Pending Clutch Change

[aviatorman]

02 2500 H. O. NVG5600 trans. 103K on original clutch pulling 13K 5er. Anybody with suggestions for good clutch,flywheel throwout bearing change products. Should I go back with stock(no complaints on original equip) or is there better to be had for the same price?

 

[RHestand]

IMO, the best is South Bend Clutch. Ask for Peter.

Much better at about the same price.

 

[HBarlow]

02 2500 H. O. NVG5600 trans. 103K on original clutch pulling 13K 5er. Anybody with suggestions for good clutch,flywheel throwout bearing change products. Should I go back with stock(no complaints on original equip) or is there better to be had for the same price?

The OEM clutch assembly in your truck was a LUK brand. I think it is reasonable to assume that after careful consideration of needs, Chrysler/Dodge engineers listed the specs they determined were required for the Dodge-Cummins application and asked for bids. LUK was their supplier.

My '01 HO/6 speed used a LUK clutch and when I replaced it because I glazed the clutch backing a trailer and probably shut it down before it had time to cool, I used a LUK brand replacement. The second clutch worked great also, meeting all of my needs.

Why change a good thing? South Bend Clutch, no doubt, makes excellent products for higher horsepower trucks or for special applications where the OEM clutch is inadequate. I have met and liked Peter, the owner. A good guy. Nothing against SBC but why change to aftermarket if the OEM works great in your application?

 

[CDonaldson]

I plan on going with the SBC clutch when I need to replace the stock clutch. Chrysler installs the lowest bidder as a stock clutch, same applies to the flywheel, lowest bidder.



CD

 

[aviatorman]

Thanks for your reply/advice. I agree with your rhetoric. Did you have to resurface your flywheel when you changed clutch? The dodge manual is really narrow minded about the flywheel, as in , don't ever resurface it. So , did you reuse your flywheel without resurfacing? I'm retired and on fixed income, so throwing money at something is not easily done these days. I hoping just to do pilot bearing, throw out bearing, clutch and hydraulic actuator assy.

 

[jkalchik]

I put an 13" SBC Con-oFE in my 99 CTD several weeks ago. With the 13" conversion, there's no question, a new flywheel was required. And after pulling the stock clutch out, there was no doubt that the old flywheel was unusable, it was burned and checked. You've already got a 13" clutch in front of that 6spd. I do know a lot of people would just say to run it. Me, I'm a little paranoid, I'd either have the flywheel turned or replaced.

IIRC, the note that came with the clutch kit does refer to having a flywheel turned, and not ground, due to the profile.

Personally, I just love the Con-oFE clutch. The only place I've found it to be "grabby" is backing up hill. Any forward engagement is nice and smooth.

 

[steved]

I was told the stock flywheel is actually ground at a taper, and that is the reason they need reground when replacing the clutch (obviously with something other than an OE clutch).