ModManiac

Im sure he makes great auto trannys but the topic is on clutches for manuals.

I have a Valair ceramic single disc and it has been great, 85k on it. Pulling and backing tobacco wagons (alot of engage and disengage action), three slead hooks, 9 1/4 mile passes, alot of towing and spirited street driving. It just went out a couple days ago and I can honestly not complain one bit.

DieselCountry85

My uncle runs a SB and he says nothing but good things about them. He told them his mods and they sent him a 3250 DD and it blew up pulling his trailer with tractor on it, He called them and they said send back whats left. Two days later he had a 3600 DD on his porch and they didn't charge the extra for the new clutch, said it was their fault for not calculating the mods properly.

bduncan1231

I'm on my 2nd Valair ceramic. Could still be on my 1st one except I toasted the Transmission and it took the clutch with it (actually it was still working but the disc cracked most likely when I lost 3rd, 4th, and 5th) I've had the 2nd one in for 60k with absolutely no issues. I would buy another one.

Fire Rescue124

I'm running Valair street triple and it has about the same pedal pressure as my stock and is rated at 950hp so it should be the last clutch i ever have to buy. i was running the SB Con OFE and it worked great but i have a little to much power for that one now. the triple is great for daily driving and makes less noise than most of the DD i have been around... i have guys that have DD in both SB and Valair and after they drive mine they wish they would have gotten the triple... its not the cheapest but its well worth the cost..

ECSelner

I've been running a SB for about 10k and no real complaints. It is a little grabby vs stock but holds great, the only time when i even notice it's grab is when i have my 3 year old sleeping in the back seat and am trying to drive soft enough to not fling her head around. Wake her up = mad kid, not good news. But in dealing with South Bend I can say personally have never had a better experience even though I received the wrong hydraulic upgrade (mislabeled box). Changed the clutch on a sunday, Clutch pedal was 4" too high adjusted all the way in, sent an email, Peter called me monday morning told me they must have sent the wrong part, Peter personally drove the part to me (given the vicinity and the fact that I only lived a few miles from him it isn't super spectacular but still a good gesture), Fixed it that night and they issued the call tag for the old part the next day, then followed up to see how it was working for me. I was frustrating to get the wrong part but the customer service (which they are well known for) made all the difference! So that's my story. Haven't heard any horror stories about Valair either but my personal experience and location points me to SB.

When i was researching for my clutch I was leaning towards a DD but after calculating what i wanted to do with the truck (efficiency, smarty jr, cam to kill the in cylinder egr, injectors for better atomization) I found that a DD was overkill. If you aren't planning any major mods beyond what you have then don't kill yourself on a heavier clutch or one that rattles when depressed. If your plan is bigger than mine then go with the DD. Just my .02

railroaderone

SB 3250 DD called peter at SB told him all my mods and how the truck is used told me the best clutch and where to order to save on shipping cost.

Its a little grabby backing a trailer but if low range is used the problem goes away.

wont slipp at all

dieselfreak21

I won't own another SB clutch again. I have the SB 3600. It was supposed be diaphram but the sent the installer the lever style so peddle pressure and shfting was horrible. Clutch only last 60k mile before one of the lever's broke. Not one sled hook or drag race. Had to argue with SB to get them to make it right but still cost me money even thought they sent me the wrong clutch originally. Can not back up the 5th wheel with out low lock. Tried it once and had to replace U-joint. Only reason it is still in the truck is when it stranded me I wasn't near my house so had to have a shop do the repair to get home. When I can get a few pennies ahead it will be gone and valair may get my business. Also The trucks still doesn't shift that great. Also the pilot bearing and throw out bearing that came with the new clutch didn't make it 50k miles. My stocker stuff made it 90k mile with 80k with the chip and abused alot. Pilot bearing and throw out brearging were still good but due to the new input shaft had to the SB Stuff.

Danderson

Sounds like you should have called SBC 50K ago when initially installed. Mistakes happen.

dieselfreak21

If I had known I would. I order from SB and had one of thier installers put it in and they shipped it to them. I didn't tell the installer so I take some of it. I usually do my own wrenching and would have caught it otherwise but was pressed for time, at the time. I think what irked me they charge a premium for their stuff compared to some of the other and they don't hold up any better and aren't really a supior product. I know alot on here run them with out issues so may just be my bad luck. There recommended installer put the front disk on backwards when initially installed so it made it all of 50 miles when the front disk slid off the shaft. Just back experience with the clutch from the work go. That isn't SB fault it was the installer but it is who they recommended in my area.

Lary Ellis (Top)

This is what happens when you order more clutch than you need for your application....The dd3600 was never intended to be a daily driver application, most guys really don't have the HP requiring the need for it, and when they do they don't use the truck as a daily driver/tow fifth wheel kind of vehicle.

Now that SB changed to the diaphragm from the lever style, it helps but STILL most people do not need a 3600 unless they are using it for competition.

Getting the proper clutch for your particular use is really the key for anyone wanting or needing a new clutch. Going biggest is NOT always best as this fellow has found out the hard way.

Had that dd3600 been installed right and used in the manner it was built for, there would not have been an issue. Those old style levers were never intended to hold up to daily driving use and the reason it failed.

Matching the product to each individual use is the key

dfl5150

I have a similar story, When I got the first clutch.... I could hardly change gears. After many hours of deliberation and purchasing the hydraulic upgrade. SB sent me another clutch. This one shifts a LITTLE bit easier but I still have a hell of a time Getting it into 2nd and reverse. I have been unable to get any real answers from SB. I do have to admit, I have never slipped the clutch while pulling.

jasonh

I have the same issue with the dd3600. I love the clutch, but 2nd and reverse are horribly difficult to get into, like make you not want to drive bad. I have been meaning to call Pete and see what he thinks. Other than those two, it is fine, though my shifts are slower than stock.

dieselfreak21

Maybe someone should tell that to Peter. I call and spoke with him direct and told him what I would be doing and what my power was and future plans. He is the one that took the order. I called him and asked what I needed and he did recommend the diaphram but also recommended the 3600. This was all before i know a whole lot about clutches and applications to know better. Lesson has learned. The question was about which brand and I shared my experience. I know you protecting an advertiser and rightly so. Not saying SB is the root of all evil. They have a lot of happy customer I'm sure. Just one guys experience and wanted the OP to have all the information so they could make an informed decision. I trusted the advise on SB found here and in just my experience it could have been a lot of better but also the advise here may have set me up to have to high of expecations of SB. I was lead to believe they were the best of the best with the best value. Turned out not to be the case. That all I'm saying.

Lary Ellis (Top)

I am not protecting a Sponsor here, I was trying to address the issues that caused your problem so OTHERS could avoid the same pitfalls you encountered. I know you think I am ragging on you but that is not my intent at all. If I had a problem with you telling your story I would have confronted you about it the first 750 times you told it I just think everyone needs to know WHY it happened and choice is part of the problem.

Many people push the HP on their trucks but still expect to be able to use it as a viable tow rig with the manners of a daily driver thinking all they have to do is add the right part and Presto success....... it doesn't work that way as you found out.

If you have enough power to require a 3600 double disk to control it then you should reconsider using the truck to tow a 5th wheel reliably. It can be done but there are trade offs to consider when you reach that level.

You can't expect a clutch that will hold that kind of power to not be grabby when you are trying to back a 5th wheel into a camp spot simply because of the nature of the materials it has to be made from.

As a consumer it is your responsibility to understand your specific needs and educate your self before buying a product so that you end up with something that will work best for you. Peter is the one that told me those 3600 were not for daily drivers because the levers would not take the daily abuse, perhaps you should have taken his advice and gone with the diaphragm as he suggested to you by your own admission.......(apparently he told you as well).

I sell clutches all the time and often find myself trying to explain these things to guys all the time that have the heart set on buying the biggest, baddest set up they can find....when I know they will be very unhappy because they are wanting to use them not realizing want and need are not always the same thing.

You see it here all the time with Turbos as well...A guy will buy a cool turbo only to put it in our classifieds a day or two later because it doesn't suit HIS actual needs but this other member that runs his truck up the strip every weekend LOVES it.

It is a fine balance to have a truck that will perform as a daily hauler and yet still rock the dyno or drag strip on the weekends, that is why most the guys that do that have 2 trucks.... one to play with and one to tow the camper or the race truck.

Reelay

I have a SB G-56OK clutch and have no problems but one and that it grabs in reverse really bad when backing my fifthwheel up a slight incline. I was told by South Bend to put it in 4 wheel low when backing up the fifth wheel when hooked up. Haven't tried that yet but next month I will. The stock clutch slipped really bad when going up hill when towing. The new clutch has taken care of that. I opted for this clutch as I do not have any mods and don't sled pull just want a truck that pulls my trailer with no hassle. Hope this helps.