The bottom line here is you get what you pay for.

Four months ago I purchased a Spec 3 + kit, the kit comes with the alignment tool, clutch, and pressure plate. From the first moment it was installed things were just not quite right. Gear engagment was difficult, the clucth slipped even though it was rated for 550ft lbs and my car only makes 424ft lbs. There was excessive chatter and the car vibrated badly. To remedy the clucth engagment disengagment issues i also purchased the zzp adjustable clutch rod. After install the problem was semi remedied though not completely and at certain gears and speeds it didnt matter what I tryed. With all the technical skill and research in the world I could not make it work correctly. Verdict=dissapointed, wasted money I drove the car for 4k miles with this clutch and with 2 different transmissions.

About two weeks ago I ordered my exedy clutch and flywheel kit. Install went smoothly with no hangups. The first time I started her up after the swap was like being in a whole new car. The clucth pedal is decently stiff, engagement is quick and precise. The shifter itself finally feels like there isnt a bunch of fatties sitting on the linkages while im trying to make a gear shift. I can actually ******* DOWNSHIFT AGAIN which i must say made my day. I dont know how the exedy will hold up to my tq levels but we will see as soon as the exedy is broken in. So far Im exstatic over how smooth and crisp the car now feels. This was well worth the 1k dollar price tage, not spending the extra from the start cost me much more in the end, time/money. Verdict=fantastic, performs as advertised


There is alot more I could say about both of these clutches, if anyone has any questions let me know.

 

what level of clutch did you purchase?
If there is more than 1 stage of this exedy, whats rcommended for under 350 lbs............
links maybe?

 

I had a spec 3 +, Now i have the exedy stage 3

 

Did you do the SPEC flywheel with the Stage 3+ or keep the stocker? Just curious 'cause my SPEC 2+ is fine with their LW FW & the ZZP rod.

 

Yea got the same clutch excedy stage 3. Are u using the zzp adjustable push rod If so did it help at all?

 

Yes the zzp adjustable rod is something you really need for both.(had it with both clutches) No i bought a new stock flywheel when I put in the spec 3 plus, they told me that would be fine.

 

I've had good luck with the SPEC Stage 2+ rated at 430 ft/lbs, I'm around 380-400 wtq so I'm fine. It only chatters a bit when it gets hot in stop & go traffic. I'm not a big fan of the LW FW though on the LNF, kills too easy starting out til you get used to it. It's got around 12k miles on it now I think.

 

Lol yeah getting used to the exedy is tough, anything from a stop on any kind of incline i gotta chirp the tires to keep from just stalling. There really isnt much engament zone to play with.

 

So no slipping it in reverse to get out of a driveway. lol

I'll have to feel the engagement this weekend

 

Its no big deal though cause I can actually get it into reverse with no effort, with the spec getting it into reverse was an adventure

 

I didnt wanna get an aftermarket clutch so soon but might have to get one really soon

I wont be getting the spec one then thanks for the heads up, I just want one that feels somewhat like stock

 

I wouldnt say either of them feel like stock, I will say between the two specific setups I have the exedy is incredibly smooth when Im shifting, where the spec even with the adjustable rod never wanted to go into gear easily.

 

Off the line though the spec had more play and since I was using the stock flywheel more momentum. The exedy is taking some used to from a stop, have stalled twice since the install

 

Ive said it before and will say it again

Spec blows

Very happy with my Clutchmasters almost bought an Exedy

 

I agree, really loving the way the exedy setup feels.

 

Thanks for the info on the push rod will be getting soon

 

No problem just here to share my expierence. It makes a huge difference to start out the swap with all the things you need in the first place. Like that damn adjustable clutch rod. Let me tell you though, installing that ******* thing is like doing an exorcism, expect to get fucked up. My hands and wrists were so bruised and battered from the install i could barely open or close my hands the next day.

 

This seems to be par for the course for this job. You put in two clutches, but the clutch rod was the pain in the ass.

 

this is why i am paying someone to do my exedy clutch/clutchrod install. lol heard tooooooo many horror stories

 

Up to the elbows...me too!

 

I'm sorry about your bad experience about SPEC.

Although I don't have a cobalt, I should say my experience about SPEC.

I had my SPEC stage 3+ with SPEC light flywheel.....last Jan 2010. I properly broke it in.

I love it, and have no issues with it. Stock feel on the cluth pedal, and transition thru gears is smooth.

Holds my 380 ft-lb with no problems. With my future greater tq level, I'm hoping that it will also have no issues

 

I was thinking about a SPEC stage 2, but now I dunno. i'll of course do some more research first.

 

You need at least a SPEC Stage2+ on an LNF. Too much torque for a Stage 2.

 

Its perfectly possible that the lightweight flywheel makes all the difference.

 

yup!