Experience w/ Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch?

OBX2003 · May 19, 2009

I may be a little late on this one, as I have already bought the thing, but has anyone used the Centerforce Dual Friction clutch on an '03 4x4 with the 4.0 motor? (or similar truck) I am planning some towing and driving on the beach, no hardcore offroad stuff.

I was also wondering if anyone was as confused as I was by what they received, and if it didn't really sound like what was described. I expected a conventional looking side on one side of the clutch disk, and segmented or "puck" style on the other side. What I got was what looks like 2 sides of the same puck style material. I called the tech line, and the guy said that is correct for my application. Then why/how can they call it dual friction??

AllanD · May 19, 2009

I think you are the first, how about you tell us how it works?

AD

Shran · May 19, 2009

Supposedly Centerforce clutches work better in a high hp/rpm race setup than a low rpm crawler. A few people have recommended Luk clutches for offroad vehicles to me, but I have no experience with either so I can't say.

OBX2003 · May 19, 2009

Not sure I want to be a trail blazer in this case!

But I guess somebody has to do it.......

Will update when I get things going.

LittleHorse · May 20, 2009

I've never used one but based on the description on the website it doesn't sound like what you have.

Are you sure it's not a Centerforce 2, instead of a dual friction? I've used one of those, not on an RBV, but on a Datsun 280Z. It was about the only thing that would last with a 10 pound aluminum flywheel and 200rwhp (in a car that started with about 130). The Centerforce 2 uses what looks like a normal clutch disc but the pressure plate has the weights on the fingers that increase clamping force at high RPM. I believe the dual friction has the weights along with the different clutch facings.

ForOffRoadDriving · May 20, 2009

i ordered one for my 3.0l about 6 months ago, along with a Sachs standard repacement and a heavy duty replacement. the center force looked awesome with its pressure plate weights and its triangle shaped friction pads on both sides, but for the price tag it carried it just didnt seem practical so i made a hybrid out of the HD pressure plate and the standard friction disc. i havent gotten to try it out yet thanks to a stubborn rear main seal, but i think it should work great.

OBX2003 · May 20, 2009

Horse,

LittleHorse said:
I've never used one but based on the description on the website it doesn't sound like what you have.

.

That's what I said to the sales rep from the company! He said I was the only person to question this. I am glad it sounds funny to you too.
About all he said is that this one is "slightly better". I am planning on talking to the tech guy right now. The finger weights are not used in this app because there is not enough room for them, from the description I got.
The part number I have is:

DF 145117

As you can see, DF means "Dual Friction". Plus, there was a Dual Friction sticker on the clutch disk. There were patent numbers there, too: 4951793, 5184704, 5033599. I'm so anal about it I looked them up on the US patent website (I get that way when I spend twice what something usually costs) . The patent never showed a disk with 2 puck sides like I have. Another interesting thing, the patents were filed by one "Bill J. Hays". I assume the guy who started "Hays" clutches, or a relative.

Will update when I get some answers. If I get the runaround, will post that also. LOL

Bob

c_note · May 20, 2009

ive had one for over 2 years just sitting around. i even got the new flywheel and pilot bearing.
i didnt install it because i regeared my truck just after i bought my DF clutch so i didnt get slipage anylonger.

let me know how it works out. my current is still good working on 95k miles

OBX2003 · May 20, 2009

Ok, I was able to talk to the tech rep listed on the Centerforce website.
He told me what I received is correct for my application.
He said that they do not build their clutch hubs completely in house. The 360 facing on some disks are not up to standards and they found that using segmented disks on both sides worked better for this application. When using segmented or "puck" style on both sides, they use an organic type material that will still provide smooth engagement, which was the whole purpose of the 360 degree side. Also, they cover more of the total area of the sides so there is more capacity. I noticed that in addition to pucks, there are some small rectangular pieces providing more area for capacity.
He told me most ALL diesel full size truck apps use the 2 sided puck style. That made me feel a bit better.
He also looked up an older Ranger with a 4.0, and this one had the 2 different sides. So, I guess it just depends on what they find works better for each application.

I will keep updating this string as I go. The instructions call for a 500 mile break in period, so I won't get to do much testing until then. But I will post when I get it into the truck, which I hope will be by next week. I need to inspect my transfer case first. Seems that whoever owned it before didn't figure out the drain plug was behind the balance weight, and the lube in there looked like nothing of this earth coming out.

Thanks for your interest, y'all!

Bob

OBX2003 · May 20, 2009

c_note said:
ive had one for over 2 years just sitting around. i even got the new flywheel and pilot bearing.
i didnt install it because i regeared my truck just after i bought my DF clutch so i didnt get slipage anylonger.

let me know how it works out. my current is still good working on 95k miles

C note,

Is yours part number DF 145117? Does it have 2 sides different, or the same?

Bob

coffee · May 20, 2009

I just put a Centerforce DF in my 3.0. Loving every minute of it. Has a lot more grab than the stock. Mine did have 2 different types of material. I've used DFs on my 240Z for years and still love em.

AllanD · May 20, 2009

This all makes me think that if I get one I'll lie about what it's going on.

I'm not as worried about smooth engagement as I am about gripping power.

AD

coffee · May 20, 2009

Like I said above, I feel that it has more grip than my stock clutch. It has a predictable and positive engagement. I like it better than the stock clutch.

OBX2003 · May 22, 2009

Well, I looked closely at the Centerforce pressure plate, and it had "Luk" stamped on it. Plus, the one I pulled out of the truck had "Luk" brand on it too. No way to know if it was the original or not. Furthermore, the set I bought that had the cheesy clutch disk ALSO was a "Luk" pressure plate. As far as I can see they are all identical. The applications with the finger weights might have the only differences. They don't sell just the Dual Friction clutch plate by itself, saying it has to be matched to the pressure plate. Likely story. LOL
My speed shop guy verified that Centerforce clutches are made by Hays. Or at least invented by him.
If it ever gets to the point where I need another replacement, I'll just buy an HD clutch disk of some kind to go with the extra Luk pressure plate I have. Or maybe I'll just sell the one I have left so it won't be sitting around. In any event, I got the clutch and tranny up in there today, and bled the clutch. So now I need to inspect the transfer case and install that, and chase down some new nuts and bolts for my exhaust system.
Shouldn't be too big a deal to get it finished, but I am going away for part of the long weekend, so it will still be next week some time if Murphy doesn't get too involved in the project.

Bob

OBX2003 · May 22, 2009

coffee said:
I just put a Centerforce DF in my 3.0. Loving every minute of it. Has a lot more grab than the stock. Mine did have 2 different types of material.

Coffee,

Did your pressure plate have the weights? Just curious.

Bob

Experience w/ Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch?

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