure plates is true. They aren't designed to hold at the lower RPM's needed for CTD's.



I don't care if he buys a Luk or a SBC I offered a "decently priced" alternative to something that would not be wasted $$$ if something happened. Centerjunk baiscally told my buddy TOUGH $*** when his let go.

 

[CSchafer]

I had the Dual friction installed a few months ago. It is a great clutch as far as driving goes with sweet feel. I am close to the tq limit of the clutch and I have slipped it twice. Once was going for fourth when the tires were spinning and it lugged (Drag racing). The second time I was going across the field sideways in fourth spinning all four and it cought traction and agian lugged and slipped.

I try as hard as possible :-laf to slip it in a street aplication and I can't. The way I drive it I seem to find the weak driveline parts reather quikly so I would say it is a good clutch.



I beleve the statement about low rpm clamping force but seems to hold great if you don't lugg it. I too got a good deal on it is the reason I bought it and It has definetly held better than the stock one.

Stay under the limits of it and don't beat the hell out of it and it will be great for you. My 2 cents

Cade

 

[ata]

Hey JDailey I DO NOT appreciate being called a liar!



He DIDN'T call you a LIAR! He stated his opinion just like you did.

GGGEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZ Cool Out!

 

[JDailey]

GotSmoke-I was giving an honest opinion. That I know first hand. Not something I read on the net or someone told me. You do seem to have a guilty conscience... . Like CSchafer said, keep it within it's limits and drive like you got some sense. That's why most people talk crap about them. They don't want to spend the money to buy the right parts. And then they cry and throw a fit about. I wouldn't warranty stupity, either.

 

[JLEONARD]

He stated his opinion just like you did.

That was my interpretation as well.



I will add that I have read that the centerforce needs to be properly broken in as well... There are a couple of guys here at work that run them in their gassers.

Jay

 

[KHeine]

Whoa!!! I didn't mean to start WW3 here! Thanks for all the opinions guys! I chose to use a centerforce because I could get a new one for $400 (my buddy's cost). After reading these posts, I think i'll use it. I want to thank everyone for their honest opinions including Got Smoke. I was told by the centerforce rep that their clutch is good for up to 800ft lbs of torque. As Got Smoke has stated, his friend was right at that limit.

Lots of people recommended South bend. I called Peter who advised me a Ralley clutch would hold to 700 ft lbs of torques and cost $375. No offense to anyone, but i am a strong believer of "you get what you pay for". The centerforce lists for over $600, which does not include a T. O. bearing or pilot bearing. Thanks again guys! any other poinions are welcome! i won't be putting this back together for another week yet!

 

[JLEONARD]

I didn't mean to start WW3 here

:-laf

Sure



There is truth to the low rpm vs torque theory. It's the low rpm diesel pulses with high torque that will take their toll on bearings. Our Getrags are the typical example of that. Something to check out a little further perhaps.

My son put a centerforce in his S-10 /Cummins conversion... but the system only has about 20 miles on it.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

KHeine , don't worry about WW3..... all the guys in here are pretty decent and occasionally there is a missunderstanding or missinterpritation about a particular post...

I'm willing to bet this is exactly the situation here..... I'd really hate to have to pull posts or threads because no one learns from that...



Guy's I'm asking you to keep the flaming/tempers etc (obviously an accident) out of the thread... it does no good and keeps guy's from asking questions, especially the newer fella's. .



thanks for any/all support in this thread. .



bob...



edit: I think it might be a good idea if you also posted your question in the forum relating to 'prducts'... that will also get you more exposure and you may find more guys who've used or had experience with the clutch's in question... . just a thought...

 

[Got Smoke?]

GotSmoke-I was giving an honest opinion. That I know first hand. Not something I read on the net or someone told me.

I gave an honest opinion that was earned "first hand" when I saw, felt, and drove my buddies 94 with its slipping Centerjunk clutch. It was not something that I read on the internet or that someone told me second hand without any visual evidence of like you are implying.

Guy's I'm asking you to keep the flaming/tempers etc (obviously an accident) out of the thread... it does no good and keeps guy's from asking questions, especially the newer fella's. .

Then Mr. Dailey might need to be told to watch his use of words when purposely directing comments towards individual's with "certain products. "

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Mark, I'd really rather let this dog lay in the ditch if you'd be good enough to do that... I do agree that you input, having had some experience with the clutch/part in question is exactly what the 1st gen guy was wanting to hear about... .



I do not want any hard feelings in this forum... by the way, I DO agree that the term "liar" was not appropriate, it was also phrased that it would/is easily missunderstood... . as a couple other's have noted and, I would,here and now, ask that this stop before it goes the distance



I do not run a standard trans but my younger brother does... his experience is a bit different.

His first SB clutch was noisy and not very pleasant.

He did the conversion to the NV4500 with all the goodies AND he went with the SB clutch that was recommended for his situation. . (ported/o-ringed/twin turbo and so forth.



I spoke with him a few days later, once he'd had a chance to drive it a bit... . he was flat out blown away with the difference. He said that he'd wished he had made the change over long before then. . the clutch was great. . no grabbing, great backing up a grade with a load and so forth... .

He has also had experience with most of the clutches on the market over the years as he has some racing experience and thought that this was one of the most "user friendly" clutches he'd ever used/had.



Let's keep the thread/posts more on topic and less on emotion... it's gonna make a guys decision alot easier if we do that... please.



pb. .

 

[KHeine]

Once again, guys, I didn't mean to start any trouble. As a newbie to this club and to Diesels in general, I value everyone's opinion. Although I am not very rich (just graduating college & facing student loans), I like to do a job right. If there's anything I hate, it's doing something twice because it wasn't done right the first time. I initially chose Centerforce because they are a well known brand and I have never heard of any problems, and I got one heck of a deal on it. The issue that has been brought to my attention seems to be that the bronze button design of the clutch can cause jerking and chattering, and should not/cannot be slipped. This is NOT a daily driver, as it is large (dually with an 8'x9' bed), noisy, and only seats one passenger. I bought it for one purpose: to Tow! I'll be towing an average of 7 tons about 190 miles round trip once a week. For now, the mods are staying small, like a HX35 Turbo, 4" exhaust, intercooler, and then maybe PODs. Anything more will be done far in the future at which point I will swap in a NV4500 or 5600. The truck is 4wd, so I can utilize 2wd low range if need be to help backing a trailer at lower RPMs. BushWakr, I will take your advice and post in the products section as well. And as for GotSmoke, go easy on him. He (as well as everyone else) gave me exactly what I asked for: a real life encounter. He also provided me with the HP & torque ratings, to which I attribute the clutch failure to. Once again, Thanks to evryone! I promise my next post will not be so heated!!!

 

[bgilbert]

Sounds like a stock 13" Sachs clutch would be best for you since you tow.

 

[pepecat]

ditto I agree with bgilbert 13" sachs clutch and getrag, the only way to fly

 

[Paychk]

Towing = Sachs clutch