ACT Releases New One-Piece Wedge Collar for Pull-Type Clutches

Nissan Skyline GT-R pull style clutch

Have a pull style clutch in your car? Late R32's, R33's and R34's all have pull style clutches. These style of clutches and release bearings seem to baffle some mechanics. I had to make a video way back when, showing how to release one. ACT has just released a new one piece collar for pull type clutches. It "should" work on a Nissan Skyline GT-R clutch, but I have to try it out on some first. The two piece collars can come apart during install or if you do something weird. I have never had one come apart, but it seems some Evo guys have it happen. If anyone can do stupid stuff, they can. There are advantages to a pull style clutch over a push style clutch, but the complexity of a pull style means that we see a lot of aftermarket clutches that are push style.

LANCASTER, CALIF., May 2, 2013 — People love good secrets. So, when Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT) engineers began developing a solution to the common problem with standard two-piece wedge collars found in Japanese pull-type clutches, they engineered Monoloc — a secret design too good to keep quiet about.

Monoloc is a direct replacement and upgrade to the two-piece wedge collar in pull-type clutches for the Mitsubishi Evo, Subaru WRX, Subaru WRX STi and Mazda RX-7. Its one-piece construction eliminates the collar snap ring from bending or popping out of place, which typically leads to clutch failure or severe pressure plate damage.

“The problem usually occurs during racing or ‘enthusiastic driving,’” Dirk Starksen, ACT president and lead engineer on the Monoloc project, said, “The snap ring of the wedge collar sometimes pops out of place and doesn’t seat back into the release bearing. This causes the snap ring to bend and the clutch to stop working.”

Monoloc fixes these issues. The spring tension of the segmented retaining ring has been carefully calculated and tested for optimal performance. The one-piece wedge collar provides uniform loading on the bearing and pressure plate to assure proper alignment, regardless of driver influence or vehicle modifications. In addition, Monoloc’s hardened, Chromoly steel construction will provide years of service.

Monoloc can serve as a upgrade feature for pull-type pressure plates using a standard wedge collar design and is available separately, exclusively from ACT, for $80. It installs just like stock. Also, it is featured in a growing list of several newly-developed pull-type pressure plates available from ACT and distributors.

ACT’s Monoloc is advanced, yet simple. Get yours today at www.advancedclutch.com.