My clutch.....

Well here is my SPEC 3 Clutch after MUCH abuse and 25k+ miles.. I think it's actually 35k+ miles on this clutch. It has about 2 mm of pad left on both sides. I was prompted to swap the clutch when the throwout bearing failed. It split apart in about a dozen pieces. The metal balls in the bearing seized up and that caused it to come apart. Some of the balls look like sheared off metal tear drops. My clutch fork also took a beating.

I did try the unthinkable and bought a AUTOZONE clutch, but it did not work anyways. It was a 10.5inch clutch. In 2003/2004 Ford started using the 11inch clutch in the GT's. Unfortnately Autozone, Napa, Car Quest, Kragen and Pepboys either don't carry the 03/04 clutches, or they are listing them under the same part number as the 99~02 GT's, which use a 10.5inch clutch.

BTW if your wondering what kind of abuse this clutch went thru....
I taught 5 people how to drive a stick shift. Plus I spend alot of time driving up and down from Sacramento to Tahoe & Reno. Meaning lots of mountain driving, side roads and power sliding, ..lots of fun. And I also spent alot of time in San Fransico, in stop and go traffic while up or down hills. And this clutch also had about 40+ or so passes down the 1/4mile strip.


http://www.silverstangs.net/tech/clutch/clutch1.jpg
http://www.silverstangs.net/tech/clutch/clutch2.jpg
http://www.silverstangs.net/tech/clutch/clutch3.jpg
http://www.silverstangs.net/tech/clutch/clutch4.jpg

give her a good burial

Wow, those rivits look damn close to me. Going with another Spec?

Wow, those rivits look damn close to me. Going with another Spec?


I am thinking about it. I kinda want to give centerforce another shot thou, since I have used them also in the past. The version is Centerforce LMC 4.6L 280 SOHC GT w/TR3650 TRANS. LM800075 TOB N1714. vs Spec Stage 3 with the lightweight option.

Hard choice.....

My advice is to stay away from Spec's T/O bearing. I have heard many complaints from Mustangs guys who love Spec clucthes that their T/O bearings are junk.

My advice is to stay away from Spec's T/O bearing. I have heard many complaints from Mustangs guys who love Spec clucthes that their T/O bearings are junk.


I actuallyed used a Ford T/O bearing. I heard the same thing about the Spec one's causing failures. But I also been told that the Ford one's can't take some of the harder clutches.

I actuallyed used a Ford T/O bearing. I heard the same thing about the Spec one's causing failures. But I also been told that the Ford one's can't take some of the harder clutches.

Which one from Ford did you use? there is a standard OEM one and a Heavy Duty one. If you didn't use the HD one maybe that is something you can look into?

I have never had a problem wit a Centerforce T/O bearing. I usually use centerforce DF clutches but this time I'm gonna being running a Spec 3 but use a Centerforce T/O bearing. So we'll see how that goes...