Tech: Mustang Clutch Selection

Choosing the right clutch for your application

(If you have any questions feel free to call us or email us using the form at the bottom of the page)

For some people knowing what clutch they want/need is a piece of cake and it's a clear cut decision. For others it's a more daunting task that can take hours of researching while laying in bed at night or in the bathroom dropping a deuce. If you're on the throne as you read this there is no shame, your in the right place for all of your manual transmission needs including but not limited to you guessed it. CLUTCHES!

To start it helps to understand the integral part that your clutch plays in getting the power from the engine to the ground. There is a delicate balance between having a clutch that drives well for daily use as well as being the right material to handle the abuse that clutches often face.

First and foremost it is important to know what your plans are for the car. Fun Daily, Street/Track, Dedicated Track it all plays a role in what is best for you as well as the horsepower you are putting down. Below we breakdown the main clutch disc materials and what they are best suited for.

Clutch Materials

Organic Clutches

Organic Clutch clutch compounds are generally made of phenolic resins, friction modifiers such as metallic powder, metal oxides, and compounded rubber. The faces can be molded or woven. Woven facings are typically stronger because they have fiberglass woven into the material and this is what you will see almost always as it has a higher burst strength when rotating at high RPMS.

Organic Disc material is typically used in OEM Applications because they offer a good balance of durability, smooth engagement, and wear resistance. However organic material starts to show weakness in high heat applications such as high torque loads that occur in high horsepower vehicles and hardcore racing applications. If you are making big HP numbers and do a lot of hard launches and burnouts like in drag racing you are going to want most likely consider something with more holding power.

Kevlar Clutches

The next level up from Organic clutches would be the Kevlar Clutch material. This material uses kevlar fibers as the friction material. Kevlar offers great burst strength and has impressive wear characteristics but is a little on the low side in regards to it's friction coefficient. It's low friction coefficient provides smooth engagement but requires a higher clamping pressure to create enough friction to prevent slipping.

The temperature tolerance of Kevlar Clutch Material is higher than organic, and it also has much lower wear rates when compared, but just like everything it has it's limits and can still be burnt up if too high of temperatures are reached. Kevlar does not return to it's original state when it is exposed to temperatures that exceed it's rating. With that said Kevlar is a great middle ground option when you need a long lasting clutch with great resistance to heat, but don't want the harshness of a ceramic or ceremetallic clutch.

Ceramic/Ceremetallic Clutches

When you are making serious HP and TQ in your Street and/or Race car it might be time to bump up the a Ceramic or Ceremetallic Clutch Material. These clutches are typically made from a mixture of copper, iron, tin bronze, silicon dioxide, and/or graphite. This material is sintered or brazed to a backing plate and then most of the time is also riveted to the clutch plate. The Ceramic and Ceremetallic Clutches are able to withstand much higher temperatures which make it an ideal option for cars pumping out some serious horsepower and torque. With the ability to handle heat very well it is important to note that the friction coefficient is much higher than that of the Organic and Kevlar Clutch Materials, making for a much grabbier clutch feel.

Many manufacturers have been able to create ceramic clutches with a more street-able clutch feel but it is important to note that these clutches generally have a more on/off feel vs the smooth feathery engagement. All in all this is the best option for high temperature driving situations were there is a lot of repeated clutch engagement and disengagement which leads to increased temperatures. The on/off feel is in relation to the grabbing power of the ceramic material. This material is found in a lot of our top seller clutches such as the Mcleod RXT, Mantic Ceremetallic Clutches, as well as Stage 4 and 5 South Bend Clutches, and Exedy Stage 2 Clutches.

2018-2021 Mustang MT82 Clutches 101

2018-2021 Mustang MT-82

Ford ended up making some changes to the 2018 and up MT-82’s which means your going to need a different clutch than the previous 11-17 model MT-82 trans. With that said there are still plenty of clutch upgrade options to get your Mustangs MT-82 performing at its best. Our top picks are the Mcleod RST/RXT Clutch and the Mantic Twin Disc which comes in different materials depending on your application needs.

Mcleod Clutches

RST – The Mcleod RST Clutch is a great choice for applications rated up to 800hp and for those who don’t plan on doing a lot of drag racing and burnouts as the material does not like the heat associated with those activities. Don’t get us wrong it is a great street clutch that holds a ton of power but just like everything has its limits.

RXT – On the flipside if you do plan on hitting the dragstrip or plan to do some hard launches, burnouts, and other fun activities then the Mcleod RXT is most likely the Clutch for you. This clutch is a great street/strip clutch that can handle the heat brought on by aggressive street driving, and track use. This clutch is rated at 1,000 hp and is one of our more popular choices.

Mantic Clutches

Mantic offers some similar options to Mcleod. They have an organic and Ceremetallic twin disc clutches that are meant to handle specific tasks. The Organic compound is rated at a lower horsepower while the Ceremetallic twin disc clutch is designed to handle more for those higher horsepower applications as well as the dragstrip.

	McLeod Clutch Organic Faced Disc Material Twin Disc Handles up to 800hp Smooth Engagement and Quick Release Ideal for Performance Street Applications	6333825 Order Here
	Mcleod Clutch Best Selling Clutch Aluminum Flywheel Twin Disc Handles up to 1000hp Smooth Engagement slightly stiffer feel then RST Great for Drag and high heat applications	6333825m Order Here
	Manitc Clutch Organic Twin Disc Up to 600ft lb at the Crank Torque Capacity Light pedal feel	M924252 Order Here
	Mantic Clutch Same as M924252 but shipped in a standard white box vs Deluxe Carrying Case Organic Twin Disc Up to 600ft lb at the Crank Torque Capacity Light pedal feel	M924252-WB Order Here
	Mantic Clutch Twin Cerametalic Discs Up to 1010ft lb of Torque at the crank capacity Clutch Material Designed for Extreme Durability and maintain ease of use.	M921252 Order Here

The 2015-2020 Mustang Shelby GT350 was equipped with the Tremec 3160 6-Speed Transmission which means different clutches are used for this model. The GT350's Tremec 3160 uses a 26 spline input shaft vs the MT-82's 23 Spline shaft. Our most popular upgraded clutches for the GT350 are the Mcleod RXT Clutches and the Mantic Organic and Cerametallic clutches. All are great options for their intended uses and we can help you find the one you need for your application. Once you start throwing some upgrades on your GT350 your going to need the extra holding power of a good clutch to get that power to the ground. Below we have laid out some options and key points.

	McLeod RXT w/ Aluminum Flywheel Twin Ceramic Friction Discs Able to Handle up to 1000 Crank HP Provides smooth engagement and soft pedal feel	6337807M Order Here
	McLeod RXT HD w/ Aluminum Flywheel Twin Ceramic Friction Discs Able to Handle up to 1200 Crank HP Provides smooth engagement and soft pedal feel	6337807HD Order Here
	Mantic Clutch Organic Twin Disc Kit Shipped in Standard White Box to cut down on Price vs the Deluxe Case Retains Daily Drivability	M924VUDU-WB Order Here
	Mantic Clutch Cerametallic Twin Disc Kit Withstands heat from hard driving better than Organic materials Rated for up to 1010 ft/lb of Torque Suited for performance driving but still a great choice for street and daily use	M921VUDO Order Here
	Mantic Clutch Cerametallic Twin Disc Kit Withstands heat from hard driving better than Organic materials Rated for up to 1515 ft/lb of Torque Suited for performance driving but still a great choice for street and daily use	M931VUDO Order Here

With the introduction of the Coyote 5.0L engine in the 2011 Mustang came the inevitable urge to get even more power out of the already impressive 400+ stock hp. With those upgrades to the power came a need for stronger clutches to help get that power to the rear tires. 2011-2017 Mustangs used the same clutch style in the MT-82. There are a ton of options to choose from when it comes to clutches for your 2011-2017 Mustang. From the Mcleod RST and RXT to the Mantic Organic and Cerametallic materials used in these performance clutches there is resolution for everyone's needs. Southbend, and Exedy are some other top notch manufacturers that give you even more options to choose from. We understand things can get kind of crazy when trying to pinpoint which clutch is right for you. Kind of like the Taco Bell menu..... I swear that thing is always changing but I digress. Check out our list of clutches for your 2011-2017 Mustang and let us know if you have any further questions. We can get you hooked up with the best clutch solution for you.

SOUTH BEND CLUTCH

SOUTH BEND STAGE 1 CLUTCH KIT HEAVY DUTY (11-17 MUSTANG GT) FMK1026-HD

STAGE 1
Heavy Duty Version of Stock Clutch
Dual Dampened Disc for Smooth Engagement and increased transmission life
Recommended for Spirited/Daily Driving

Stage 1 Single disc. (FMK1026-HD) Soft pedal feel (10% over stock) and very smooth engagement. The stg 1 uses organic material and is meant as a great upgraded OE replacement and will handle 480 HP.

FMK1026-HD

Order Here

STAGE 2 Daily
Engineered for Mildly Modified cars
Organic Disc Material
Maintains Stock Feel while increasing strength and durability
Recommended for Daily/Street and Spirited driving

Stage 2- Single disc Kevlar (FMK1026-HD-TZ) Soft pedal feel (18% over stock) and a quick but smooth engagement. This stage 2 uses Kevlar material that is very durable and is meant as an upgrade over stock and will handle 520 HP.

FMK1026-HD-TZ

Order Here

STAGE 2 Endurance
SFI Approved Single Mass Flywheel Recommended
Dual Dampened Design provides accurate control when accelerating through corners
Hybrid Friction material
Recommended for Daily/Street driving with an emphasis on Rally and Endurance Racing

Stage 2- Single disc. Dual Friction Kevlar (FMK1026-HD-DF) Soft pedal feel (18% over stock) and a quick but smooth engagement. This stage 2 uses Kevlar and ceramic material that is very durable and heat resistant and is meant as an upgrade over stock and will handle 590 HP.

eFMK1026-HD-DF

Order Here

SOUTH BEND STAGE 2 CLUTCH KIT DRAG (11-17 MUSTANG GT) FMK1026-HD-B

STAGE 2 Drag
SFI Approved Single Mass Flywheel Recommended
Graphite Impregnated Ceramic Friction Material
Recommended for Drag Racing, Drifting, and Limited Street

Stage 2- Single disc. Full ceramic (FMK1026-HD-B) Soft pedal feel (18% over stock) and a quick engagement. This stage 2 uses ceramic material that is aggressive and very heat resistant and is meant as an upgrade over stock and will handle 660 HP.

FMK1026-HD-B

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SOUTH BEND STAGE 3 DUAL DISC CLUTCH KIT (2011-2017 MUSTANG GT) SDDFMK1026

STAGE 3
Dual Clutch Design
Street Use
Rated for 900ft lb

Stage 3 Twin disc. Organic and Ceramic (SDDFMK1026) Soft pedal feel (15% over stock) and a smooth engagement. This stage 3 uses ceramic and organic material that is smooth and is meant as an upgrade over stock and will handle 900 HP. This clutch is meant for aggressive street driving and racing.

SDDFMK1026

Order Here

SOUTH BEND STAGE 4 CLUTCH KIT COMP DUAL (11-17 MUSTANG GT) CDDFMK1026

STAGE 4
Competition Dual Clutch
Rated for 1100ft lb

Stage 4 Twin disc. Ceramic (CDDFMK1026) Soft pedal feel (15% over stock) and a smooth engagement. This stage 4 uses ceramic material that is smooth and is meant as a major upgrade over stock and will handle 1100 HP. This clutch is meant for aggressive street driving and racing.

CDDFMK1026

Order Here

SOUTH BEND STAGE 5 COMPETITION DUAL DISC CLUTCH KIT (2011-2017 MUSTANG GT) XDDFMK1026

STAGE 5
Competition Dual Clutch
Rated for 1500ft lb

Stage 5 Twin disc. Ceramic (XDDFMK1026) Pedal feel is 40% over stock and has an aggressive engagement. This stg 5 uses segmented ceramic material that is meant as a major upgrade over stock and will handle 1500 HP. This clutch is meant for racing.

XDDFMK1026

Order Here

McLeod Clutches

	Can handle the abuse of burnouts and launches at the track. Metallic Faced Twin Disc Rated for 1000hp Smooth Engagement w/ Soft Pedal Effort Great Street/Strip Option	6932-25 Order Here
	Can handle the abuse of burnouts and launches at the track. Metallic Faced Twin Disc Rated for 1200hp Slightly Firmer Clutch Feel then 6935-25 but still a good Street/Strip Option	6932-25HD Order Here
	Same Qualities as the 1000hp RXT but comes with Billet Steel Flywheel Twin Disc Clutch Great Street/Strip Option	6435825M Order Here
	Same Qualities as the 1200hp RXT but comes with Billet Steel Flywheel Twin Disc Clutch Great Street/Strip Option Slightly firmer than 1000hp Clutch	6435825HD Order Here
	Same Qualities as the 1000hp RXT but comes with Aluminum Flywheel Twin Disc Clutch Great Street/Strip Option	6335825M Order Here
	Same Qualities as the 1200hp RXT but comes with Aluminum Flywheel Twin Disc Clutch Great Street/Strip Option Slightly firmer than 1000hp Clutch	6335825HD Order Here
	Great for Full Bolt on Applications, or low boost cars that won't be doing a ton of burnouts and time at the drag strip Twin Organic Disc Rated for up to 800hp	6912-25 Order Here
	Great for Full Bolt on Applications, or low boost cars that won't be doing a ton of burnouts and time at the drag strip Twin Organic Disc Clutch and Billet Steel Flywheel Rated for up to 800hp	6435825 Order Here
	Great for Full Bolt on Applications, or low boost cars that won't be doing a ton of burnouts and time at the drag strip Twin Organic Disc Clutch and Aluminum Flywheel Rated for up to 800hp	6335825 Order Here
	Ideal for the typical street car with moderate engine mods and street tires Rated for up to 700 crank hp/tq Dual Face Ceramic Clutch Disc ensures smooth engagement.	75353 Order Here

Mantic Clutches

Twin Organic Discs
Can Handle Roughly 607 ft/lb of Torque at the Crank
Low Pedal Effort
Lower Pricetag when you order the White Box Kit

M924236-WB

Order Here

Twin Ceremetalic Discs
Can Handle up to 1010 ft/lb of Torque at the Crank
More aggressive then Organic but can handle more heat and abuse
Ideal for Street or Strip

M921236

Order Here

Triple Ceremetalic Discs
Can Handle up to 1515 ft/lb of Torque at the Crank
More aggressive then Organic but can handle more heat and abuse
Ideal for Street or Strip

M931236

Order Here

Exedy Clutches

	STAGE 1 Clutch Organic Clutch Disc Best suited for street performance Torque Capacity: 498 ft/lbs	07807LB Order Here
	STAGE 1 Clutch & T/O Bearing Organic Clutch Disc Best suited for street performance Torque Capacity: 498 ft/lbs	07807CSC Order Here
	STAGE 2 Clutch Ceramatallic Clutch Disc Torque Capacity: 587 ft/lbs at the wheels Designed to handle the power of modified engines	07959LB Order Here
	STAGE 2 Clutch & T/O Bearing Ceramatallic Clutch Disc Torque Capacity: 587 ft/lbs at the wheels Designed to handle the power of modified engines	07959CSC Order Here
	STAGE 2 Puck/Paddle Style Clutch & T/O Bearing Ceramatallic Clutch Disc Puck/Paddle Style Clutch adds extra gripping force Torque Capacity: 587 ft/lbs at the wheels Designed to handle the power of modified engines	07959PCSC Order Here

The 2010-2014 Shelby GT500 saw an increase in power which led to the use of a thicker overall clutch assembly from the factory, and a shorter slave cylinder. Once you start adding more boost and other mods that increased the horsepower upgrading to a stronger clutch became a no brainer. Brands like Mcleod and Mantic stepped up with their clutch offerings with options like the Mcleod RXT and the Mantic Twin Disc and even Triple Disc clutch. With these cars it's not hard to make some big power so make sure you have a clutch to handle it. Give us a call and we can help get the right clutch for your needs.

	Mcleod Clutch Twin Disc Ceramic Lined Clutch Disc Ideal for street/Strip applications Capable of handling up to 1000 Crank HP Can be used with a Billet Steel or Billet Aluminum Flywheel	6975-07M Order Here
	Mcleod Clutch Twin Disc Ceramic Lined Clutch Disc Ideal for street/Strip applications Capable of handling up to 1200 Crank HP Can be used with a Billet Steel or Billet Aluminum Flywheel	6975-07HD Order Here
	Mantic Clutch Cerametallic Twin Disc Clutch Rated at 1010 ft/lb of Torque Low Pedal effort makes for great streetability Cerametallic handles heat better than organic compounds	M921235 Order Here
	Mantic Clutch Cerametallic Triple Disc Clutch Rated at 1515 ft/lb of Torque Low Pedal effort makes for great streetability Cerametallic handles heat better than organic compounds	M931235 Order Here

	Mcleod Clutch Twin Organic Disc Clutch Able to Handle up to 800 HP Great for Street Driving Not Designed to be used in a competition environment	6908-07 Order Here
	Mcleod Clutch Twin Ceramic Disc Clutch Able to handle up to 1000 HP Great high HP clutch for the street and track	6918-07 Order Here
	Mcleod Clutch Twin Ceramic Disc Clutch Able to handle up to 1200 HP Great high HP clutch for the street and track	6918-07HD Order Here
	Mantic Clutch Cerametallic Twin Disc Clutch Rated at 1010 ft/lb of Torque Low Pedal effort makes for great streetability Cerametallic handles heat better than organic compounds	M921235 Order Here
	Mantic Clutch Cerametallic Triple Disc Clutch Rated at 1515 ft/lb of Torque Low Pedal effort makes for great streetability Cerametallic handles heat better than organic compounds	M931235 Order Here

	Organic Disc Rated for Cars with up to 400 HP Great for Mild Engine Mods and Street Tires	75101 Order Here
	Organic/Metallic Disc Smooth Engagement and great streetability Great for Moderate Mods and street tires Rated for up to 500 HP	75201 Order Here
	Organic Twin Disc Clutch Great for modded cars with up to 800 HP Smooth Engagement with soft pedal feel Recommended for Street Cars	6912-03C Order Here
	Cerametallic Twin Disc Clutch Can handle up to 1200 HP Smooth Engagement slightly stiffer feel than RST Great for Performance Street and Track Applications	6932-03HD Order Here

	1999-2001 GT Organic Disc Rated for up to 400HP/400TQ high Clamp Load Diaphragm Great Entry Level Street Clutch	75105 Order Here
	Mid 2001-2004 GT Organic Disc Rated for up to 400HP/400TQ high Clamp Load Diaphragm Great Entry Level Street Clutch	75104 Order Here
	1999-2001 GT Dual Face Ceramic Disc Smooth Engagement Rated for up to 700HP/700TQ Ideal for both street and track applications with moderate mods and street tires	75305 Order Here
	Mid 2001-2004 GT Dual Face Ceramic Disc Smooth Engagement Rated for up to 700HP/700TQ Ideal for both street and track applications with moderate mods and street tires	75304 Order Here
	1999-2001 GT Twin Organic Disc Rated for up to 800hp Great for High Horsepower Street Applications	6913-03 Order Here
	Mid 2001-2004 GT Organic Disc Rated for up to 400HP/400TQ high Clamp Load Diaphragm Great Entry Level Street Clutch	6335803 Order Here