PaulK

I'd like to take a quick survey of those who have gone to a spring center from the rubber centered clutch.

How much vibration? Any downshifting problems? Extra noise/harshness? Shifting smoothness?

Thanks!

Fishey

I notice a jumping into 2nd gear if not properly rev matched. (thats it though) spring grabs alot better but seems to be alot harsher on the gearbox.

qoncept944

Downshifting is no problem, but it's definately a rougher ride. I didn't want my friends driving my car anyway, but now I really don't want someone else driving my car around. When I first got it back, I killed it a few times right after I got it, and shifting in to first and second can be a little jumpy, but I'm a lot happier knowing there isn't rubber in my clutch.

Scootin159

but if the original rubber one lasts for 16 years (so far in my case), what's wrong with a replacement lasting 16 years as well? I just have this feeling that the spring centered ones will quickly kill our "weak" gearboxes (mostly the ring & pinion).

Jack667

I have updgraded to the spring centered clutch as one element of the rebuilding of my newly purchased 944. Seems to work well. No real good info for you, other than that my mechanic said that it is the smart thing to do...

triscadek

I went to the spring center and am completley happy with it, my 15 year old son can drive it smoothly with no problems.

Jonas Goldsmith

I had mine done about 2 weeks ago... Lots more vibration, but knowing that its not gonna disintigrate while i am driving makes me alot happier.... the clutch is still very grabby and some of the shifts into second are pretty rough.... After you get over that, its great!

Luis de Prat

Not all spring-centered pressure plates are created equal.

After hearing about all the vibration issues experienced by some, I had the clutch in my '83 replaced for the second time in two years with a hybrid kit: spring-centered plate from Centerforce with reduced vibration, and a SACHS disk and TO bearing.

I tried the rubber-centered route, but 2 years is not enough longevity given the cost of the job.

Vibration is practically nonexistent. Same applies for my S2, with a spring-centered unit installed by the PO.

Turbos had spring-centered from factory. Granted, they had more robust transmissions, but at least in my experience spring-centered is the better option.

Puch1313

i have herd terrible things about the rubber center. go with the spring, you will not regret it

Tabor

I only noticed a very slight increase in noise and vibration when I installed my spring centered clutch. I don't think it affected shifting, but it did remove some (unwanted) slack from the drive line.

I can't wait to install the Lindsey Racing performance engine mounts and solid tranny mount.

iloveporsches

I actually had smoother shifts after I installed the spring-centered clutch. Maybe it was just me getting better at driving stick, but the car is very smooth and it's only harsh when I screw up.

89magic98

I have used 3 rubber-centered clutches in the lifetime of my car:

#1 lasted 80,000 miles, 7 years, hub dry rotted and broke up before the disc was completely worn out. Car was in Atlanta, upstate New York - there is a lot of temperature cycling in upstate New York (going above and below freezing).

#2 lasted 50,000+ miles, 7 years, hub was in great condition when it was removed. Most of the time the car was in warmer climates (Texas, California).

#3 is a "work in progress" 2 years, no problems yet.

I wonder if the temperature cycling is as much of a problem as anything else.

Also, I think that driving habits may have an effect on the rubber hub. If you continually lift your foot completely off the gas when doing highway driving, I think that you can cause a "bucking" in the drivetrain that is being absorbed by the rubber hub. I think I may have adjusted my driving habits to extend the life of the hub.

944S2IFISH2

'90 S2 w/68K... Mine went last fall (approx 2K ago) and I replaced it with a sachs "sporting" spring centered one. I almost didn't turn the flywheel because it looked so good but was cautioned by rennlisters (perry951 IIRC) to do it anyhow.

Well... For the first thousand miles I had wicked judder on downshifts if I was lazy and didn't rev match well-enough. If I hadn't turned the flywheel I'd have thought it was warped! I hated it and was regretting not having gone with another rubber-centered one.

But... After that first thousand, it now handles the occasional lazy shift with no judder at all. I guess it just take a little while for the disk to bed-in.

As far as noise goes... Definitely hear a lot more driveline noise - not any more noticeable vibration, just the noise. I don't mind it, just adds to the charm of the driving experience!

All in all, I'd do it the same next time.

PeteL

Spring Center. No problems, although, it may be a tad noisier, but still smoother than the disintegrated rubber center.

Z-man

I just got the spring centered clutch installed in my 944S2 in the early spring. The one I have in my car is like the 944 TurboS clutch, with the larger, single row of springs (vs. the smaller springed clutch of the 'normal' 944 Turbo).

I find that in first and sometimes 2nd gear, the clutch engagement sometimes really 'bites' hard, and it's not as smooth, but I am after all, still getting used to it.

On the track, as with all aspects of my Porsche, the harder I push it, the smoother it works! My heel-toe downshifting is much better with it, but part of that is due to the fact that I'm still improving that technique!

I really do not notice any extra noise or vibrations from the unit.

The spring centered clutch is really the best way to go.

Just my $0.42,
-Z.