Ford GT 2006 Clutch Replacement Advice Needed

[Daniel_Iaciu]

Hello, I have a newly acquired Ford GT 2006 coming in soon! I was looking for replacement clutch kits and I see there's an OEM alternative coming as a kit with everything you need for the service, but I see SPEC also offers an aftermarket alternative for high power applications. The Ford GT I ordered is a Whipple 4.0 setup, so would it be worth it to go with the SPEC aftermarket alternative, or go with stock? Links for both below.

Stock: https://www.fordracingbyspeedshopdi...DUCTION_CLUTCH_KIT_M_7560_GT_p/m-7560-gt.htm=

SPEC Aftermarket Clutch:

SPEC Super Twin Clutch Kit E-Trim: Ford GT 5.4L #SGTET

SPEC Super Twin Clutch Kit E-Trim: Ford GT 5.4L #SGTET

www.lmperformance.com

 

[GT@50]

The E trim says for limited street driving, SS trim for a little extra over stock
You can probably get a clutch set, pilot, flywheel and slave from Ford for less than that add. They say the OEM clutch does well to 700HP and even if it doesn't, it's a better sacrificial component than the trans

 

[nota4re]

We've installed quite a few of the Spec clutches as well as the OEM clutches. I'd recommend the OEM clutch for anything 800 RWHP or less. Just a consistently good overall clutch.

 

[Daniel_Iaciu]

The E trim says for limited street driving, SS trim for a little extra over stock
You can probably get a clutch set, pilot, flywheel and slave from Ford for less than that add. They say the OEM clutch does well to 700HP and even if it doesn't, it's a better sacrificial component than the trans

Okay, thank you, I'll look from Ford Directly to see if I may find the OEM parts for cheaper then

 

[Daniel_Iaciu]

We've installed quite a few of the Spec clutches as well as the OEM clutches. I'd recommend the OEM clutch for anything 800 RWHP or less. Just a consistently good overall clutch.

Would you know roughly how long the OEM clutch lasts in something with 700-ish Wheel HP? I'm asking in the context of daily driving, not track driving, just so I have an idea what it's like.

 

[Specracer]

Track use has little to do with wear of a clutch, if driven well (assuming road racing and not a drag launch). Its more about how the drivers left foot is to the clutch and its release.

 

[Daniel_Iaciu]

Track use has little to do with wear of a clutch, if driven well (assuming road racing and not a drag launch). Its more about how the drivers left foot is to the clutch and its release.

I just purchased the GT and haven't had much of an actual go in it yet. How is the clutch on it? Does it engage intuitively? And about how much gas is ideal to get it moving without overly wearing it from letting it slip?

 

[extrap]

I just purchased the GT and haven't had much of an actual go in it yet. How is the clutch on it? Does it engage intuitively? And about how much gas is ideal to get it moving without overly wearing it from letting it slip?

The amount of gas pedal needed and the clutch effort and engagement is just like a regular car that's new or in good shape ... that is to say, easy. No quirkiness

 

[Daniel_Iaciu]

The amount of gas pedal needed and the clutch effort and engagement is just like a regular car that's new or in good shape ... that is to say, easy. No quirkiness

Awesome, thanks for info. Was worried it would be exactly that, Quirky.

 

[Specracer]

The clutch is perfectly "normal".

So if you have not even driven your new to you car, why are you clutch shopping?

 

[Daniel_Iaciu]

The clutch is perfectly "normal".

So if you have not even driven your new to you car, why are you clutch shopping?

I bought the car from Germany, and live in Romania, so in the case something is worn out or needs changing it takes about 3-6 weeks for it to arrive this side. I basically stack up on consumables and potential points of failure to avoid having the car sit waiting is something fails. (I have a 2020 GT500 I also do that with) the tranny cooler line failed early on it I had to wait 1 month and a half for the aftermarket cooler line. Turns out it's a known issue that had I googled a bit, I would've known to pre-empively prepare, so I'm staying on the trend on being prepared since a clutch will definitely wear out (the GT I bought is at 16.5k Miles on original clutch).

 

[Specracer]

Understood, for whats its worth, mine has ~17k miles and is still fine. As stated, all depends on how it was driven. Side note, be sure the 1st time you drive it, you actually get into 1st gear. There is a detent, where you really need to pull to the left to actually get into 1st. Many have shortened their clutch life by starting off in 3rd, and roasting it in the process.

Welcome to the forum, and enjoy the car!

 

[Daniel_Iaciu]

Understood, for whats its worth, mine has ~17k miles and is still fine. As stated, all depends on how it was driven. Side note, be sure the 1st time you drive it, you actually get into 1st gear. There is a detent, where you really need to pull to the left to actually get into 1st. Many have shortened their clutch life by starting off in 3rd, and roasting it in the process.

Welcome to the forum, and enjoy the car!

I'll watch out for that!

 

[PeteK]

I'll differ somewhat. The clutch works smoothly, as others have said, but I find the engagement point is higher than most. That 's not a big deal after you get used to it. The other difference is that the 1st gear is very tall compared to other manual transmissions. Ford geared it high so that the driver did not need to shift to 2nd to get to 60MPH, and they could get a very fast 0-60 time for advertising and bragging rights. Therefore it takes more slipping to get going in 1st.

I take it easy getting started in 1st, partly to be easy on the clutch, and partly because launching it hard in 1st will result in wheel spin. I save full throttle until 2nd or 3rd and above.

I have over 90,000 miles on my FGT and the clutch is still smooth and locks up firmly. You do not need to order clutch replacement parts anytime soon.

 

[Daniel_Iaciu]

I'll differ somewhat. The clutch works smoothly, as others have said, but I find the engagement point is higher than most. That 's not a big deal after you get used to it. The other difference is that the 1st gear is very tall compared to other manual transmissions. Ford geared it high so that the driver did not need to shift to 2nd to get to 60MPH, and they could get a very fast 0-60 time for advertising and bragging rights. Therefore it takes more slipping to get going in 1st.

I take it easy getting started in 1st, partly to be easy on the clutch, and partly because launching it hard in 1st will result in wheel spin. I save full throttle until 2nd or 3rd and above.

I have over 90,000 miles on my FGT and the clutch is still smooth and locks up firmly. You do not need to order clutch replacement parts anytime soon.

Wow! 90,000 Miles is incredible on a GT! congrats on fully enjoying the car how it was meant to be enjoyed! I'm glad to hear that the clutch can last so long, as it's not particularly cheap to replace (luckily nowhere near as bad as other supercars would be still ).

 

[2112]

I thought the OEM clutch was no longer available?

 

[nota4re]

I thought the OEM clutch was no longer available?

It's been available mostly continuously. Ford contract is with AP Racing and when supply gets low they just order up some more...

 

[2112]

It's been available mostly continuously. Ford contract is with AP Racing and when supply gets low they just order up some more...

Ok, I must have checked when inventory was low or out.

 

[69b302]

I swapped out my SPEC for an OEM clutch last winter. I would only go with SPEC if you know your HP level will required it. The OEM clutch drives much better IMO. The OEM clutch disappeared from the OEM Ford parts system, a while back, and I got my OEM replacement from the GT godfather. Sounds like the same clutch is still avialable via Ford Racing.

 

[nota4re]

Ford has plenty of clutches. I've purchased 5 or 6 in the past 90 days...