New product review: CSC bearing sleeve for aftermarket clutches
 

Let me start by educating the minority and explaining how a Concentric Slave Cylinder (CSC) works on a 2007-09 3.5 HR and 2009-10 3.7 VHR. It is a hydraulic cylinder that pushes on the pressure plate fingers to release the pressure on a clutch and allows the driver to shift gears.

It's construction is simple and straight to the point. Hydraulic pressure expands in the cylinder pushing the CSC bearing plate towards the fingers of a pressure plate and releases the pressure on a clutch. What you probably didn't know that it does this within a 15 mm stroke (just slightly over a 1/2" for the metric measurement challenged). I suspect full clutch disengagement is done within 10 mm. 15 mm is probably considered over extending the CSC and eventual failure.
http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0077-2.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0095-1.jpghttp://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0099-1.jpghttp://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0100-1.jpg



The CSC rides and maintains a slight pressure on the pressure plate fingers at all times and as a result rotates roughly the same RPM's as the engine. The CSC face is made from a hard steel to prevent wear and to withstand the abuse of it's environment. It has a bearing surface width of 7 mm and inside diameter of 48 mm.

The OEM pressure plate has knurled fingers to allow to work properly on a flat bearing surface on the CSC. The pressure plate fingers have a opening of 49 mm and therefore makes excellent contact with the CSC bearing surface.

http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0071-2.jpg


Now getting to the bearing sleeve for aftermarket clutches. Speed Performance has done some research on the relationship between the CSC's and the latest aftermarket clutches available for our 370Z's. They have developed a bearing sleeve for the CSC to correct the contact pattern on the aftermarket pressure plate fingers and corrected the spacing problem concerned with over extension of the CSC stroke. It is a thing of beauty


http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0083-1.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0084-1.jpg

stock CSC for comparison


http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0077-2.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0087-1.jpg

Now for the shocker ...........

I just happened to have a popular clutch/flywheel/ pressure plate combination on hand to compare the differences in CSC fitments. I won't mention the manufacturer but needless to say some members have this installed in their cars right now. I for one, will NOT be installing this into my car. after seeing first hand the CSC fitment and quality compared to a Speed Performance clutch offering. The space between the fingers of the un-named aftermarket pressure plate is 57.5 mm.
Let the pictures speak for themselves.

Aftermarket with stock CSC

http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0089-1.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0093-1.jpg

As you can see the fitment is horrible and there is next to nothing for contact on the CSC bearing. It's a recipe for failure.


Aftermarket and CSC with bearing sleeve

http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0090-1.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0091-1.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0092-1.jpg


For the record I did purchase a Speed Performance Stage 4 clutch package, solid steel flywheel, pressure plate and CSC with bearing sleeve with a stainless steel clutch line to eliminate the orifice block in the stock line. I had way too much trouble with the stock CSC and clutch lines on my 2007 3.5 HR with a aftermarket clutch not to replace the stock clutch lines and remove the orifice.

http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0076-1.jpg http://www.the370z.com/members/zat_z...img-0088-2.jpg

I'm looking forward to the install.

Very cool! Make sure you post it up as a DIY for clutch replacement!

amazing + 1 rep.

What was the cost of everything combined?

The cost was just over a $1000, which is comparable to everyone else. It included the HD billet 1 piece steel flywheel; Stage 4 clutch with Feramic on one side and organic on the other, rated to 600 Torque; HD pressure plate with a really thick clamping plate; CSC and bearing sleeve; and a 1 piece stainless clutch line from the master cylinder to the clutch. Overall, not a bad price considering the quality of everything.

Just had a conversation with Speed Performance yesterday, and apparently a new metal CSC will becoming available within a few weeks to replace the plastic stock CSC. It looks promising.

Won't be doing that.

This is one job either you know how to do it or you pay someone who does. It's not for the average DIY'er

I know others that have the jwt clutch/flywheel without the csc part, so is this part "really" necessary for switching out the stock clutch for the jwt set-up?

^good question. I am lookin forward to the answer as well.

omg south bend clutch FTL. Had one in my suby and the thing was horrible. It was a 6 puck.

Clutch made a rather horrible engagment sound. no it wasnt clutch shudder.

Found out the pressure plate was a defect from them.

Customer service was rather poor

The OEM throw out bearing broke so i had to take everything apart.

I had a nightmare with this company.

I've given you the measurements of the stock CSC and the diaphram on the stock and aftermarket pressure plates without a brand name. It's easy to do the math :tiphat:

Basically, in my opinion, any aftermarket pressure plate with a DE style diaphram with a gap larger than 49 mm will need the bearing cap for proper contact between the CSC and diaphram fingers. The JWT is a DE style pressure plate.

I'm hesitant to point fingers at brand names as vendors in this forum have installed those brand names in cars with stock CSC's and say there ok. I'm not here to point fingers and say they are wrong but just report my findings and say what I've decided to do with my car. It's up to the individual to make there own conclusions and choices with the information they have collected.

If you think 2.25mm is enough for contact, while the OEM designed contact is 6.5mm... then you should be good.... I have to agree with the OP... seems like asking for trouble...

I know I had a JWT flywheel, clutch and pressure plate, dealer installed, in my 2007 3.5 HR and had nothing but grieve and problems with clutch hydraulics. I didn't want a repeat performance with the 370Z.

It sounds like I'll be needing this part whenever I upgrade my clutch, I'm all about doing things right the first time so there wont be any nasty suprises in the future. Where can we order this part from? And how much is it going to cost?

I got my parts at:
350Z HR High Rev Concentric Slave Cylinder bearing adaptor sleeve

Just tell them I refered you :tup:

Awesome, I'll def be sure to pick one up when I switch clutches. Which clutch/flywheel brand would you suggest? I plan on having the GTM stg.2 supercharger installed & tuned to about 550whp+. I was thinking either the Southbend or JWT clutch/flywheel package, but if you could suggest something else that would be great.

Jon, he recommends the South Bend clutches. Specifically the stage 4 one which costs around $650.... then you have to think about the flywheel which is $500 more and then you have to add the CSC fix...which will be somewhere around $60?

As of right now...thats what I'm doing..

I would like to add that I would hold for the metal CSC available in a few weeks. There have been reports that the stock CSC with and without the bearing cap, is not strong enough to withstand the pressures of a stronger pressure plate. The CSC's bodies are breaking at the mounting points on the transmission.

Same old problem ..... fix one weak link and another appears.

Will add that to the article, thanks a lot Zat.

Hey, will the stock csc + ZSP sleeve be ok with the southbend stage 4 clutch?

Please trust me when i tell you to skip the Southbend clutch.

Sorry but nobody gets your point .... especially me ... bye

obviously you didnt read my earlier post. just looking out for you.

Hmm, anyone else wanna chime in about their experiences with JWT or southbend?

As far as I know, Southbend said yes. But I'm still going to wait for the metal CSC to be available before I do my install.

I ordered the CSC sleeve. Metal csc depending on price/availability.

+1 Rep.

I am looking forward to the answer as well.Thanks

I drove a Stage 5 multi puck from Southbend. I really had no qualms about it when I took it out. I actually liked it so much that I would put it on my Z, if I ever needed it.

I know its not that great of a review RCZ, but the limited time I had with it made a lasting impression. I was impressed.

The car that I drove is now at Sound Performance being built for 30'ish PSI.

Any bit helps. Thanks LiquidZ.

It took a long time in coming but the metal CSC is now available from ZSpeed Performance.


350z 370z heavy duty CSC Concentic clutch slave cylinder

Unfortunately, they are not easy to make nor cheap to purchase.

holy price batman, looks awesome though. I'll have to do this when my Stock CSC goes.

BTW, I love my Southbend Clutch.

I ordered that one... it seems to be very promising. :icon18:

Yes they do look promising. I've been following the development of the metal CSC and I like what ZSpeed Performance has accomplished. I know I'll be ordering one when my stock CSC and bearing sleeve decides to give me trouble. I know it's a just a matter of when the stock CSC will fail, not if.

RCZ: I'm loving my Southbend clutch and flywheel too

I know of some users over on my350z, that would strongly disagree.. Namely "thom00001".. who has a monster setup and was running over the rated limit for 10k miles.
-His SBC was rated at 610wtq and he was running it well over 710+wtq.
He also went through DxD, carbonetics and a couple others... IIRC

Yes, Tom was just on the normal stage 5 street kit and he beat the living crap out of it for 2 years at well over its TQ rating.
Now he is putting down much more power and is in the Stage Xtreme 6 puck

Sad to see he is talking about selling the car now.