I am looking at clutch options.

Marlin Crawler has a standard clutch kit for $199
and a Ceramic clutch kit for $275.

I was planning on going for the ceramic clutch kit.

Has anybody run this clutch?
Any reason I should not run this clutch?
To me, $75 is a moot point if I can get a better clutch.

Thanks for you input!

 

i think the HD regular clutch would work best in most cases. save the ceramic for racing purposes, they tend to work more like an on/off switch and really chatter if you try to feather it.

 

I agree, the ceramics clutches & brakes are great for racing, but are just too darned much trouble for everyday use. I have a freind who installed ceramic brakes and they chatter like CRAZY!

 

yeah, ceramics however from what ive heard last a lot longer than a standard clutch in the same applications. The new porsche carerra gt has a ceramic clutch to give it longer life, and better holding power. You're better off on a hd clutch for driveability purposes.

 

ceramic brakes "chatter" ?? Well good thing i didnt throw those things on a few weeks ago! I was this close to getting them too!

 

when you put ceramic matrix pads on steel rotors they can chatter. porches ceramic brakes are actually not pads, but the rotors themselves are a ceramic/metal matrix composite. quite high tech. i don't know about their ceramic clutch though, but it could be the same technology.

 

good to know!! i will remember that when i do my brakes again, no ceramic pads!

 

a ceramic clutch is for a high horsepower application, and is going to be very grabby and rough to drive on the street. Go with the standard clutch.

 

Ceramic would be good if you have a crawler, but is going to be too grabby for 'wheeling without one.

 

I think everyone would be surprised at how easy marlins ceramic clutch is to drive.

I just installed a marlin ceramic clutch in my '93 pickup a week ago and have about 200 miles on it. I love it. I notice a small amount of chatter when in reverse but none in any foward gears. It locks hard, but engagement is smooth. If i slip it while taking off or shifting it makes a slight chirp noise but there is absolutely no chatering, jerking or bucking.

I have driven the truck with the oem clutch, replaced the oem clutch with a napa clutch at 105K and now at 130K put in the marlin ceramic. The marlin clutch is much, much smoother than the POS napa clutch and probably as easy to drive as the oem clutch after a couple trips around town to get used to it.

 

my bro has a centerforce 2 clutch in his and it had held up very well, look at those as well.

 

I went through 3 Centerforce clutchs in my FJ40 (I have a stock engine with an SM420) before I took it out and put in a cheap Napa 11" clutch...

The cheap napa 11" clutch has outlasted all 3 centerforce clutches, and I BEAT on that rig.

I do plan on putting in a single gear driven t-case with 4:1 or 4.70:1 gears at some point (moderate wheeling).
This is why I am considering the ceramic.

BUt this rig is going to be a DD/moderate wheeling rig.
While the FJ40 is going to be the beating rig.

 

I have had ceramic brake pads on my 4runner for about six months w/out any squeal or chattering. I don't know anything about a ceramic clutch though.