The information presented in the following pages is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, Midway Industries, inc. Centerforce ® is not responsible for any inaccuracies that may be found.
WARNING!
Dust hazard. Centerforce ® does not use friction materials that contain asbestos. However; older non-Centerforce clutches may be have been formulated with these materials. Breathing dusts from these products has been linked to lung disease and cancer hazards. To reduce your risks of serious injury:
Avoide creating and breathing clutch/friction dusts during replacement work. Wear a high-efficiency mask or dust respirator during cleaning if you are unsure whether clutch/friction dusts may contain asbestos fibers. Wet surfaces with either water or brake cleaner and use rags to clean if necessary. Properly dispose of rags in an air-tight container.
Never grind or use compressed air in and around friction products. Read and follow all clutch-related instructions and warnings in your vehicle service manual
Which Centerforce clutch system is best for my vehicle?
It is important to match the proper Centerforce clutch system with the vehicle and its intended use!
To answer this question properly, several things must be taken into consideration.
- What are the vehicles' make, model, year and engine size?
- What is the vehicle used for? (daily driving, towing, off road, competition use, etc.).
- What type of changes have been made to the vehicle?
- Is the engine stock or has it been modified? If the engine has been modified, to what extent? (hi flow filter, computer chip, exhaust modifications, super chargers, nitrous, etc.).
- Have any driveline changes been made? (different size tires, different gear ratio, etc.).
- Has any extra equipment (weight) been added to the vehicle? (camper, winch, tube bumper, roll cage, etc.).
My application is not listed in the Centerforce catalog, what should I do?
The Centerforce catalog is one of the most extensive and complete aftermarket performance clutch publications available. We are continually making changes and adding in new applications. If a particular application is not found in the Centerforce catalog, please contact our Centerforce at (928) 771-8422 for possible new releases or additions. Also, our research and development department may be able to custom build/modify your supplied parts for other special applications not listed in the Centerforce catalog. This service is especially helpful on exotic and specialty type vehicles. Please feel free to contact our technical department at (928) 771-8422 regarding these special services.
What type of flywheel is best recommended for my application?
Our friction materials are designed to be used with the stock flywheel, aftermarket steel billet flywheels, or aluminum flywheels with steel insert heat shields. If you are replacing your stock O.E.M. Flywheel, be sure that the new flywheel meets the same specifications, such as ring gear tooth count, flywheel thickness, ring gear offset, etc. All billet Centerforce flywheels are designed to meet standard O.E.M. Specifications, and are S.F.I. Approved.
Are Centerforce clutches repairable or rebuildable?
In order to maintain proper clutch service, it is not recommended to rebuild patented Centerforce clutches. However, repair may be possible in some cases by Centerforce, after inspection of the assembly. Please contact our technical department at (928) 771-8422 for further information.
How long can I expect my new Centerforce clutch to last me?
All patented Centerforce products are designed with longevity in mind, however, clutch life will greatly depend on the vehicle, your type of driving and output of the engine. For example a vehicle driven in heavy stop and go traffic will have a shorter clutch life than the same vehicle that is driven on the open highway. Regarding trucks with oversized diameter tires, they will typically get less clutch life than a truck with stock tire size.
Note: appropriate final drive gear ratio changes are necessary and will greatly aid driveline longevity (including the clutch) on vehicles carrying heavy loads or using oversized diameter tires.
Does the Centerforce clutch system weigh less than the stock O.E.M. clutch I am replacing?
Typically, the weight of the patented Centerforce clutch assembly will be very similar to the weight of a stock O.E.M. Clutch assembly. If rotating mass (weight) is a concern, Centerforce manufactures a light weight clutch assembly designed specifically for competition use. Available in limited applications the Centerforce LMC (Light Metal Clutch) Series saves a considerable amount of weight when compared to conventional clutch systems. Please note, these light weight clutches are intended for competition use and are not recommended for street applications.
Can a new dual friction disc be purchased separately?
Dual Friction discs are custom built and designed to be used with specific pressure plate assemblies. The pressure plate assembly and clutch disc should always be replaced as a matched set. If the disc has worn out, so has the pressure plate. In some cases a dual friction disc is available separately due to changing of the transmission and/or input shaft dimensions.
Does Centerforce require the flywheel to be resurfaced before installing a new clutch?
Yes! Flywheels are subject to heat, scoring and warping during use; therefore the flywheel should always be properly resurfaced or replaced to assure good clutch performance. Resurfacing must be performed on a qualified flywheel grinding machine. Centerforce does not recommend resurfacing flywheels on a lathe or a blanchard grinder. Also, be aware that using a hand-held electric or pneumatic grinder/sander or scuffing the surface with sandpaper does not constitute a properly resurfaced flywheel. Refer to your factory service manual for specifics on your vehicle regarding flywheel resurfacing and specifications (flat, step, etc.). Some vehicles require new replacement flywheels instead of resurfacing. Please consult the factory service manual or call our tech. Line at (928) 771-8422 if you have any questions
Is it necessary to use the alignment dowel pins on my flywheel?
On flywheels that originally use alignment dowel pins, the answer is yes! The alignment dowel pins properly locate the pressure plate to the flywheel for balance purposes as well as add pressure plate to flywheel shear strength. The alignment dowel pins should always be replaced if they are damaged, broken off, or missing from the flywheel.
What type of pressure plate bolts should be used with my Centerforce clutch?
Centerforce clutches are designed to be used with stock O.E.M. Style bolts or aftermarket bolts designed specifically for pressure plate retention. Clutch hardware must endure high loads, be sure replacement bolts are of high quality and match stock O.E.M. Bolt configuration, (i.e. If stock bolts are shouldered, replacement bolts should be shouldered too).
What are the clutch bolt torque specifications?
Bolt torque value should be determined by the bolt manufacturer or if using stock O.E.M. Bolts, refer to your vehicles service manual for proper torque specifications. Proper torque is crucial to your safety, take the time to get the correct pressure plate assembly and flywheel bolt torque specifications and tighten the bolts correctly using a high quality torque wrench.
Are there any special modifications necessary to install a Centerforce clutch?
All patented Centerforce clutch assemblies are designed to be a direct bolt in replacement for the stock clutch assembly. If any of the surrounding clutch components (bellhousing, flywheel, linkage, etc) have been changed from original, be sure they match stock (O.E.M.) specifications, or contact our technical department at (928) 771-8422 for assistance.
Do Centerforce clutches require a break in period?
Yes. It is recommended to properly seat in the new pressure plate & disc assembly to assure good clutch performance. Centerforce recommends 450-500 miles of in town stop and go type of easy driving before applying full power. If your driving consists of mainly highway type use, the break in period should be longer than the 450-500 miles. If the break in period is not properly followed, clutch life and performance can be sacrificed.
How important is proper bellhousing alignment?
Bellhousing alignment is crucial for proper clutch function and reliability of the related components. Due to manufacturing tolerances of engine blocks and bellhousings, it is possible for the transmission centerline and crankshaft centerline to be misaligned. The result of this misalignment may be hard shifting, pilot bearing wear, transmission main shaft bearing wear and failure of the clutch disc hub. Please refer to your factory service manual or contact our technical department at (928) 771-8422 for proper bellhousing alignment procedure.
My new throwout bearing appears to be off center on the bearing retainer and wobbles, is it defective?
Although this may look abnormal, this bearing movement is one of its design features. Centerforce strives to supply only the best quality bearings available, for most applications we prefer to use a self aligning or self centering type throwout bearing. This bearing may appear to be off center or improperly manufactured, however, rest assured, the bearing will align and center itself properly during normal usage.
What parts in the clutch system/linkage should I inspect before installing a new clutch?
All related clutch parts should be checked for wear or possible problems. The clutch linkage starting from the clutch pedal bushings to the bell crank (z-bar) to the clutch fork and pivot ball should be inspected for wear and damage, any questionable parts should be repaired or replaced. If your vehicle uses a hydraulic linkage system, check for any hydraulic leaks as well as wear on the push and pull rods operating the hydraulics and all hoses.
Remember if you have any questions, please call ourc tech line (928) 771-8422. We would like to hear from you.