I went to my local performance shop to price some clutches. I had in mind the con fe 550hp single disk, but SB no longer makes it. The shop owner told me I would like a dual a lot better. He said the engagement would be a lot smoother with the dual. The reaon I was wanting a single is because I thought the single would be smoother, I guess I was wrong. Then he showed me the street dual disk 3250 I think is the number. I can get it for only a $100 more the the single disk 475hp clutch. So my question is, is anybody running this clutch and how do they like it? How is it for everyday driving?

 

Diaphragm 6 button in a dd will be nice to drive. Call Peter direct and he will help make your decision.

 

I don't really know all the terms with clutches. What does a 6 button mean. And the 3250 that I am looking at has 12 buttons per side of disc. Aslo I know most aftermarket clutches (especially the g56) require a hydraulic upgrade. Why does the 3250 not mention it on South Bends website?

 

The 3250 comes in a kit form including the hydraulics which are indeed required for the G56. You can find it here, including free shipping http://www.dodge-diesel.org/socldustdudi.html

A PM to me or a phone call can also get you the Member discount on that item

 

Anybody running this clutch?

 

I am. The first one I got didn't engage smoothly at all. It was very jerky and sometimes almost stalled the truck because it would engage so weird. Obviously something was wrong. I got the clutch from Harry at Peak Diesel, so he paid for the clutch to be pulled out. Turns out on of the buttons was smaller then all the rest and the clutch was flexing. South Bend and Harry replaced it and paid for the re-install. Good people to deal with.
Its a great clutch... you'll never slip it. The only annoying part of mine is that if I try to feather the clutch out, it makes a rubbing noise as it starts to engage.... other then that its perfect.

 

yea im running that clutch and it's been trouble free so far(only 3 monthes). word of warning tho is the DD clutches are NOISEY alot of the vibration comes right up the stick and into the cab. with the truck in nuetral idleing its rediculously loud outside too. push the clutch in and its silent. this thing really Hooks up tho, even with the mods i have and smarty Cranked up to level 9. shift from 2nd to 4th and leave black marks on the road! YEEHAW!

Good luck with whatever u choose

 

I just installed Friday a new 3600 6 cb Diaphragm. It is a far quieter than the last lever type 3600 12cb. Peddle pressure is amesome and shifting is smoother.
I have had 4 different clutches in my G56 and this one is by far the best to drive.. will it hold, time will tell. Peter is confident it will get the job done.

For daily driving and some street use look at the diaphragm type pressure plate.

Rob

 

Whats the difference between Diaphram and Lever type. I think I have the lever type 3600 12 CB.

 

The one I am looking at is a diaphram type with 12 buttons. What is the difference beween 6 and 12 buttons? I am looking at the 3250.

 

Lever type has 4 large fingers, diaphragm has many smaller fingers. The release bearing pushes against the fingers to realease the pressure plate. Since the diaphragm has more contact points the peddle pressure is reduced along with a smoother engagment of the clutch discs.
12 buttons seem to be a bit more agressive than the 6 button. The contact points on a 6 button clutch dics are larger than the 12 so they have fewer seems or breaks.

I'm no expert, just what I have learned and understood.

Rob

 

Definitely talk with Peter at SB first. He's very easy to talk to and also happens to run a 3250 in his own personal 3rd gen Mine makes shifting somewhat chunky, and after many different pushrod lengths, upgraded hydros etc, Peter says that's jsut the nature of the beast and that his 3rd gen is similar. No two clutches are alike. It is one bad **** clutch, though! I wouldn't be without mine. 3rd gear 30psi launches and my 315's are up in smoke untill I let out

 

Anyone with a DD have issue during starting out with large load. At the beginning of the day, when the tranny is cool, the clutch is smooth and there is no problem with starts. Operates like stock. However, after a day of towing and the tranny temp is above 170*, the starts from a stop are real grabby. Appears that the clutch wants to hold more (less slip) when the heat goes up.

 

I have a Street 3250DD 12 button w/diaphragm pressure plate, and with the hyd. upgrade. Here's my experience. Goes into 1st, 2nd, or reverse really hard, Doesn't matter if you are completely stopped or not. It will grind going into 2nd rolling up to a light. It rattles when clutch push IN. Little loud when out. Leaves from a stop really jerky. Noticeable increase in pedal pressure, not unacceptable, but definitely much stiffer than stock. I don't know if any of this is "normal", but it's what mine behaves like. I like the clutch, and would do it again in a heartbeat. I can run the Smarty anywhere I want and can't slip the clutch, and throw what ever I want on the trucks back and it won't slip. I do want to get a Fuidampr HB for it though. In 5th, it vibrates the whole truck from the bottom of the power band through about 3/4 of the way to the top of 5th gear. This may or may not be the clutch, I don't know. I still want a Fluidampr harmonic on it though.

 

Listening to everybody's comments on aftermarket clutches with the G-56 brings me to the conclusion that the only thing positive about chucking the dmf is holding power. I wish Peter or LUK could manufacture a dmf that could hold maybe 50-100 more hp. My tranny is as quiet and smooth as our old '98 Accord.