My Experience with Southbend Stage 3 Daily

[TrackHo]

So I have almost 5K on my stage 3 daily Southbend clutch. My 2011 WRX is stage 2, protuned and puts out approx 300HP/305WTQ. I blew a head gasket at the track at 61K, so had a new clutch thrown in as install was basically free with the motor pulled. At first I was hesitant to spend $830 on a clutch- but Kent at Turn In Concepts talked me into it. I don't drag or do nasty launches, it's my DD and trackcar a few weekends out of the year.
1) the first 1K miles were a tad rough in stop/go with the grabby/judder deal, got better at 2K, and got much better after 3K.

2) I gotta admit- I smoked the piss out of it a couple of times in the first 500 miles. I pride myself on my ability to use a clutch- but it was tough- all good now

3) so at approx 3K, the clutch started slipping at peak torque in 4th---****. I emailed Kent at TIC, he recommended I speak with Dave at SB. Dave recommended I check the adjustment and sure enough, the clutch rod was too long- not letting the pressure plate apply full pressure.

4) so now it's adjusted properly, engagement feels way better and ZERO slipping no matter how hard I try--so it's bitchin

5) I'll try to give updates as I progress- customer service at Southbend is outstanding

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[silversurfer05]

Any update. Considering this clutch

[point78]

Originally Posted by silversurfer05

Any update. Considering this clutch

I absolutely love mine.

Buy this clutch...

[Zmanwrx23]

which stage 3 do you have? I found one that's full-faced on one side and segmented on the other, then one that's segmented on both sides?

[JourdanWithaU]

Southbend has 3 flavors for each stage. Daily, Endurance, and Drag.

Daily is full faced both sides. Endurance is the full face and segmented on opposite sides. Drag is segmented on both sides.

[Zmanwrx23]

Originally Posted by JourdanWithaU

Southbend has 3 flavors for each stage. Daily, Endurance, and Drag.

Daily is full faced both sides. Endurance is the full face and segmented on opposite sides. Drag is segmented on both sides.

thanks for this. Makes more sense now that I'm looking at all the options again.

[silversurfer05]

Stage III daily is my leading choice at the moment, can anybody running above 350 wheel torque? I hear that aftermarket clutch is combined with the five speed and Torchh result in blown third gears

[rexbanner]

I have the stage 3 daily on my 2009. After the initial break-in, it feels close to stock in terms of pedal effort and engagement. It also does not chatter at all.

Mods are: IAG block, Blouch 440XT + all supporting breathing mods.

It's an outstanding clutch.

[silversurfer05]

Also compared to the stock clutch how heavy does it feel pedal effort wise? Don't want to have to re-weld the firewall for the second time. I don't have that many kidneys to sell

[rexbanner]

Pretty close to stock pedal effort.

My firewall welds were creaking on me with the stock clutch, so my tuner shop fab'd up a bracket similar to this:

https://www.reflectedimagemotorsport...ester-xt-09-13

I haven't had any issues in the ~10,000 miles I've put on this build with 352 whp and 344 wtq. I also have the Moore Performance transmission blast plates, though I can't say if these actually do anything (they can't hurt...)

http://shop.mooreperformanceparts.co...i-2280992.aspx

Fingers crossed that it all holds together.

[silversurfer05]

I think im going with the clutch master cylinder brace frim rallitek or circuit motorsports and the grimspeed brake cylinder brace. The clutch brace has huge effect when they measured with a guage for movement. If it goes again im swapping a stock motor in and selling up it straight up selling

[silversurfer05]

Pulled the trigger on the stage III daily. Hope the firewall holds up with the added weight on the clutch pedal

[point78]

Originally Posted by silversurfer05

Pulled the trigger on the stage III daily. Hope the firewall holds up with the added weight on the clutch pedal

I have the circuitmotorsports & grimspeed units, along with the 6mt stage3 daily.

Little over a year now, no issues.

[silversurfer05]

Originally Posted by point78

I have the circuitmotorsports & grimspeed units, along with the 6mt stage3 daily.

Little over a year now, no issues.

Was it originally a 5spd?

[point78]

Originally Posted by silversurfer05

Was it originally a 5spd?

Yes. Always has stock clutch with the 5mt, then had stock clutch with the 6mt swap, then the southbend daily 3

[EightTenths]

I just got a stage 3 daily. I was expecting initial break in to feel on/off and grabby but it wasn’t. Very natural engagement and modulation. Pedal feel is heavier but nothing worse than E36 BMWs. 230 miles so far and it will probably get easier.

[rexbanner]

It's very heavy at first and over time has a near-stock feel.

[2stepgoespowpow]

Originally Posted by rexbanner

I have the stage 3 daily on my 2009. After the initial break-in, it feels close to stock in terms of pedal effort and engagement. It also does not chatter at all.

Mods are: IAG block, Blouch 440XT + all supporting breathing mods.

It's an outstanding clutch.

How much whp/wtq you making? Hows it handle launches?

[silversurfer05]

Originally Posted by 2stepgoespowpow

How much whp/wtq you making? Hows it handle launches?

Hes making 352/344

[silversurfer05]

Update on my stage III daily. just drove the car for 150 miles today and I got to say it definitely feels like stock. If not lighter. Haven’t driven steak in almost a year but first gear does seem to have a little slip to it so it does drive similar to stock as well as far as first year engagement. Will update once break in miles are over and full tune is finished

[nerz]

Car is tuned for 360whp/400tq, just did a hard launch at 5k and the Stage 3 daily slipped through 1st and then once I shifted to 2nd it slipped and bounced off the rev limiter. Seeing how this is rated for 590ft/lbs do I have unrealistic expectations or is there something mechanically wrong going on?

[Evil_11Sti]

I have the stage 2, previous owner said it was put in 40k miles ago. It feels strong still. It is a bit noisy, that's my only complaint. But it is holding 344/358 just fine.

[Max Capacity]

Originally Posted by rexbanner

Pretty close to stock pedal effort.

My firewall welds were creaking on me with the stock clutch, so my tuner shop fab'd up a bracket similar to this:

https://www.reflectedimagemotorsport...ester-xt-09-13

I haven't had any issues in the ~10,000 miles I've put on this build with 352 whp and 344 wtq. I also have the Moore Performance transmission blast plates, though I can't say if these actually do anything (they can't hurt...)

http://shop.mooreperformanceparts.co...i-2280992.aspx

Fingers crossed that it all holds together.

I've had the Moore Blast Plates for a few years now, I love them. The 5MT fight's me going into 3rd gear at high RPM's. I feel all shifts are better.

[silversurfer05]

Originally Posted by nerz

Car is tuned for 360whp/400tq, just did a hard launch at 5k and the Stage 3 daily slipped through 1st and then once I shifted to 2nd it slipped and bounced off the rev limiter. Seeing how this is rated for 590ft/lbs do I have unrealistic expectations or is there something mechanically wrong going on?

This an sti stage 3 daily? Cause i have the wrx stage 3 daily’s and its only rated to 400 or 450 crank Torque. And whats the milage on clutch

[nerz]

Originally Posted by silversurfer05

This an sti stage 3 daily? Cause i have the wrx stage 3 daily’s and its only rated to 400 or 450 crank Torque. And whats the milage on clutch

It's on my 2011 STi so it better be the STi version. Mileage is 1-2k miles properly broken in.