Centerforce Clutch Review

[MSparks909]

Review of my Centerforce "Dual Friction" clutch after 600 miles:
Pros: Clutch grabs so much more positively than my worn out one. I didn't realize how much the old one was worn until after driving with the new one. I cannot start out in 2nd anymore like I used to with the old clutch. I have to use granny gear first because I have to slip the clutch too much to start in 2nd. I'm hoping to have this clutch last me roughly 100K miles if not more.
Cons: Sumbitch is super jumpy at low RPMs in 1st and especially R. It's a PITA to back a trailer with this clutch now without it bucking all over. If there was ever a case for unlockable hubs and 2WD Low this is it. If you keep the revs up to 1200ish it doesn't hop bad but that's not a great speed for slow speed trailer finesse. I just use 4Low and deal with the hard steering and driveline bind while backing on pavement. Rather do that than slip the brand new clutch.

Haven't towed anything heavy yet. Will probably do that in another week or so. Will post updates to how the clutch holds up over time.

[06wagon]

So far are you happy with it? I was thinking of one for my puller...

[TrueCowboy426]

So far are you happy with it? I was thinking of one for my puller...

Same here. I going to be putting a clutch in mine come mid summer/fall, and looking upgrade vs going stock again.

[MSparks909]

I'm happy with it so far. I'll be towing 6,500 pounds with the truck this weekend on the new 37'. I'll do some full throttle pulls in 3rd/4th gears and see if I feel any slippage. I doubt I will but I'll let you know if I do. I felt some slight slippage at high RPM's when towing 8-10K pounds with my old clutch. Not much, but it was there. I think this clutch is one of the best options for our trucks right now. One of the only aftermarket options that's better than stock really.

[TwinStick]

So, how are you digging it so far ??? How long will a clutch last after you can smell it ?

[06wagon]

I've got 68k on my factory clutc with about 60-70 sled hooks to it. Coming out of the hole from 2000 rpms to 3500-4000 rpms. A couple times I slipped it more than I should have, got a good odor, but it still held.

[TrueCowboy426]

Looking forward to hearing how Miles likes his clutch with a few more miles.

My clutch isn't that old (~20,000 miles on it) but at a pull last fall, that there was a pretty good haze in the air, and the announcer in the booth (80' away from the track, elevated in a booth) commented that on the nice clutch smell. I did get second though So far it's still holding, but I definitely know it's hurt, and doesn't have the quick hook/engagement it did have.

[TwinStick]

Yeah, i got some purty good smell from mine last night. Leaving work, some fine person was on their cell phone not paying attention, so i floored it in 2nd to avoid them hitting me. A bad day all the way around for me yesterday & that just topped it off. I hope i got some life left in it. Have to be gentle towing this year with it. Muffler is about shot too.

[MSparks909]

I'm really liking the clutch so far. Have about 1,500 miles on it now. Have towed 5,000 pounds several times. No slipping at high RPMs like the old clutch. Thing is super grabby. I have to start in 1st with these 37's where I could start in 2nd with my old clutch because it didn't grab near as much. There is some minor bucking at low RPMs in R when backing a trailer but if you keep the RPMs while backing around 1,000 or higher its fine. Truck is going back to the shop tomorrow though. I think I got a defective throw out bearing. It makes quite the noise with the clutch engaged!

[TwinStick]

Did you have to replace the flywheel ? What kinda price am i looking at, for the clutch & then for the labor ??? Any idea ???

[06wagon]

What kind of mileage or treatment did they tell you for break in?

[MSparks909]

Twin: Parts were around $500. Labor was about $500 as well (in my case at least). How many miles do you have? Unless you have serious slippage I would hold off on replacing it. Not needed IMO. I made it to 90K, 50K of those miles were with 37's. Towed anywhere from 4-10K on a regular basis. Did just fine. Only reason I replaced it was because I took it to the shop to have my throwout bearing replaced and they recommended I replace it. They re-used my original flywheel.

06: Centerforce recommended street driving for a couple hundred miles to break it in. No long interstate drives or anything. I tried to heed their break-in advice but I ended up just driving how I normally do. 80+ mile highway trips around 60mph with some stop-and-go traffic through small towns. Didn't do any full throttle runs until I had a couple hundred miles on it.

[TwinStick]

Thanks. Only 31,500 miles on mine. Mostly towing at max load. I pulled a 2500HD out of a deep, long, snowdrift once. Thought i put it in Lo range but i forgot to & was actually in Hi range. Used 2nd gear & romped it. I could smell it then. It pulled him out alright, at about 30 mph in reverse. It's been squaking ever since then, about 20,000 miles.

[08TwinStickPW]

How bout an update on this, might need a new one and might upgrade to a center force.

[MSparks909]

Clutch is still doing good. Towed 2200 miles round trip from NC to the FL Keys with a 4K pound boat. Clutch did excellent. Have also towed 12K about 20 miles. Overweight, but I had to get it moved for a friend. Clutch didn't slip then either, which surprised me. Heavy throttle and towing + 37" Toyo's would make my old clutch slip. Centerforce is good to go so far. Still "grabby" in R when backing a trailer but not a huge deal. The one thing I don't like is the noise at idle. Sounds like someone is shaking a miracca(sp?) next to the truck.

[08TwinStickPW]

Thanks for the update, my only concern with the Centerforce is the "grabby" felling and other reviews that say its more of an on/off clutch with no slipping.

Like you stated it make slow maneuvering a bit difficult, how is the clutch with out the trailer/load?