V6 Clutch

Looking for pros and cons with diaphram vs three finger clutch assemblies. When I replaced mine about 11 years ago I went with a factory style unit; but thinking of going the diaphram route when I replace it next. I "feel" that going with a Centerforce assembly is overkill given the V6 power output; but would like to get some real world inputs... Not TOO concerned with price; but am interested with the bang-for-buck ratio. Thanks!

 

In the early years of the V6 the Borg Beck diaphragm type pressure plate assembly was standard.
During the last couple years for Dauntless powered CJ's, Jeep switched over to the Borg Beck three finger pressure plate assemblies.
The three finger design provides a slightly higher plate pressure than the diaphragm design.

I see zero advantage in going to the Centerforce design unless you are intending very high RPM's.

If you know where to look you'll find that NOS Borg Becks are still avaiailable.
Myself I have both NOS Borg Beck three finger and diaphragm type assemblies.
I've also been able to find a few of the 10.4 Borg Beck driven disks.

There's currently another NOS Borg Beck 3 finger unit I'm considering for cheap.
If your truely interested in it I'll let you have dibbs on it since I already have spares.

 

Centerforce in my 69 and 70 for past fifteen years. Have worked very well and foot push effort is low.

 

I have had a couple of aftermarket (Hays) clutches in my 3B, the first being the Borg & Beck style and later, a diaphragm. I installed the diaphragm thinking the pedal pressure would be a little less. If it was, I guess I'm not calibrated well enough to tell the difference. Either will work well and, at least in my experience, no difference in performance.

 

All Clutch manufactures alike match the friction area and plate pressure with the given motor that the clutch supports...............The real difference between a 3 finger and a diaphragm style clutch plate is how smoothly the clutch plate release's its pressure.......with the diaphragm clearly winning that argument. The diaphragm clutch design essentially has a 360 degree finger as compared to a three finger that is split at 120 degrees each.......as the plate pressure is released the diaphragm design does a much better job of applying broader and much flatter pressure over the total clutch surface area which should in most cases result in a much smoother release.

The centrifugal weighting and applied load design of either style is ( sort of ) a safety valve to apply greater pressure to the plate and disc as Rpm's , load & speed increase's ............If your motor never see's anything over 2000-3000 rpm's then the clutch will more than likely just spend it's life operating mostly on the plate base pressure that is built into the ring height and the springs as supplied.

There is not many clutch manufactures left out there that offer clutch packages for the V6's anymore..........a few years back Centerforce still offered 3 designs with different disc's for the V6.... but now it looks like they only offer one...........I still think the Centerforce is probably the best option...........make sure you surface your flywheel replace the throwout & pilot bearing and and get some free play in the linkage.

 

Besides that the diaphragm and 3 finger types require different release bearings.

 

I installed a LUK brand disc/pp kit.
Use a diaphragm type....much easier to depress.