Kennedy Engineering Clutches: Any Experience?
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the pasture.
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kennedy Engineering Clutches: Any Experience?
I am having the clutch changed in my SC and the mechanic suggested I consider Kennedy Engineering. These look like they specifically designed for high HP cars running 915 Transmissions. My car does not fit that description.
Any reasons I should or should not consider these as a replacement for Sachs?
Thanks for the help.
Any reasons I should or should not consider these as a replacement for Sachs?
Thanks for the help.
#2
Rennlist Member
I use the Kennedy 6 puck disc with the Sachs PP in my cup without issues. the disk is very cheap $130 IIRC. It's a very good replacement for the Sachs disc.
#6
Rennlist Member
Why would you need a racing clutch in a stock SC? It will make it harder to get on/off trailers, etc. A stock clutch should work longer than your trans will between rebuilds and a bit easier on your car.
#7
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the pasture.
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is why I am asking. Mechanic speaks highly of these units. I don't know if there is any advantage or disadvantage in my case. I don't want to worry about damage from a little slipping while putting car on the trailer. They are made in the USA and price reflects local manufacturing. Less expensive than Sachs.
Trending Topics
#8
uninformed gas bag
(contemplating on whether gas bag is one or two words)
Rennlist Member
(contemplating on whether gas bag is one or two words)
Rennlist Member
I have/had the same clutch in my 930 that is on its way back to the way it was born. They suck for street driving. It is quite the on and off sort of thing and takes some getting used to. Also seems to tolerate a wee bit of feathering for loading purposes if your careful but for the most part it just take some getting used to. Never any drive train problems from it.
#9
Rennlist Member
I had a kennedy in my 88 911 race car with G50. It was definitley a stiff pedal and chattered on take off compared to stock but was great once I got used to it. New owner says it's still working flawlessly.
#11
Drifting
Same as Dennis,i've got KEP lightweight flywheel,pressure plate and clutch in my 89 with a 3.6 transplant,sure wish my 944 with a Lindsey lightweight flywheel and clutch was a smooth as the 911 ...
Cheers
Phil
Cheers
Phil
#13
Hey Randy,
I don't drive the same kind of car you do, as you know, but I've used a KEP PP mated with a Sachs disk for years in my 951. Pedal is a little stiff and I used to get some chatter on release in 1st gear. But, it's a track car not a street car. Once going it's fine. Also, you should not need a heavy duty PP in a lower HP car. Your not drag racing. Once you are moving you shouldn't have any slippage.
Hal
I don't drive the same kind of car you do, as you know, but I've used a KEP PP mated with a Sachs disk for years in my 951. Pedal is a little stiff and I used to get some chatter on release in 1st gear. But, it's a track car not a street car. Once going it's fine. Also, you should not need a heavy duty PP in a lower HP car. Your not drag racing. Once you are moving you shouldn't have any slippage.
Hal
#14
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the pasture.
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went with a KEP PP and Sachs disk. Should be a good combo. If I don't like it, I will change it. I did not want to use a full race disc because of loading on and off the trailer and I can't imagine there being any advantage with my low HP car.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, guys. They helped me make a better informed decision.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, guys. They helped me make a better informed decision.
#15
Race Car
Below are some photos of the JWE 212mm clutch/pressure plate setup that I mentioned earlier and to which I am switching.
The complete setup weighs ~1.5 lbs less than the Kennedy 225mm lightweight Aluminum pressure plate and clutch setup I had been using. The 212mm 4 puck clutch weighs about 60% less than the 225mm 6 puck clutch I use with the Kennedy setup so pretty much all of the weight savings is in the clutch disc itself.
The entire unit is modular and user serviceable. There is no need to send the unit off to JWE to be rebuilt. The pressure plate friction surface piece is solid steel. The Kennedy unit has a billet aluminum friction plate with a coating of steel on the friction surface. I was having a lot of problems with the steel coated surface wearing through to the aluminum underneath. My active first gear setup didn't help.
The JWE clutch/pressure plate setup has been race tested over several seasons in multiple Spec 911 race cars and a 400+ HP GT2 car here in Northern California.
At $1350 retail (including throwout bearing), the JWE clutch/pressure plate setup is not inexpensive. But, with the overall light weight, low spinning mass of the clutch, all steel pressure plate, and user serviceability, it was an easy decision to purchase this setup for my race car.
The complete setup weighs ~1.5 lbs less than the Kennedy 225mm lightweight Aluminum pressure plate and clutch setup I had been using. The 212mm 4 puck clutch weighs about 60% less than the 225mm 6 puck clutch I use with the Kennedy setup so pretty much all of the weight savings is in the clutch disc itself.
The entire unit is modular and user serviceable. There is no need to send the unit off to JWE to be rebuilt. The pressure plate friction surface piece is solid steel. The Kennedy unit has a billet aluminum friction plate with a coating of steel on the friction surface. I was having a lot of problems with the steel coated surface wearing through to the aluminum underneath. My active first gear setup didn't help.
The JWE clutch/pressure plate setup has been race tested over several seasons in multiple Spec 911 race cars and a 400+ HP GT2 car here in Northern California.
At $1350 retail (including throwout bearing), the JWE clutch/pressure plate setup is not inexpensive. But, with the overall light weight, low spinning mass of the clutch, all steel pressure plate, and user serviceability, it was an easy decision to purchase this setup for my race car.