Well I finally need to make a clutch decision, I have the funds appropriated and now which clutch to get?

I've got it narrowed down to two choices:

Southbend - 13125-OK

Valair - NMU70279-04-5SCE

The southbend, well you can't go wrong, but will it hold enough power now and in the future?

The valair, it will definitely hold any power I make now and in the future, but how will it hold up in the long run and how will it drive?

thanks for any and all input.

Aaron

 

Here is a good price on a valair kit...Mark My bad it's valeo....sneaky

 

Now I am really confused, Valair's web site says that valeo is an authorized distributor. Are they the same? Mark

 

I like my OFE from SB... if recommend saving up another 150 bucks and getting it. IMO

 

Another cheap copy of a cheap copy of a Quality South Bend Product

Don't waste your money on anything less than a South Bend

 

I put one of these in my buddys truck and its a great clutch. I don't know why everyone on this site bashes Valair but.... to each his own I guess.

BTW Dan is a great guy to deal with also.


I usually just waste my money at my local clutch shop, Lincoln Clutch and brake. A few other local pullers waste their money there too.

 

I think I might be wasting some of my money there soon. lol Andrew, do you think your clutch would be to sticky to pull a 15,000 lb trailer? Backing up is what I'm wondering about.

 

It'll be jumpy, might help if you used a sprung hub though.

With a clutch like this just shift into lo side when backing a trailer. It helps a lot.

 

I was thinking about having it built with half ceramic buttons and half composite. I think it would be smoother. You think that would hold the power? About 350 hp.

 

southbend only way to go

 

I would do full ceramic.

The Valair clutch I posted earlier seems to tow good. Most we had on it was 26,000 gross.

 

I liked my SB FE.

Will hold 450 hp all day long for a long time and probably made 50 1/4 passes before it started to slip.
It still would never slip during towing/normal driving.

The one I have now (550 hp) from SB is way grabbier and stronger than the FE but, I have got used to it and if using 1st gear when pulling, it is pretty smooth.

 

Thanks for the responses. For the same 375hp clutch between SB and Valair there is only a $50 difference, so for that difference I would just assume go with SB. But what I don't understand is why SB then charges another $200 for a ceramic puck disk. The other parts are the same but ceramic pucks cost $200 more than organic linings?

So I am seriously thinking about the Valair 600hp ceramic clutch. At least they only charge $30 more for the ceramic linings, seems more reasonable.

 

SouthBend Customer service is good but their product is not superior. I had a bad hub on the front disk with less than 50 miles on it. There pilot bearing in their fly wheel only lasted about 55K (got over 90k on my Stock one. There throw out bearing broke in 2 about the same time. Get all that fixed(had to eat those parts and the labor) then the clutch fork bends and one breaks. Had to have a new clutch cover. Had to eat that cost to get a diaphram style which is what I originally ordered but didn't get. They did cover some of that labor but took some complaining. So basilly a high performance clutch designed for the abuse of sled pulling but never used for sled pulling was shot after 60k miles. I may be the only one but they keep a lot of people quiet by giving "free" upgrades when their stuff breaks. This is just of course one man's opinion and experience and they have a lot of satified customers and make a decent product but they are not the be all end all.

 

hey-Hey!!!,
I got a Luk for the HO app. That is one smooth clutch. I took out a 4-button metalic with the OE Sachs plate. Not a smooth clutch at all... No marcelling, and solid hub just don't deliver that sort of behaviour. I do have a SB flywheel with the new Luk, and I hope their BB pilot lasts a while.
cheers,
Douglas