Mailbag: Choosing a New Clutch After Adding Power to Street-Strip Gen5 Camaro

Q: I am getting ready to add a supercharger, cylinder heads, and a hotter camshaft to my 2012 Chevy Camaro SS.

It’s my daily driver that I also autocross and occasionally take to the drag strip. Can you recommend a clutch that can handle the added power while maintaining good street manners and drivability?

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A: Dual-disc clutches have become a popular choice for high-horsepower street applications because of their tremendous holding power, and one of the top performers is the Centerforce DYAD clutch kit system. It stands apart due to its light pedal effort, smooth engagement, quiet operation, and massive 1,300 ft.-lbs. torque capacity.

The DYAD is a unique centrifugally assisted clutch that uses a single sprung hub to drive two 10.4-inch segmented organic material friction plates, sandwiching a positive drive floater plate. The kit includes a billet
steel flywheel, two clutch discs, cross-drilled floater, ball bearing pressure plate, and ARP hardware.

Search part number CTF-04614842 to find your application.

Additionally, Centerforce offers an upgraded hydraulic release bearing (CTF-601810) that replaces the marginal stock hydraulics.

Prior to installing any clutch kit, planning ahead with the right tools, parts, and shop supplies will make the job much easier. Specialty tools include a pilot bearing puller and clutch alignment tool (many kits include them).

Use a torque wrench to tighten fasteners to the specifications found in your service manual and clutch kit instructions. Always replace flywheel bolts and pressure plate bolts, along with the throwout bearing.

Prior to disassembly, locate a reputable shop that can resurface your flywheel to minimize downtime. Though, in many cases, purchasing a quality replacement flywheel like a LuK, ATP, or Pioneer will be similar in price to machining your stock part, with no turnaround time. In performance applications, you will need to upgrade to a flywheel that can safely handle the increased rpm and horsepower.

Inspect all clutch components — release fork, pivot ball, hydraulics, etc. — and replace as necessary.

Following clutch replacement, 500 miles of gentle stop-and-go street driving is essential for proper break-in.

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This is another in a series of weekly Q&A Mailbag sessions with Summit Racing‘s tech department, in which there are hundreds more. Click here to see more.