Topic: The NEW DDM Works LNF Clutch/Flywheel Review!!!!

[ryansalazan]

So in the past recent months, I've had a spec stage 3+ clutch and lightweight flywheel combanation in the sky. (LNF) I've had numerous complaints with the setup and would hate the fact that it would not disengage all of the way, which actually resulted in a slightly longer period of time, destroying a couple of my synchros. I find it odd that before the clutch install all my synchros shifted like butter, then after the clutch install, and ensuring by Spec that everything was the correct part number and spacer, my synchros became weaker and weaker.

This being a common story among many kappa members, I brought it to the attention of Dave at DDM Works. He had told me that DDM was working on their own clutch and lightweight flywheel combination to be an option that would hopefully correct any of the spec clutches failures. He asked me if I would like to try the new setup since I was in the process of having to get another transmission anyways, and I gladly accepted.

First off I would like to start off by saying the customer service at DDM works is absolutely fantastic!! They are always answering the phone, get back to my emails promptly, and are always in a great mood! Now with that being said let me carry on with the review!


My parts finally came in and look awesome! there is just something about seeing a clutch brand new that makes you go in awe! lol




As you can see, their setup consists of a aluminum lightweight flywheel and a 6 puck clutch and pressure plate.

Notice in the pressure plate that compared to the spec pressure plate, this one is alot thicker while the flywheel if a lot thinner.



Because I was already uninstalling half of the car, I figured Id get another part from DDM that is absolutely a MUST have, and thats the Backbone!



Now time for the uninstall. In taking off the messed up transmission, I saw the spec clutch in there that to be honest still seemed in pretty good shape, I dont think they were lying about how long it can last when it is a full face puck clutch.



I then just for the heck of it decided to weigh the whole spec clutch and flywheel combo just to see what the total weight was, and if the DDM setup would be any lighter. It came out to be 26.2lbs



Then before installing the DDM setup, I weighed it as well and was shocked to find out that it came to be even 3lbs LIGHTER than the spec setup!



We then installed it on the motor and proceeded to install the transmission in... (the most fun part)



Installed and in the car now with about 500 miles on it for break in, my review is this:

It is and ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE if you have the spec or are looking for a new clutch to hold power. It really does fix every problem that the Spec clutch had with it. It disengages properly, because of it being a little bit lighter it seems to go through the gears a bit quicker, and the clutch feel is much nicer, the engagement is not all the way on the floor.
I will say though the engagement point on my car was pretty high though, probably because I was just so used to it being on the floor, but its just so much better to drive. I've even noticed that the clutch chatter has been reduced as well! I will post a video of me shifting through the gears quickly real soon for a demo.

All in all this product is AWESOME and it should be the clutch to consider when you are in the market for a high performance clutch setup! And with Dave and his team at DDM with their wonderful customer service, you can ensure it will be a good customer/retailer experience!

[SKY888]

Great review!

Yes DDM Dave is the man! Excellent customer service indeed!!!'



Quick question tho... Do u know the tq capacity of this kit?

And what the 6 puck made out of?

Thanks!

[ryansalazan]

Thanks man!

From what I was told by Dave, the power or torque capacity of the DDM clutch should rival that of the spec stage 3+ or the stage 4. You might want to ask him just to be sure.

[Sly Bob]

Nice review! Almost makes me want to trade mine in for a manual. The wife won't drive the auto anyway...

[ryansalazan]

Thanks guys!

[Dave@DDMworks]

The clutch kit is available now on our website -

http://www.ddmworks.com/DDMWorks-20L-LNF-Performance-Clutch_p_478.html

Let me know if you have any other questions about it!

Thanks!
Dave

[Sol Asylum]

Nice review! Almost makes me want to trade mine in for a manual. The wife won't drive the auto anyway...

I agree, I would trade Bob's car in for a manual too.  (and it's his wife so I wouldn't have to worry about that part either )

[ryansalazan]

lol

[DeepBlueGXP]

How much pressure to push the clutch pedal as compared to stock or the Spec clutch?.  Critterman has a Spec clutch and his takes a quite bit more pressure than stock.

[ryansalazan]

I would have to say its less than spec but more than stock. I don't think it takes much pressure at all. but its more than stock. I do remember my sped clutch was quite stiffer though.

[Omiotek]

just as an FYI through YEARS of research we have found the spec clutch need some extra shimming to work. we provide a spacer to shim it out the extra space it needs. their clutchs work AWESOME when you have that.

[Dave@DDMworks]

just as an FYI through YEARS of research we have found the spec clutch need some extra shimming to work. we provide a spacer to shim it out the extra space it needs. their clutchs work AWESOME when you have that.

I am glad that you have had awesome luck with the SPEC clutches. I am not sure if we just sell and install more of them than you, but unfortunately for us and a lot of other people that have bought SPEC clutches over the years, there have been some problems with them. We have been selling, supporting and installing SPEC clutches here for years now and have had to help numerous customers with issues from their SPEC clutch. This includes people that have installed the kit as it comes or bought your spacer or simply made their own, it really didn't matter. The main issues that we have had with SPEC clutches has been with the clutches not fully releasing, but we have also had problems with the SPEC clutches releasing too easily and not holding the torque that they are supposed to. To remedy these problems it did not take a shim that was not included with the kit, but instead it was an error with the pressure plate from SPEC. Once a new pressure plate was machined and sent out, the clutch would work properly. We continue to sell and install SPEC clutches because they do work well for a lot of our customers. The SPEC clutches hold up well, have a good release point after break-in and hold a good amount of torque. The downside though has always been that sometimes with the lightweight flywheel the clutches make a resonance on decel that is noisier than some of our customers like. The other problem, before we started testing every clutch, was the possibility that the clutch would not work correctly when installed. As I am sure you know, a clutch install is not something that you want to do more than once. Since we can not change the resonance frequency of the aluminum flywheel that SPEC uses we can not take care of noise, however we did develop our test stand to test every clutch  to make sure it is working correctly before it is shipped or installed.

Since you are bringing up the spacer shim, I always had some questions that maybe you can answer. Have you discussed this modification to their kit with SPEC? We were told specifically that any modifications to the SPEC setup would void the SPEC warranty on their parts, how have you worked around this? Also, have you tried installing the clutches without the spacer? We install all of the SPEC clutches we sell without any extra shims and they work fine, so if it is always needed, why would the SPEC clutch work without well without it? Do you know why SPEC would not just make their spacer a little thicker if it is something that is really needed?

The customers that have had issues with SPEC asked us if there is any other option than SPEC and there wasn't, that is why we felt it was time to offer another option. We talked with customers to find out what they wanted and ideally they wanted a clutch that is going to sound like stock, drive like stock but hold more power. As much as it seems on the forums sometimes, most people are not running 500+hp at the wheels and do not need the super high torque capacity that some of the SPEC clutches have. From what we have seen most of our customers looking for clutches have 350-450hp at the wheels and want something that is going to work for that power level but drive like stock. That is a tricky thing to do right and the reason that we worked so hard to come up with our new clutch setup system for that market. We really focused on the drivability of our clutch to get it right and to make sure it was as close to stock as we could get while still holding more power. Because of its unique design, we were also able to make our setup quieter than the SPEC and also provide a more linear pedal feel while still supporting a higher torque capacity than most of our customers with LNF engines need.  We have been very happy with it and so have the handful of customers that have installed it or driven it since we released it and it comes with all parts needed for install, no extra shim needed

[Omiotek]

Dave I will shoot you a pm and talk there.

Btw I'm not bashing your clutch. Looks very nice we might have to try one out.

[Critterman]

Shame the rest of us don't get to share the knowledge.

[Gentleman Jack]

Big bada-boom

-the fifth element