Performance Clutch Kits: The World at Your Feet

This article originally appeared in the April 2025 issue of THE SHOP magazine.

There is a “loud pedal” in performance cars and a “whoa pedal.” If those are the gas and brake pedals, respectively, what is the nickname of the clutch pedal?

Most people call it the “third pedal,” and professionals understand it can help shift them to a better bottom line. Why? Because clutches and their related parts are a big constant in the street and racing industries, even if you don’t see them nearly as often in today’s passenger vehicles.

Big horsepower numbers and the dual demands of the street and racetrack are driving the modern performance clutch market. Suppliers offer updates on other industry influences, plus selling tips and hot new parts to give that third pedal the attention it deserves.

HOLD THE HORSEPOWER

Several key factors are currently driving the performance clutch aftermarket.

“One is the growth of motorsports and enthusiast communities—Formula Drift, Time Attack and drag racing are gaining traction, increasing demand for high-performance clutch systems,” says Rich Barsamian, vice president sales & marketing for Advanced Clutch Technology. “Grassroots motorsports and track day events encourage enthusiasts to upgrade from stock clutches.”

But it doesn’t end there. Barsamian identifies other driving factors, including:

• Rising power and torque levels in modern vehicles.
• Aftermarket performance boom (tuning culture).
• Growing off-road and overlanding segments.
• Electric vehicle and hybrid influences.
• Stricter emission regulations and manual transmission preservation.
• Social media and content creators driving trends.

While the automotive landscape may be constantly changing, performance clutches will always have a place, says Teddy Jernigan, technical coordinator for Exedy Globalparts Corp.

“Increases in shipping and material costs as well as an increase in demand for EVs have been driving the shape of the market recently,” he notes. “However, performance vehicles have always been in high demand. Those factors have fostered competition and innovation, and because of this, consumers will find more options than ever in the performance clutch market.”

Many of today’s performance clutch customers are seeking versatile setups that offer drivability on the street and performance on the track.

“The explosion in popularity and coverage/participation of Drag and Drive events is one example where enthusiasts are placing more and more emphasis on performance parts that will get them quicker ETs, but also be able to withstand hundreds of road miles and be mild-mannered enough to be at least somewhat streetable,” says Trent McGee, marketing manager of Centerforce Clutches, a division of Midway Industries. “In the clutch world, this is a challenging set of demands to meet—being able to provide the holding capacity of high-horsepower applications while still providing the drivability needed for street use. Autocrossing is also extremely popular these days. These are among the reasons why we’ve seen a big rise in the popularity of our twin-disc product lines.”

A trend in upgrading to 5- and 6-speed manual transmissions is also increasing demand, says Mike Norcia, marketing manager at RAM Clutches.

“This could be folks restoring older cars and doing upgrades to the driveline or just cars being built from scratch. We are also seeing a huge increase in Drag and Drive cars using manual transmissions.”

Many drivers love an upgraded clutch because the products make a noticeable difference, says Will Baty, off road/engineering specialist/product development/sales at Wharton Automotive Group, which includes McLeod Clutches, FTI Performance, Silver Sport Transmission and Competition Clutch.

“There are several factors contributing to the demand of a performance clutch. Some are simply inadequate OEM clutches,” he says. “From A-Z, the industry has found ways to build and produce engines that achieve power levels that far exceed the OEM clutch capabilities.”

And let’s not forget, they’re just plain fun.

“More people are seeking more manuals to drive for the experience—the visceral connection with the vehicle,” says Geoff Gerko, owner of Mantic Clutch USA.

ACCURATE CLUTCH INFORMATION

McGee notes that, years ago, auto-related magazines were a main source of information about the performance clutch market. That role now goes mainly to content creators and social media influencers.

And, while interest and excitement are high, the information being shared may not always be 100% accurate. That makes the shop’s role as a local clutch expert even more vital.

“In terms of selling, it’s extremely important to educate the customer about the benefits and potential drawbacks of various performance clutch designs,” McGee explains. “For example, a twin-disc clutch is going to be a little noisier and may be a bit ‘grabbier’ than a traditional single-disc clutch, but they can offer double the holding capacity. Managing a customer’s expectations is an important factor in the selling process.”

As such, shops need to be asking questions regarding the driver’s plans.

“The most common mistake shops make when selling or installing a performance clutch is selling the wrong clutch for the application. Many shops focus only on horsepower and torque ratings, ignoring other critical factors like driving style, vehicle weight, gearing and intended use (street, track, off-road, etc.),” says Barsamian. “Customers often end up with a clutch that’s too aggressive for daily driving or too weak for high-performance use, leading to complaints about drivability, premature wear or failure.”

Gerko warns against shops “choosing the wrong clutch for the application” and “not getting enough torque capacity for the power goal” as common issues to avoid.

Norcia recommends being intentional when quizzing potential customers about their applications and expectations.

“If we don’t properly understand how the customer intends to use the vehicle and how they want the car to drive, it is very easy for them to purchase the wrong parts and not be happy with the end results.”

That can also carry over to installations, such as not taking time in the beginning to measure and fit the clutch to the car, he adds.

“Aftermarket clutches, along with transmission swaps, are not always bolt-in items, and with today’s internal hydraulic slave cylinders or aftermarket hydraulic bearings, it is critical to get the setup height correct to avoid having to go back in a second time and troubleshoot the installation,” Norcia explains.

Jernigan notes that when selecting the proper clutch, some of the decisions that need to be made include single or multi-plate, sprung hub or rigid disk, and organic or metallic friction.

“Understanding the torque output and intended use of the vehicle are the keys,” he says, providing an example. “I was recently contacted by a shop that installed a Hyper Twin Disc in a mostly stock vehicle. Their customer was having difficulty shifting at low rpm without stalling the vehicle and this led to them shifting at high rpm and eventually the transmission input shaft broke. The clutch was engaging too hard for the stock drivetrain. I helped them to choose a Stage 1 organic clutch that was a much better fit for the vehicle.”

One positive, Baty says, is that when issues arise, retailers and installers don’t have to go it alone.

“Regardless of product, we believe a shop should know the product they are providing and, more importantly, know the overall intended use of their customers’ builds,” he says. “We are only a phone call away if a shop needs any additional guidance when suggesting products for their customer’s vehicle. Work with us to help provide the correct product.”

A PERFECT MATCH

When it comes to sales strategies for performance clutch systems and components, shops begin in a good place, knowing the upgrades will make a real difference.

“Always stress to customers that the right performance clutch will perform better than an OE clutch. It can take advantage of the lighter mass. You just have to choose the right one,” says Gerko from Mantic Clutch USA.

Exedy’s Jernigan says that, while a clutch may not affect the torque output of the engine, it can make a big difference in overall performance and driver experience.

“Many stock clutches operate at or very near their limit, so depending on the vehicle, even a minor performance upgrade would benefit from a performance clutch,” he says.

Baty from Wharton Automotive Group proposes sharing testimonials from other customers that have used the particular product or brand you’re recommending.

“People like to know that others have had success using the same clutch/product they are interested in. I would also suggest having knowledge of the product and the brand. The more you know and understand about a particular product, the easier it is to sell.”

Sales become simpler once shops get to know specific vehicles, their clutches and their release systems, says Norcia from RAM Clutches.

“If you understand the application, it is much easier to explain and sell a clutch system and have the customer be confident in your recommendations and abilities,” he says. “Also, keep good notes on each vehicle installation for future reference.”

Barsamian from Advanced Clutch Technology offers a list of steps to ensure a successful sale:

• Ask the right questions.
• Showcase real-world performance through testimonials, case studies and dyno results.
• Offer clutch packages that bundle a clutch, flywheel and hydraulics for a complete upgrade.
• Highlight maintenance and longevity.
• Leverage social media and content marketing such as short videos, Instagram reels or blog posts.
• Partner with local racers or influencers.
• Train your team.

“Ensure your staff understands torque ratings, friction materials and engagement characteristics so they can confidently recommend the best clutch for each customer’s needs,” he says.

Finally, never be afraid of reaching out to a wide customer base, says McGee from Centerforce.

“Many shops tend to specialize in a particular niche of the market, such as late-model muscle or sport compact. They might even specialize in a particular vehicle make. That’s perfectly OK and even advantageous in many ways, but taking steps to appeal to customers outside of a particular specialty niche is a good idea,” he states. “If you can access clutches for domestic muscle or a particular make, it’s a safe bet you have access to clutches that work for a variety of other niches and makes as well. Just because you specialize in one particular niche doesn’t mean you can’t be the go-to in your area for parts that appeal to other outside niches.”

PERFORMANCE CLUTCH OFFERINGS

HOT PRODUCT: 10.5-Inch Mod-Twin Clutch
FEATURES & BENEFITS: Available for domestic applications; 225mm Mod-Twin Clutch serves the sport compact market; holds high power up to 1,500 pound-feet of torque at the crank; better pedal feel than stock; handles high heat temperatures and hard launches.
Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT)
Rich Barsamian
Vice President Sales & Marketing

HOT PRODUCT: Solid Street Twin (SST) Clutch
FEATURES & BENEFITS: Entry-level twin disc with high holding capacity at an attractive price point; anti-rattle floater system; discs with solid hubs for more positive engagement; street friendly; includes a lightened steel flywheel; holds up to 925 pound-feet of torque.
Centerforce Clutches
Trent McGee
Marketing Manager

HOT PRODUCTS: Hyper Series Clutches
FEATURES & BENEFITS: High transmitted torque; high heat resistance; quick acceleration response; handle a lot of power and last a long time; rebuildable; many twin-plate clutches can be upgraded to triple plates.
Exedy Globalparts Corp.
Teddy Jernigan
Technical Coordinator

HOT PRODUCT: 9000 Series Twin Disc Clutch
FEATURES & BENEFITS: New for the 2024-25 Dark Horse Mustang; light aluminum flywheel, hydraulic bearing and hardware included; torque capacity good for 820 pound-feet at the tires; drives like the OE clutch in effort and ease of drivability; lighter mass to rev up quicker.
Mantic Clutch USA
Geoff Gerko
Owner

HOT PRODUCTS: Concept 10.5 Dual-Disc Systems for Mustang GT350
FEATURES & BENEFITS: All-inclusive packages include all components and a RAM hydraulic bearing that provides a more linear and much better pedal feel and release point than the factory hydraulic slave cylinder; sprung hub top disc helps dampen initial engagement.
RAM Clutches
Mike Norcia
Marketing Manager

HOT PRODUCTS: Competition Clutch 184, 200 & 245 Series
FEATURES & BENEFITS: Performance clutch lines; 184 and 200 Series are billet design available in single-, twin- and triple-disc variations with a holding capacity up to 2,500 hp; new 184 Series clutches have already set new speed and ET records.
Wharton Automotive Group
Will Baty
Off Road/Engineering Specialist/Product Development/Sales