Truck: 97 K2500 5spd~ 120,000 miles no mods (4" exhaust in transit). The truck is on its 2nd clutch. Its not wearing out or slipping the center section is coming apart. My pilot bearing destructed too. Not sure what goes first???

Is there anything better than the LUK OE clutch setup. I have the factory solid flywheel. The clutch disc is about 12in diameter.

From what I've read the bronze bushing is the recommended pilot bushing over the needle roller bearing.

I am looking for durability with at least OE performance and OE clutch pedal force (or lighter would be great).

I have looked at Southbend's website and called them. They recommend the dualmass flywheel setup for durability. Hays offers a clutch for dual mass converted trucks too but not for the solid flywheel.

The only other alternative bolt up is Centerforce that I have found.

Opinons wanted and experieces appreciated.

See my other thread Centerforce Dual friction too.

They put that dual mass junk on my truck. You don't want it. If you're wearing out the needle bearing check the input shaft for excessive bearnig play.

Needle pilot bearings are junk with the vibrations of a diesel! Doesn't matter what brand they all self destruct. Use the bronze bushing. As for clutch discs, I have eaten a lot of them, always the center section goes bad. The design has seemed to change over the years and maybe they are a little better now. The torque hub is what usually gets sloppy and fails. I can't say that centerforce is any better than gm as they start with luk components. I just installed a 6.2 clutch in an 83 one ton gasser at work, I use the diesel clutch to eliminate poor engagement, works like a charm. The clutch kit I used was from NAPA, only about 130.00 for the kit, brand new, (made in china, however), but so far so good. The 6.2 clutch kits will interchange with the single mass flywheel on the later 6.5's, the part # on the flywheel is the same as it was on the very first 82 6.2:eek: The dual mass flywheels are junk, they tend to cause indentations on the roller bearing that allows the two parts of the flywheel to move independantly of each other, probably caused by diesel vibration.:(

I have heard this too about Centerforce not actually being a manufacturer of some components. I have been told they modify clutches with some proprietary friction materials and modify pressure plates too. Then they paint them up and market them better. This may or may not be application dependant.

I am not saying they are not better for hot rodders and do believe they make a high performance better than OE package for some applications.

But ... If they start with the LuK disc for the 6.5 they are not going to be better for me.

I was thinking of going with a Centerforce disc and OE PP. Now I have doubts.

Anyone else want to verify its the Luk center section on the centerforce.

This is interesting ......

I just called Centerforce and asked one of thier technical people about the 6.5 application.

They said that Centerforce did not manufacture the clutch disc for this application. They modify the OEM.

They recommended looking into clutchnet (clutchnet.com ???) for higher strength clutch discs. I will investigate and post my findings. Anyone heard them?

FYI
No Clutchnet.com did not have anything better for the 6.5. They had more drag/race performance oriented stuff.

They suggested Mcleodind.com. I can't get thru on thier tech line but have an email inquiry.