Competition Clutch Stage 2

Drifter2be · 06-13-2011, 06:07 PM

I figured since I have had it on the car for a while now i would review my new clutch. I recently installed the Competition Clutch Stage 2 kit, which boasted a higher torque capacity than any other clutch in that price range along with a carbon-kevlar full faced sprung disc. It was also paired with the ACT Streetlite flywheel.

First thing I noticed immediately after install is that the pedal effort feels virtually unchanged. It is just as easy to put the pedal in as it was on the O.E. clutch, but letting the clutch out I can definitely feel it pushing back on the clutch a bit more than stock.

During break-in there was a good deal of chatter, but within after the first 400 miles it was significantly less, and after 1000 miles it is virtually non-existent.

The clutch definitely grabs a lot harder than the factory clutch, and your ability to "slip" the clutch is slightly reduced. I have not done any hard launches on the car with this clutch, so I can't really vouch for it in that aspect.

After nearly 2000 miles on this clutch I am definitely happy with it. I would definitely recommend this clutch to anyone needing a replacement, who is on a budget and is looking for a clutch with a higher torque holding capacity than stock.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Strobe Media · 06-13-2011, 09:26 PM

very glad you posted this, I planned on buying this same kit (or stage 3) this week. Can I ask what sort of wtq #'s your car is making? Wondering if this clutch is capable of handling 400+/- wtq. comfortably as the people at Competition Clutch say it is. The price makes me very weary but from what I've heard/read, many people are very satisfied with it, but in my experience you either buy nice or buy twice, which is why I'm buying this kit in the first place is because my Spec stage 2 kit fell apart during instillation

Drifter2be · 06-13-2011, 11:36 PM

My car is actually pretty stock. I got because I was/am planning on shooting for 300whp/tq numbers.

On a side note, I was going to buy a Spec kit originally, but heard a horror story about a friend of a friend who put one on his modded SRT4 and it came apart 1000 miles after he installed it the first time he tried to launch his car.

I suggest going through Import Image Racing, one of the forum vendors. The price came out to less than $400 bucks with shipping through them, which was the best price I found for it, will say that the price did make me worry a bit, but I couldn't be happier. Will definitely report back on a regular basis as I start upgrading, planning on going catless and getting a tune in the next week or two, then will be going with a bigger turbo within a few months after that.

IMPORTIMAGE · 06-14-2011, 09:57 AM

thanks much, we are happy you are enjoying it!

Strobe Media · 06-14-2011, 05:10 PM

TH motorsports just hooked me up with a killer deal on this clutch!

Kovs04sti · 06-14-2011, 05:37 PM

Thanks for posting

02Evoslayer · 02-07-2012, 06:05 PM

thanks for all the info i am going to get this clutch as soon as i have the cash cause my stock clutch is slipping now

franknbeans · 02-10-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02Evoslayer

thanks for all the info i am going to get this clutch as soon as i have the cash cause my stock clutch is slipping now

I have this same clutch and hate it.
The engagement is horrible, if I slip it in the least bit it stinks horribly.
I don't have problems with it slipping under power unless I launch, then it is too hit and won't grab at all.
And I am stage 2 tune so nothing crazy.
I called Comp and they offered to replace it but who wants to do that whole job again and possibly get the same result.

Drifter2be · 02-22-2012, 08:04 PM

Quick update. 15000 miles on this clutch now and it is still going strong. No problems with it at all.

Kung Fu English · 03-28-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franknbeans

I have this same clutch and hate it.
The engagement is horrible, if I slip it in the least bit it stinks horribly.
I don't have problems with it slipping under power unless I launch, then it is too hit and won't grab at all.
And I am stage 2 tune so nothing crazy.
I called Comp and they offered to replace it but who wants to do that whole job again and possibly get the same result.

This.

I have this clutch and I don't like it either. It has really crappy engagement, slips and smells constantly on smooth take offs. If you don't slip it it is really really rough engagement and jolts you back and forth. I assumed this was going to be like stock feel.

On a side note, I also am using the 2nd clutch kit from them. The first kit I had installed and it wouldn't fully disengage. They took it back down and saw the pressure plate wasn't engaging evenly throughout the circumference. I was able to get the clutch kit replaced from CC for no cost and the second one works ok, but I had to pay for the install twice because of this.

Go with South Bend clutch and get it right the first time.

Edit: I notice we both have STIs and the OP has a WRX, I wonder if this has something to do with our experiences.

awdscoobnoob · 09-04-2012, 07:56 PM

Bumping this old arse thread

I really dislike this clutch (cc stg 2)
I have the same above problems. Rough engagement, if you slip it ANY at all it stinks.
I did a full 1000 mile break-in and it still feels the same as the first time I drove it.
Professional install, no shade tree garbage, and I'm wishing I'd never spent the money on it.
Never even went full boost till after 1500 or so miles.
It really feels like I'm running a super light flywheel with a bs eBay clutch on a single cam honda.
Mods
Cobb stg 2
Catless turbo back.

Any ideas?
Really don't wanna pull it out and start over.

stsdude2 · 10-02-2012, 06:16 PM

damn, wish i'd seen this sooner, this clutch flywheel combo was recommended and then installed in my car by a shop that rebuilt my motor, I havent liked it for the first 500 miles either, but I wish I had read this before, I may have asked for them to get otherwise.

elbertmurphy · 11-28-2012, 10:54 AM

i've been using this same set up for 15k and i haven't had any issues with it.

SirMattieP · 03-25-2013, 04:45 PM

Hey all, has anyone had any experiences with the south bend stage 2 daily clutch kit? I'm looking to pull the trigger asap on a new clutch kit, and from reading some reviews it seems as though its a great clutch for the price. The price of it really has my eye on it. Please any feedback would be great! Thanks a lot.

I'm pushing 325whp and 370tq on 08 STI, and my stock clutch has lasted 58,000 miles but is slipping really bad these days and I want to replace it soon. In the future I plan on making 450whp and 450tq above or below. Also I'm not looking for a chattery clutch, that is way stiffer than stock.. especially because it is going to be my daily drive. Thanks in advance!

Thug Nastiy · 03-26-2013, 02:47 AM

I just got a stage 3 and the chatter on it right now is crazy! Hopefully it breaks in soon so I don't have to put up with this shaking for too much longer. It definitely grabs the transition and still pretty hard to slip.

SirMattieP · 03-26-2013, 11:37 AM

Damn see that is NOT what I want.. I drive in traffic on the daily so something that isn't uncomfortable is what I'm looking for. I mean http://www.dxdracingclutches.com/html/wrx_sti.html For the price it's definitely clutch!

I do have my eyes also set on the ACT XTSS over the HDSS. How does the XTSS compare to the stock OEM Exedy clutch?

Half Crazed · 04-18-2013, 01:19 PM

Hi All,

Just wanted to give my 2c here... I recently did a clutch job and had the South Bend HD-OFE clutch that I was going to use... Upon pulling my motor out, we proceeded to get the clutch on (coupled with a new oem flywheel)... found out south bend had sent me the wrong damn clutch... and not knowing what the flywheel looked like prior, I didn't check (the pressure plate was a push type). My fault/their fault - it can be argued both ways.

Anyhow, while my motor is floating in mid air, I didn't want to put the stock one back in (all burned up/hot spots from previous owner/etc). Luckily my friend had this CC Stage 2 clutch so I bought it and installed it.

It had a TON of chatter during break-in (less than 300 miles). I'm just now starting to get around the 300 mark and it's starting to go away. The clutch pedal feels like OEM - if not softer. At first I thought the throwout bearing came off the pressure plate (lol). I was used to a harder ON/OFF clutch and was expecting this... but it's not like that at all (very surprised, still).

This clutch is supposed to hold 80% more torque capacity over oem, probably around 550-600 ft/lbs? (can someone verify?)

Other than that, I hope I don't have any other issues you guys are describing here. I will try to follow up at a later date.. but it is definitely starting to smooth out.

SnowWhite07 · 05-06-2013, 03:39 PM

Well I must say my clutch smells horribly if i slip it at all. I have maybe 3000 miles on it. No other problems. I am also running light weight flywheel. Anyone else with a stinky clutch? I mean nasty!!

Half Crazed · 05-06-2013, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowWhite07

Well I must say my clutch smells horribly if i slip it at all. I have maybe 3000 miles on it. No other problems. I am also running light weight flywheel. Anyone else with a stinky clutch? I mean nasty!!

From what I hear, this is normal for pretty much all clutches - new or broken in... which is why it's another reason people use recirculation air mode.. lol

chase510192 · 05-14-2013, 01:50 PM

good (:

02psmwag · 10-17-2013, 01:11 PM

I have the same clutch in my wrx with cobb stage2 and have had issues with it from about 5k miles into it's service. I have close to 30k miles on it and it slip in high gear when you build more then 5lbs of boost and any gear you build close to 12 pounds. I had the supplied throw out bearing explode at 25k miles on my way to OCAWD on the side of highway in the rain. Now less than 5k miles later it slips. This clutch hates heat so slipping it out the hole then try to grab another gear and is slips until you let out of it. For a clutch that looks good by the number and for $500 for the clutch kit and flywheel. Turned out to be a POS.

Half Crazed · 10-17-2013, 06:46 PM

it's a Kevlar-type clutch iirc, and once you cook it, it will never go back to the same grip supposedly.. maybe that's why.. or maybe you're getting oil on it? happened to me when my turbo oil line was leaking and it was spraying into that hole in the bell housing / flywheel/clutch and causing it to slip a little.. I think that's what caused it at least, because after I fixed the oil feed line, it quit slipping haha

08SubbySniper · 11-30-2013, 09:27 PM

So is this clutch recommended or not? I'm looking for a new clutch and this stage 2 is on sell for $644 with flywheel

Half Crazed · 12-02-2013, 08:24 AM

I don't recommend. Check out south bend stage 2 sprung full face

majik1 · 12-02-2013, 08:59 AM

I disagree completely, I have this exact clutch(cc stage 2 steel back brass+) and I enjoy it, the break in was rough but other than that it has been smooth sailing. The engagement is nice. It does grab a LOT harder than stock but a tiny change in throttle while taking off and you're golden. I don't have any more chatter or problems at all with this clutch and I have 2k on it. I would recommend this clutch to anyone who is stage 2 or more. I will be getting tuned for meth in a few weeks I'll let you all know how it goes.

06-13-2011, 06:07 PM	#1
Drifter2be Scooby Specialist Member Sales Rating: (18) Member#: 265122 Join Date: Nov 2010 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Hemet, CA Vehicle: 2004 WRX Java Black Pearl	Competition Clutch Stage 2 I figured since I have had it on the car for a while now i would review my new clutch. I recently installed the Competition Clutch Stage 2 kit, which boasted a higher torque capacity than any other clutch in that price range along with a carbon-kevlar full faced sprung disc. It was also paired with the ACT Streetlite flywheel. First thing I noticed immediately after install is that the pedal effort feels virtually unchanged. It is just as easy to put the pedal in as it was on the O.E. clutch, but letting the clutch out I can definitely feel it pushing back on the clutch a bit more than stock. During break-in there was a good deal of chatter, but within after the first 400 miles it was significantly less, and after 1000 miles it is virtually non-existent. The clutch definitely grabs a lot harder than the factory clutch, and your ability to "slip" the clutch is slightly reduced. I have not done any hard launches on the car with this clutch, so I can't really vouch for it in that aspect. After nearly 2000 miles on this clutch I am definitely happy with it. I would definitely recommend this clutch to anyone needing a replacement, who is on a budget and is looking for a clutch with a higher torque holding capacity than stock. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

06-14-2011, 09:57 AM	#4
IMPORTIMAGE NASIOC Storefront Vendor Vendor Sales Rating: (617) Member#: 79304 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: South East Location: FL Vehicle: CALL 941-257-9618 www.ImportImageRacing.com	thanks much, we are happy you are enjoying it! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Open Daily To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. #1-941-257-9618 AIM= importimagerace To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Best Deals on To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. !!! Let us Beat your Lowest Price Quote!!!!! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. <> To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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06-13-2011, 09:26 PM	#2
Strobe Media Scooby Specialist Member Sales Rating: (5) Member#: 241600 Join Date: Mar 2010 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Harrisburg, PA Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi like a million whp	very glad you posted this, I planned on buying this same kit (or stage 3) this week. Can I ask what sort of wtq #'s your car is making? Wondering if this clutch is capable of handling 400+/- wtq. comfortably as the people at Competition Clutch say it is. The price makes me very weary but from what I've heard/read, many people are very satisfied with it, but in my experience you either buy nice or buy twice, which is why I'm buying this kit in the first place is because my Spec stage 2 kit fell apart during instillation

06-13-2011, 11:36 PM	#3
Drifter2be Scooby Specialist Member Sales Rating: (18) Member#: 265122 Join Date: Nov 2010 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Hemet, CA Vehicle: 2004 WRX Java Black Pearl	My car is actually pretty stock. I got because I was/am planning on shooting for 300whp/tq numbers. On a side note, I was going to buy a Spec kit originally, but heard a horror story about a friend of a friend who put one on his modded SRT4 and it came apart 1000 miles after he installed it the first time he tried to launch his car. I suggest going through Import Image Racing, one of the forum vendors. The price came out to less than $400 bucks with shipping through them, which was the best price I found for it, will say that the price did make me worry a bit, but I couldn't be happier. Will definitely report back on a regular basis as I start upgrading, planning on going catless and getting a tune in the next week or two, then will be going with a bigger turbo within a few months after that.

06-14-2011, 05:10 PM	#5
Strobe Media Scooby Specialist Member Sales Rating: (5) Member#: 241600 Join Date: Mar 2010 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Harrisburg, PA Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi like a million whp	TH motorsports just hooked me up with a killer deal on this clutch!

06-14-2011, 05:37 PM	#6
Kovs04sti Scooby Specialist Member Sales Rating: (6) Member#: 257085 Join Date: Sep 2010 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Sellersville Vehicle: 07 Sti SWP	Thanks for posting

02-07-2012, 06:05 PM	#7
02Evoslayer Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (0) Member#: 309349 Join Date: Feb 2012	thanks for all the info i am going to get this clutch as soon as i have the cash cause my stock clutch is slipping now

02-22-2012, 08:04 PM	#9
Drifter2be Scooby Specialist Member Sales Rating: (18) Member#: 265122 Join Date: Nov 2010 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Hemet, CA Vehicle: 2004 WRX Java Black Pearl	Quick update. 15000 miles on this clutch now and it is still going strong. No problems with it at all.

09-04-2012, 07:56 PM	#11
awdscoobnoob Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (5) Member#: 272670 Join Date: Feb 2011 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Morganton Nc Vehicle: 2004 sti wrb	Bumping this old arse thread I really dislike this clutch (cc stg 2) I have the same above problems. Rough engagement, if you slip it ANY at all it stinks. I did a full 1000 mile break-in and it still feels the same as the first time I drove it. Professional install, no shade tree garbage, and I'm wishing I'd never spent the money on it. Never even went full boost till after 1500 or so miles. It really feels like I'm running a super light flywheel with a bs eBay clutch on a single cam honda. Mods Cobb stg 2 Catless turbo back. Any ideas? Really don't wanna pull it out and start over.

10-02-2012, 06:16 PM	#12
stsdude2 Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (0) Member#: 307161 Join Date: Jan 2012 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Massachusetts Vehicle: 2008 wrx silver	damn, wish i'd seen this sooner, this clutch flywheel combo was recommended and then installed in my car by a shop that rebuilt my motor, I havent liked it for the first 500 miles either, but I wish I had read this before, I may have asked for them to get otherwise.

11-28-2012, 10:54 AM	#13
elbertmurphy Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (1) Member#: 268256 Join Date: Dec 2010 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Clarksville tn Vehicle: 2005 STI Silver	i've been using this same set up for 15k and i haven't had any issues with it.

03-25-2013, 04:45 PM	#14
SirMattieP Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (0) Member#: 174870 Join Date: Mar 2008	Hey all, has anyone had any experiences with the south bend stage 2 daily clutch kit? I'm looking to pull the trigger asap on a new clutch kit, and from reading some reviews it seems as though its a great clutch for the price. The price of it really has my eye on it. Please any feedback would be great! Thanks a lot. I'm pushing 325whp and 370tq on 08 STI, and my stock clutch has lasted 58,000 miles but is slipping really bad these days and I want to replace it soon. In the future I plan on making 450whp and 450tq above or below. Also I'm not looking for a chattery clutch, that is way stiffer than stock.. especially because it is going to be my daily drive. Thanks in advance!

03-26-2013, 02:47 AM	#15
Thug Nastiy Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (0) Member#: 351309 Join Date: Mar 2013 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Santa Fe, NM Vehicle: 2004 06STI swap vf34 Sedona Red	I just got a stage 3 and the chatter on it right now is crazy! Hopefully it breaks in soon so I don't have to put up with this shaking for too much longer. It definitely grabs the transition and still pretty hard to slip.

03-26-2013, 11:37 AM	#16
SirMattieP Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (0) Member#: 174870 Join Date: Mar 2008	Damn see that is NOT what I want.. I drive in traffic on the daily so something that isn't uncomfortable is what I'm looking for. I mean http://www.dxdracingclutches.com/html/wrx_sti.html For the price it's definitely clutch! I do have my eyes also set on the ACT XTSS over the HDSS. How does the XTSS compare to the stock OEM Exedy clutch?

04-18-2013, 01:19 PM	#17
Half Crazed Scooby Specialist Member Sales Rating: (18) Member#: 321842 Join Date: May 2012 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: New Hampshire Vehicle: 08 460/420w 08 STi 17 Stock WRB WRX	Hi All, Just wanted to give my 2c here... I recently did a clutch job and had the South Bend HD-OFE clutch that I was going to use... Upon pulling my motor out, we proceeded to get the clutch on (coupled with a new oem flywheel)... found out south bend had sent me the wrong damn clutch... and not knowing what the flywheel looked like prior, I didn't check (the pressure plate was a push type). My fault/their fault - it can be argued both ways. Anyhow, while my motor is floating in mid air, I didn't want to put the stock one back in (all burned up/hot spots from previous owner/etc). Luckily my friend had this CC Stage 2 clutch so I bought it and installed it. It had a TON of chatter during break-in (less than 300 miles). I'm just now starting to get around the 300 mark and it's starting to go away. The clutch pedal feels like OEM - if not softer. At first I thought the throwout bearing came off the pressure plate (lol). I was used to a harder ON/OFF clutch and was expecting this... but it's not like that at all (very surprised, still). This clutch is supposed to hold 80% more torque capacity over oem, probably around 550-600 ft/lbs? (can someone verify?) Other than that, I hope I don't have any other issues you guys are describing here. I will try to follow up at a later date.. but it is definitely starting to smooth out.

05-06-2013, 03:39 PM	#18
SnowWhite07 Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (5) Member#: 237536 Join Date: Feb 2010 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Ambler, PA Vehicle: 2007 WRX TR Satin White	Well I must say my clutch smells horribly if i slip it at all. I have maybe 3000 miles on it. No other problems. I am also running light weight flywheel. Anyone else with a stinky clutch? I mean nasty!!

05-14-2013, 01:50 PM	#20
chase510192 Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (0) Member#: 356421 Join Date: May 2013	good (:

10-17-2013, 01:11 PM	#21
02psmwag Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (16) Member#: 287251 Join Date: Jul 2011 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: A.A county MD Vehicle: 2002 WRX Wagon PSM	I have the same clutch in my wrx with cobb stage2 and have had issues with it from about 5k miles into it's service. I have close to 30k miles on it and it slip in high gear when you build more then 5lbs of boost and any gear you build close to 12 pounds. I had the supplied throw out bearing explode at 25k miles on my way to OCAWD on the side of highway in the rain. Now less than 5k miles later it slips. This clutch hates heat so slipping it out the hole then try to grab another gear and is slips until you let out of it. For a clutch that looks good by the number and for $500 for the clutch kit and flywheel. Turned out to be a POS.

10-17-2013, 06:46 PM	#22
Half Crazed Scooby Specialist Member Sales Rating: (18) Member#: 321842 Join Date: May 2012 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: New Hampshire Vehicle: 08 460/420w 08 STi 17 Stock WRB WRX	it's a Kevlar-type clutch iirc, and once you cook it, it will never go back to the same grip supposedly.. maybe that's why.. or maybe you're getting oil on it? happened to me when my turbo oil line was leaking and it was spraying into that hole in the bell housing / flywheel/clutch and causing it to slip a little.. I think that's what caused it at least, because after I fixed the oil feed line, it quit slipping haha

11-30-2013, 09:27 PM	#23
08SubbySniper Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (4) Member#: 361108 Join Date: Jul 2013 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Murrieta, CA Vehicle: 2005 STi WRB	So is this clutch recommended or not? I'm looking for a new clutch and this stage 2 is on sell for $644 with flywheel

12-02-2013, 08:24 AM	#24
Half Crazed Scooby Specialist Member Sales Rating: (18) Member#: 321842 Join Date: May 2012 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: New Hampshire Vehicle: 08 460/420w 08 STi 17 Stock WRB WRX	I don't recommend. Check out south bend stage 2 sprung full face

12-02-2013, 08:59 AM	#25
majik1 Scooby Newbie Member Sales Rating: (5) Member#: 255841 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Fort Huachuca, AZ Vehicle: 2005 WTX STi white	I disagree completely, I have this exact clutch(cc stage 2 steel back brass+) and I enjoy it, the break in was rough but other than that it has been smooth sailing. The engagement is nice. It does grab a LOT harder than stock but a tiny change in throttle while taking off and you're golden. I don't have any more chatter or problems at all with this clutch and I have 2k on it. I would recommend this clutch to anyone who is stage 2 or more. I will be getting tuned for meth in a few weeks I'll let you all know how it goes.