After a few days of driving with the new clutch, I thought I'd contrast the old combo (SPEC 3+, SPEC PP, SPEC LWFW, and metal throw out bearing) with the new (SouthBend custom 'stage 5' feramic clutch, RS4 PP, OEM FW, and OEM TOB).
The old set up:
LWFW:
SPEC 3+ Clutch
PP and TOB:
New SB Clutch:
Comparo:
The SPEC setup was, in comparison, pretty heavy and extremely grabby. The engagement point seemed inconsistent and, on inclined 1st gear starts, the clutch would actually grab and spin the front wheels on occasion it grabbed so hard (which sucks when you have an inclined exit to your parking garage that you use daily). The only thing that I liked about that setup was the faster revving that came with the LWFW (as you can see above, it only weighed 12lbs.... its for sale if anyone wants it). There definitely is a difference in the way the revs hang with an OEM FW and the LWFW.
The SouthBend set up is HEAVEN compared to the SPEC. The clutch feel is completely different, its SO much lighter and requires 1/4 of the effort that the SPEC required. The clutch itself is the SouthBend FE Stage 5 clutch with feramic material on both sides. Here is their description of it:
The FE SS series is the ultimate when it comes to delivering maximum torque to the street and strip driven car. With Feramic on both sides of the disc, the clutch delivers a more positive engagement.
Because Feramic clutch material displaces heat extremely fast it will give you maximum clutch life and a consistent feel each time you shift.
Anyway, like I said the pedal feel is significantly lighter but also the engagement is more predictable and more like and on/off switch than the SPEC was. I'm still getting used to how fast the pedal moves now, I am still letting it up WAY too quickly as I'm expecting it to take more effort to move. The pedal feel might actually be lighter than OEM but its been so long since I've driven an OEM S4 clutch that I can't say for sure.
I've read about people having problems with the RS4 pressure plate's SAC mechanism that went in with the SB. I'm still worried about it but I don't drive the car very hard and I really never launch. I also had a competent shop do the install (NGP Racing in Lorton, VA) and the issues seem to crop up from installer error so I'm not too worried. The car is my daily so I try not to abuse it too much so hopefully I won't even really test the pressure plate (pretty sure my conservative APR tune won't push it too hard).
All in all, I'm extremely happy with the way things feel now and, if I had driven another S4 with this combo awhile ago, I would have made the change MUCH sooner.
Backstory of how I came across this custom clutch: My SPEC 3+ started slipping in 4th, 5th, and 6th going from no boost to full boost intermittently a few months back. It came and went depending on conditions but, the last 2 weeks, it was obvious the clutch had to go. So late one night I was searching the AZ classifieds after a longass happy hour and saw the screaming deal (~$400 for the SB clutch, mated OEM FW, TOB, and clutch alignment tool) so I bought it right then and there. Apparently people were offering to outbid me for the clutch but I called the buyer and sealed the deal within 15 minutes of the ad being posted. It was slightly used and came out because the TOB bearing had let go which he had assumed was a problem with the clutch. Normally I wouldn't buy something used that requires so much labor to install but this deal was too damn good (otherwise I would have probably bought a VAST clutch). The clutch retails in the $900s so I got a pretty damn good deal.
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Originally Posted by DertiS4
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